Opportunities for Educators Wanting to Teach Abroad
Written by Kaelie PIscitello
Teaching abroad is not the scary, unattainable feat many people think of. Many teachers choose to stay in their home country for a variety of reasons, but many do so because they think moving abroad will be too expensive.
Many people do not know about the huge community of international teachers. The teaching abroad industry is competitive, but teaching abroad feels more rewarding than imaginable.
Fulbright
Fulbright is a wonderful opportunity to teach. Many universities assist applicants with their applications and can help determine the right scholarship for each individual. While everyone can agree that Fulbright is highly competitive, the odds depend on the country a person applies to.
For example, applying to a European country means going up against hundreds of people for a few slots. However, applying to a country outside of Europe increases the chances of receiving an award. Keep an open mind when choosing the country to teach in during the Fulbright application process.
If you want to hear more about the Fulbright application process, comment below.
JET
Many people want to teach English in Japan, and many do so through JET (or the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. As one of the most renowned international exchange programs, over 79,000 people from 80 countries have participated.
Educators can apply to JET as assistant language teachers, international relations coordinators, or sports exchange advisors. All have different roles, but for people aspiring to teach abroad, the assistant language teacher position provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about and work alongside Japanese school systems.
International TEFL Academy
People know the International TEFL Academy for the certification courses it offers for teaching English abroad. The academy offers classes in person and online, making the courses flexible and accessible to everyone interested in teaching English abroad.
They also offer courses in locations with guaranteed teaching placement abroad opportunities. Anyone interested in teaching in South Korea, Japan, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, or Cambodia should consider this program.
It offers hands-on teaching experience during the course and opportunities to acclimate to the country before full-time teaching. Of course, each participant also earns a TEFL certificate, a gateway to teaching abroad.
CIEE
CIEE offers scholarship-funded study abroad opportunities to high school students, volunteer opportunities and many opportunities to teach overseas. CIEE offers options for teaching abroad in Ireland, Thailand, South Korea, and Spain.
They help all participants find housing, a school that is right for them to work in each day, and pre-departure training and guidance to help them prepare for the journey. Thailand and South Korea offer free housing to their participants, allowing the teachers to save and pay off any loans they might have. However, please note that not all countries provide this free housing opportunity.
Teach Away
Educators looking to teach abroad can find schools worldwide looking for educators on Teach Away. They offer a plethora of both K-12 teaching roles and TESOL roles for people to participate in. They also have online teaching jobs people can take as well.
They partner with international and bilingual school groups, such as BASIS International Schools in China and Taaleem in the UAE. They also provide information about TESOL certification courses through their online platform at Manhattan University. The class offers 120 hours of learning and focuses on community building.
International Schools
International schools are a whole different side to the global teaching community. They hire early, usually in January and February, and there is high competition for educators and students. The schools hold their students to extremely high standards, and their teachers, too. They have a specific application process. Most want to see 3+ years of teaching experience and do not count student teaching,
That said, teaching at an international school is considered an extremely prestigious opportunity, and these schools offer great opportunities and benefits to their employees. Consult the International Schools Database to learn more about international schools.
