The International Schools Review Forum

Hi everyone. I stumbled across this site because I'm trying to find a job teaching internationally. I have some questions, but first my background:

I am currently finishing up my New York teaching credential and concurrent Masters of Childhood Ed degree. I have worked abroad before: 6 months teaching with the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan, 6 months teaching in Prague and getting my TEFL cert, 2 years of teaching ESL at Hakwons in Korea and almost a year teaching in Japan with Nova Group (I was there when the company went belly up).

I'm searching for a job abroad with my Canadian fiancee who will also have a NY teaching cert, Masters of Childhood Ed, two years experience in Korea and one in Japan.

OK. So....

1. With our education and our informal teaching experiences (all our abroad jobs were teaching ESL, not formal "American" curriculum) can we find a job? Is the fact that we're a teaching couple a plus?

2. Do you think it's a problem that we are only engaged, not married? Is it possible to apply as couple with most places or do we have to apply separately?

3. We are doing our final teaching placements this fall and plan on applying for jobs abroad in the meantime. Is fall a good time to apply? Is it possible for us to find a job this fall and start around Jan 2010?

4. How should we go about applying? I've heard conflicting reports about the big recruiters (ISS, Search, etc.). Is any company or job fair better suited for our situation?

5. I've signed up for TIE online and will sign up for ISR soon. What other sites, companies, forums would you suggest looking into?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Hi,

Your sitiuation is interesting, and diverse, here are my opinions, hope it helps!


1. With our education and our informal teaching experiences (all our abroad jobs were teaching ESL, not formal "American" curriculum) can we find a job? Is the fact that we're a teaching couple a plus? THE EDUCTAION SIDE SEEMS GOOD, HOWEVER MOST SCHOOLS NEED A MINIMUM OF 2 OF FORMAL TEACHING IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY BEFORE YOU CAN GO INTERNATIONALLY, HOWEVER SOME SCHOOLS MAKE ACCEPTION TO THIS. I GUESS IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT SUBJECTS/GRADE LEVELS YOU TEACH. MOST SCHOOLS DO NOT SEE ESL TEACHING AS OFFICIAL (I FACED THIS PROBLEM EARLY IN MY CAREER TOO), BUT IF YOU TEACH ESL ANYWAY IT MAY NOT BE A BIG DEAL. I DO NOT, SO I TAUGHT IN MY HOME COUNTRY FOR 2 YEARS FOLLOWING MY ESL TEACHING.

2. Do you think it's a problem that we are only engaged, not married? Is it possible to apply as couple with most places or do we have to apply separately? APPLYING AS A COUPLE IS FINE, ONLY A FEW SCHOOLS REQUIRE THAT YOU ARE MARRIED.

3. We are doing our final teaching placements this fall and plan on applying for jobs abroad in the meantime. Is fall a good time to apply? Is it possible for us to find a job this fall and start around Jan 2010? START APPLYING NOW, REGISTER WITH ALL THE RECRUITMENT COMPANIES, JAN STARTING DATES ARE RARE, BUT LOOK NOW TO START IN AUG 2010 TOO.

4. How should we go about applying? I've heard conflicting reports about the big recruiters (ISS, Search, etc.). Is any company or job fair better suited for our situation? GO WITH SEARCH, ISS, CIS AND TIEONLINE, THE SEARCH FAIR IS THE BEST-LONDON, CAMBRIDGE OR BANGKOK DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

5. I've signed up for TIE online and will sign up for ISR soon. What other sites, companies, forums would you suggest looking into? SEARCH, TES

You sound solid. I personally like Search Assoc.
If they will let you sign up for those Jan./Feb job fairs in the Fall.
While at the job fair, make it clear that you are available NOW if they need you. I got a job this way after 9/11., the schools were making do but had a position for one of us until June and 2 positions after. You never know they may have a maternity leave or something come up in the Spring.

I'm sure you will have a couple of nibbles (job offers, that is).

Concordia schools require you to be married because they're religously inclined. Found this out a job fair interview. Nice.