September 7, 2010
Teaching Jobs Overseas: Experiencing The Difference
Slowly but surely, international schools are gaining international recognition; creating opportunities for many of their students, both expat children and, increasingly, local children to gain places at some of the most respected universities around the world. This is part of the rationale why the number of international schools are continuously growing at a dramatic rate. In fact, it has more than increased to a total of 5,374 schools in just ten years.
European teaching jobs and teaching jobs in the rest of the world are expected to continue. Within the next five years, the number of international schools would probably increase to 8,000, according to the organisation that studies growth in the international school market known as ISC Research. This means an increasing and constant call for teaching staff. The biggest challenge for the entire market is to keep finding good calibre teachers.
The quality of teaching is the reason why international schools have garnered global respect. Finding passionate, experienced, and capable teachers interested in teaching overseas is the challenge. Teachers who do opt to work in international schools end up staying much longer than they initially planned because they have fallen in love with the experience. It is not simply because of the opportunity to travel and experience residing in another country, but it is also due to the experiences gained from working with students and teachers of various nationalities, the enhancement of teaching skills, and the opportunities for expert growth.
Here are a few of the comments from teachers who have worked in in teaching jobs overseas for a number of years:
Dominic Crompton is the present deputy Headteacher at Skilts special school in Redditch, but taught primary in Bogota, Colombia, at the Colegio Anglo Colombiano School. He says, “It is definitely an experience that is highly recommendable to anyone. It is impossible not to bring something back that is of great value, professionally and personally. Professionally you are so employable, especially if you are returning with experience of developing curriculum and with leadership and international links.”
Jeff Burt is presently teaching at the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka; but he first taught at the Brent International School in the Philippines as a physics teacher then in Istanbul, Turkey, at the British International School. He is there with his wife and two teenage daughters. He says, “Looking back, the entire experience of teaching internationally has been amazing.” ”I have had the chance to teach American and Australian style curriculum, International Baccalaureate (IB) and International GSCE (IGSCE). You have to be ready to adapt to innovative assessment and content styles, including your teaching methodology. The IB programs are considerably different to the National Curriculum for England and Wales and can be quite challenging when you first start them but they are very interesting to teach and incredibly good for your professional development.”
Michael Wainwright is an Australian teacher who is now teaching in Germany after he taught primary music in Sri Lanka. He says: “When you’re teaching abroad, there’s wonderful inspiration from the varying environments and from the children and colleagues around you. It’s quite an incredible opportunity that I thoroughly recommend to any teacher that is prepared to take a risk. You’re expanding your knowledge, teaching different people in various ways, and you’re expanding your wisdom of the world and your cultural perspective. It’s also a huge confidence builder. It really does permit you to find out more about yourself.”
The opportunity of a teaching job abroad is something no-one forgets
Filed under Legal Staffing by Geena