A French man can get it?

[Christophe]

Hello Every one,

First of all, let me thank all the people who contribute to ISR website. I've been using it since a while and it is always a great source of information.

So I decided to post a topic today because I would like to have any advice or comments.
I am French and I teach "technologie collège" for 12 years now. In fact I have 8 real years of teaching.
I began in 2002 and I spent 3 years, from 2008 to 2011, as a French teacher in Japan throw a contest organised by the Japanese embassy for the Ministry of Education. I wanted to know better the country of my wife. Yes my wife is Japanese. We are together for 11 years now and our 2 kids are French and Japanese citizen.

I spent the 2012-2013 academic year as an Asia expert in ENIC-NARIC France (Centre International d'Études Pédagogiques - CIEP). I was in charge of researching educational systems in Asia and America, which includes the International Baccalaureate program; particularly about the implementation of technology integration inside curriculum. This includes keeping abreast of reforms and maintaining a network of international contacts which allows me to acquire a vision of different educational philosophies. A vision I can pass onto my pupils.

The experience I have gained through my educational, cultural and international exchanges have helped me to develop my strategic and - skills, in particular with regard to transmit and to develop knowledge to the children I am working for. In addition to being fully fluent in French and English, I have a good knowledge of Japanese (written and spoken). I have taught children of different levels, I am therefore interested in educating children from many different cultural backgrounds and to work with other teaching professionals from around the world. I also enjoy spending time with students doing extracurricular activities such as; coach school sporting teams, attending school camps and overseas tours.

My application has been assessed as successful with TRI (Teaching Recruitment International - Sydney) and CRS Education (International Education Specialist - Shanghai).
I applied several schools (more than 100) and last spring I get few interviews. 2 or 3 via Skype and 4 at an International School where I live. Most of the time I'm short-listed but never finalist.

So, this is why I'm posting today : I would like to have your point of view about my chances to get a position inside an International School.
I feel I'm multiplying the handicap : I'm not native English, I'm not presently teaching inside an International School with IB program and I'm not single.

What do you think? I am not the one who easily give up... But I begin to figure out (I'm looking for a position since last March) it will be quite challenging.

[shadowjack]

Hi Christophe,

Honestly, I have never heard of those agencies, and I have been teaching internationally for over 15 years.

My advice - sign up with a big teacher recruitment agency - Search or ISS. Also join TIEonline.

At the least, those agencies will assess your background and be honest in answering the questions you have.

The other advice I would give would be to start making a list of schools in Japan you can approach and try to gain an interview with. Of course, this also depends upon your teaching area.

I might also say try to get a job at a decent international school somewhere else (China, SE Asia) that is close to Japan, but which gives you the experience to apply at those Japanese schools.

Bonne Chance!

Shad

[Christophe]

Dear Shad,

Thank you for your reply and advices.

In fact I'm not focus to teach in Japanese International Schools. I mean in long term thinking why not.
As you advised me, I already have a list of hundreds schools all around the world I'm interested in. Especially Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore... or Spain and France.

My subject area is "technologie" and as I know the programme it's a mix of what is divided in 2 different teaching areas for IB programme : IT (or ICT) and Design & Technology.

About Search, I am inscripted with them but my referees doesn't really replied as they received things in English. I mean for my French referees. So 3 already filled the form and I need to have a fourth one.
I will see with TIE and ISS, as I read few topic about these agencies.

Thanks a lot for your reply. Merci beaucoup!

Christophe

[bob]

Christophe,
do you have the CAPES? If so you should look at the French schools abroad http://www.aefe.fr/
Most French teachers I know in international schools have a PGCE and trained in the UK, but I mainly know British International Schools. From your post, you seem to have trained in France so look at the French system!
There are also some francophone independent schools but they vary greatly in quality and the Belgian schools (in Kinshasa and Kigali)
Bonne chance!

[Christophe]

Bob,

Thank you for your message.
I do not have the CAPES (or CAPET in my case) because I didn't want to be "fonctionnaire" and to keep the freedom to move when I want. In a way it is what I did and I'm quite happy about that.
I know the French Schools abroad and I had lost of contacts with the Lycée Franco-Japonais de Tokyo and more widely with the AEFE but you need to have a lots of contacts to get position in or you need to be locally hired.
In a way I want to get involved inside an Anglo-Saxon International School to see another system and to develop my skills and vision.

I know I don't take the easiest way... But if you want to learn something, then you need to choose the most challenging way, don't you?

Merci beaucoup pour votre réponse Bob!

[bob]

OK, I understand (I think!)
Most British International Schools will only employ teachers with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). You might want to research how to obtain QTS if you don't have it, there are a few different ways, the PGCE being one of them.
It is a tough time on the international scene at the moment because lots of teachers are unemployed in the UK and are applying overseas. Only Maths and Science seem to be in shortage...
Having said that, I've met some French teachers in British International Schools teaching French, Spanish, PE and Primary so again, good luck!

[Christophe]

I see. Thank you very much for the advice.
I will research about PGCE and the different ways to get a QTS.

Merci encore for your encouragement!