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How to Screen Out Available Overseas Teaching Jobs

How to Screen Out Available Overseas Teaching Jobs

Are you considering finding a teaching job internationally? For many, teaching abroad is an excellent chance to see the world and gain experience as a teacher and traveling. Start your overseas job search with the right tools to make it as quick and easy as possible.

Asking the right questions to the school representatives about the overseas teaching jobs before making a decision is vital to accept the right job offer.

While it is exciting to relocate and work in another country, it is important to keep in mind to conduct due diligence. Before your eagerness to escape your mundane life takes over and you accept a job too hastily, consider asking the following questions regarding the international teaching position.

Use your future school’s answers to determine if the job is something you can commit to or if you should keep on searching:

How many international teachers do you employ at your school?

Are you comfortable being the only foreign teacher in a school?

If not, make sure that you select a school that employs many international teachers. This can be particularly important if you are working in a country where you do not speak the local language.

It could be quite lonely to spend extensive periods of time without communicating with others who speak your language, so be selective in your choice.

Do you require that your teachers speak some of the country’s language?

Some countries in which English is not the official language insist that any teacher abroad speaks the local language. In other cases, there is no such requirement. Ensure that you are clear on the school’s policy where you may potentially work, so there are no surprises down the line.

Do you provide housing for teachers?

Housing available for visiting teachers, especially if the school specializes in appointing teachers from abroad. Providing housing to the teacher is often called a perk. If the school does not provide this benefit, be sure to research accommodations to ensure they are within your budget before signing a teaching contract.

What types of students make up your student body?

Try to find out what kinds of students you will be teaching. Do all of the students come from local farms, or are they all city-raised children?

As you have undoubtedly learned in your teacher education, students from different geographic and socio-economic backgrounds respond quite differently to various education styles. Don’t assume that your students abroad will all be little angels. Every country has some bad apples.

On average, how many students do you have in a regular class?

Particularly in countries where overcrowding is rampant, class sizes can be quite large at times. Be sure to inquire about the average class size so that you can prepare yourself. If you aren’t comfortable teaching 40 students, make sure that you select a school where you know that the classes will be smaller.

Do students take any standardized tests?

Every country has a different standard of education. In most countries, students must take some standardized tests to ensure that they have a sufficient understanding of the material. Be sure to ask about the types of tests your students will have to write so that you can do your job and prepare them adequately.

If you are interested in teaching abroad, the key to success is knowledge. Make sure you look before you leap. Don’t let your excitement over the promise of an exotic new land be the reason you don’t ask the right questions.

Ask questions now to ensure that your experience is everything you wanted it to be and more.

Submitting a quality international teaching resume will save you an abundance of time and frustration.

Six critical questions to help you select the perfect international teaching position. Click To Tweet