Advice for a US teacher hoping to move to Europe

Post Reply
15MJK
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:18 pm

Advice for a US teacher hoping to move to Europe

Post by 15MJK »

I am currently teaching at a private school in the US, but I am hoping to find a teaching job in a secondary school somewhere in central Europe (I teach literature, History, Religious Studies, and have taught Spanish in the past). I was wondering if anyone could comment on the competitiveness of jobs in this area.

I was also wondering if anyone had any advice regarding what type of certification I should pursue. Because I work at a private school I do not have a teaching license. However, I figured I should pursue a teaching certificate if I want to get a job overseas. A program offered by a local university is quite expensive, about $20,000 in total ($30,000 for a masters). I have found PGCE programs from English universities available online. These are actually cheaper than the programs here in the US and offer the kind of flexibility I need. However, as I am not from England I have no idea how reputable these programs are.

Given that I have a few years of teaching experience, would a PGCE be enough to land me a job in central Europe? Do most schools prefer this English background or would it be better to pay up and get a degree from the US? (Most of the private schools I have found seem to be modeled after English and not US schools, is this relevant?) Would it seem odd if I have an English degree considering I live in the US?

If anyone has any insights regarding these questions, I would greatly appreciate hearing them!
shadowjack
Posts: 2138
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am

Re: Advice for a US teacher hoping to move to Europe

Post by shadowjack »

If you are looking to move to a US school, get US certification. There are whole threads on here about this topic. Talk to finedude or medellinheal about it, as they are doing it/have done it.

Other than that, Europe is a popular destination, so you will be competing against others. However, unlike a new teacher, you do have experience you can highlight.

Keep in mind that usually you will only teach one subject - trying to market yourself as a literature teacher as well as a history teacher as well as a possible religious studies (not common overseas) or Spanish teacher means that you are up against teachers who are marketing themselves in their specialist area and have deep experience. It makes it harder, but not impossible.
fine dude
Posts: 651
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:12 pm
Location: SE Asia

Re: Advice for a US teacher hoping to move to Europe

Post by fine dude »

@15MJK
Shadowjack is right. Teachers who could offer two or more subjects are always preferred especially when experience is not their forte. Small and mid-sized schools in Europe do not have lavish budgets and can't afford single-subject teachers. Both US certification and PGCE are equally valuable. However, I'm not an expert on the latter as I myself have US certification. There are very many Tier 1 schools (IS Brussels, Zurich IS) that accept US certification all over Europe. Several directors of elite schools in Europe are also American and they themselves have admin licenses from the US. May be having US certification would not be a problem even if you plan to move back home later on.

Spanish is an in-demand subject in IB schools. Alternatively, you can target international schools with christian ethos in Europe where you could teach Religious Studies along side the other subjects that you mentioned.
grdwdgrrrl
Posts: 79
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 6:26 pm

Re: Advice for a US teacher hoping to move to Europe

Post by grdwdgrrrl »

Many schools prefer after certification teaching experience, just FYI. I have many former colleagues and current friends studying an online PGCE through both University of Nottingham and Sunderland University. Both are accepted certificates. However, you should already be in a school so that you can complete the practical elements of the course.
Post Reply