An impromptu visit by an elephant, monkeys dashing on the school roof, taking a class into the rainforest, and teaching an art class in Red Square. These are just a few of the everyday experiences of teachers working in international schools around the world.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not for young and single teachers only. Already retired, Rudi Powell from Penarth, South Wales, came to the decision that he wanted to teach and headed to Vienna followed by a stint in Rotterdam. He says that had he known, he would have done it earlier in his career, and would absolutely do it again. Married couple Lorna and Kevin Gallagher were also able to enjoy the experience of teaching jobs abroad. After a very good teaching career in South Korea and Poland, the couple currently live in Italy because they are teaching at the International School of Bologna.
Teaching Jobs Overseas
A number of teachers take their whole families with them. Jeff Burt, a Physics teacher from London says, “travelling with our young children was very easy. We’ve grown as a family learning to deal with international life; it has become a satisfying and positive experience, providing both our girls a very global, mature, and considerate outlook in life.” He has taught and lived in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and in Turkey while bringing along his two daughters and wife. Single parents can also attempt to try any teaching jobs abroad. “I knew I was interested in working in an international school. I bided my time for what I thought was the right time for my children,” says Janice Ireland who taught for twelve years in international schools in Cairo, Libya, Kuwait, and The Netherlands. “My son was in university at the time and my daughter came with me and did her A-levels in the same school as I worked. She really loved it! As a single working woman, I cannot even compare the differences to life back home. It’s been a really good thing for me and my family and I would absolutely recommend it.”
He currently holds the position of Director in an organisation that specialises in recruiting teachers for International schools – Teachers International Consultancy.
”Having overseas teaching jobs meant that I am given the chance to travel to some amazing places and at the same time get to work in some terrific schools in Austria, Germany, and Colombia.”
“We decided to have a go at teaching overseas for a few years, but loved it so much that we kept working abroad for 16 years!
Our two children were both born during our time overseas and that was no problem at all. In fact it has conferred our entire family immense confidence in travelling, a wider perspective of the world, and a terrific sense of adventure.”
Working overseas, Andrew says that the only trouble was finding a new job. “Angie and I and many of our work colleagues disliked the cattle-market style of the big recruitment fairs and when looking for a job by ourselves it was difficult to find out which schools were the most reputable and exactly what paperwork was required. What is scary is that there have been stories of teachers working overseas that eventually came home because they had been let down by schools that were both unaccredited and undependable. The personal service offered by recruitment consultancies is one reason why we are more likely to transact with them.”