Working in International Schools

When I was in Ecuador during the summer of 2010, I met a guy at an Irish pub who told me he was here teaching American history. I was surprised, because that sounded way too good to be true. I wanted to teach American history, and I also wanted to live abroad, but I didn’t think it was possible to combine those. Here I am, two years later, living in Quito and teaching American history. I never got that guy's name, but if I got the chance to meet him I would smother him in gratitude for introducing me to a world of possibilities.

There is a network of American and International schools around the planet that offer so much more to teachers than public schools in the States. Most have the International Baccalaureate curriculum, which is actually what I had in high school, so it is easy for teachers to hop around the world on the international teaching circuit. Right now I teach middle school humanities (8^th World History, 9^th US History) and 11^th grade Theory of Knowledge (a philosophy type class about what we know and how we know it). 

 My lovely classroom

Most students who attend these schools are very well off, either wealthy locals or diplomats’ kids. The way I see it, I am here creating global citizens, students who will someday be compassionate members of their society and will hopefully work to make this world a little better. The kids I am teaching in Ecuador will be influential members of their communities someday.

On a field trip to the Planetarium with my students

The benefits to working at international schools are plentiful:

Way better salary than the States

Housing stipend- I don’t pay rent and I have a beautiful apartment

Free flights to and from the country

Small classes (between 11-15 students)

Less teaching to standardized tests, except for 11th/12th grade

Getting to live in a foreign country with the support of a school to help you settle in

Adventurous, like-minded co workers

Easy access to cultural events and great travel opportunities

Help getting a visa in the country

Liberal school environment (tattoos and nose piercings welcome)

Resources in my classroom (brand new Mac, projector, etc.)

More holidays than US schools

and the list goes on…

So, if I piqued your interest at all, and you are certified to teach in the U.S., and you have been itching to live abroad but weren’t sure how to go about getting there, listen up! I got hired as a brand new teacher out of grad school in Latin America, but most schools in Europe and Asia only want teachers with a couple years experience. TEFL or ESL experience is not necessary. IB experience helps. Going to a job fair is a great way to get started (I got hired at the AASSA/AMISA fair in Atlanta), but once you have your foot in the door, most people I know use Skype interviews.

Here are some helpful links:

Recruiting Company with job fairs in Boston, San Francisco, and London

Popular Recruiting Company with job fairs in Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, and Bangkok

Atlanta job fair of all the Latin American schools