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Fallacy #1: I will be teaching English as a foreign language
Not necessarily. Whilst there are a number of English Language schools that exist solely to teach English language to non-native English speakers, there is a very large and important category of schools that teach a full curriculum of all subjects. These schools, known as international schools, use various curricula such as the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and International Baccalaureate and teach all subjects in English. Whilst some of the pupils may not be native English speakers, they are still expected to learn all or most subjects such as Maths, Science, Geography, Art and Physical Education, in English. In fact, a TEFL (teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate is not required to work in International schools. They require approximately the same qualifications you would need to teach at home in a state-funded school.
Fallacy #2: I can teach anywhere I want
Teachers wishing to work overseas must meet regulations on two very different levels - teacher certification and immigration. Many teachers think that because they are qualified to teach at home, they can teach abroad and this is not always true. Each country has rules and requirements for the required training and experience and they might not match with your home country. For instance, teachers in South Africa without a 3 or 4 year teaching diploma will likely not be able to teach in the UAE. British Special Needs teachers without a university degree or certificate in Special Needs cannot teach Special Needs students in the Middle East or Asia. In Thailand and China, teachers must have 2 years of experience to teach at all at international schools. And teachers without a teacher training degree such as a Bachelors of Education, Masters of Education, Higher Diploma in Education or Post Graduate Certificate in Education, can usually only work in English Language (TEFL) schools, not in International Schools.
Now for immigration. As with certification, each country has its own set of rules about immigration and because you can travel to a country on a holiday does not mean you are allowed to work there. Some countries in the Middle East, for instance, will not issue a work visa to anyone over the age of 60. Most countries in the European Union can only hire teachers with a European Union passport, excluding most teachers from the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. American curriculum schools are the only exception to this rule – most of these schools are able to sponsor work permits though they usually take quite a long time. Many other countries require police and medical checks and will not issue visas to people with a criminal record, disabilities or HIV. Further, if you are travelling with a family, countries differ on the work and immigration rights of a trailing spouse and most countries require that you are married in order to receive these rights at all. Therefore, if you are not married, your partner must have his or her own work authorisation through his or her own job.
Fallacy #3: Everyone I work with will have the children’s best interest at heart
Most international schools are privately owned, and whilst obviously schools are successful if children and their parents are happy, there are often competing forces within an international school that don’t exist in state-funded schools at home. As mainly for-profit enterprises, international schools must strike a balance between spending money to attract teachers, parents and produce good educational results against the income the school generates in school fees. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as well run international schools can adapt the efficiency of the business world with the joy of providing a service to children and parents, but some teachers might feel uncomfortable with the concept of a profit-making educational enterprise. And there is a huge spectrum of schools – some are more ‘businesslike’ than others. International schools are as different as the children you teach – each one has a personality. Make sure your personalities are compatible!
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