Choosing the Type of International School That is Right for You

So you are looking into teaching abroad? Teaching at an international school can be a very rewarding experience. It is important to understand, however, that there are many different types of international schools and so it is important to choose the type of school that best fits your needs and that you would be most comfortable teaching at. Because after all, you will be spending the majority of your time here, so where you end up can make or break your international experience.

Regardless of the type of school you choose to teach at, the expectations placed on you by the administration will be very high. On top of your regular teaching, you will be expected to take part in a wider scope of school activities, usually providing some kind of extracurricular activity on a regular basis and taking part in occasional evening and weekend events. These events are designed to promote the school within the community.

Most international schools are independent non-profit establishments run by a board of trustees or something similar. There are for-profit schools as well, but at many of these schools profit is more important than the calibre of education. Although most international schools are multi-cultural, some privately run schools cater more towards wealthy local students. So before choosing a school, you should look into their student body population.

Another option is to teach at a US Department of State Affiliated School. These schools were set up to educate the children of Americans living and working overseas, and are often located in capital cities. The student bodies of these schools are not exclusively made up of American citizens though, which result in many of these schools having a more multicultural population.

If you would prefer to teach at a school that has a religious affiliation, there are a number of international schools that do. You can find information through your church and also on the internet. If you want to work in a school with Christian affiliations, you should look into the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). They have a network of affiliated schools that covers the entire planet.

You also have the option to teach through either the UK or US Department of Defence (DOD). In order to work for the US Department of Defence schools, however, you must be a US trained and certified teacher in order to be considered. You can visit either of their websites to see what vacancies are available and the terms and conditions of service. They both have central recruitment offices and the terms for the positions are the same for each DOD school.

As you can see, there are many different options available to teachers wanting to teach in an international school setting. No matter what your preferences, there should be an international school that will be the perfect fit for you. Just remember that in order to ensure that the school you choose is the perfect fit for you, it will require you to do some research and dig a little deeper into what the school has to offer.