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Teacher Qualifications
Below are the required qualifications for international
school teachers followed by qualifications that are not mandatory,
but are desirable and make a teacher more competitive.
Required Qualifications
- Native English speaker - Due to demand by our partner schools, we regret that we are unable to hire teachers who are not native English speakers.
- Western curriculum teaching - International schools teach a Western based curriculum. As such, applicants MUST have experience teaching in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South African national curriculum.
- Outstanding teaching ability - All teachers should be
able to demonstrate a strong teaching ability and a genuine enjoyment
of the job.
- Some experience - International schools prefer teachers with at least two years of teaching experience, some require more
and others will accept less.
- Bachelor's degree - A four year Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required; additional degrees and
certifications are always desirable. In addition, most schools
require a Teacher's certificate.
- Flexibility - It is impossible to successfully live and
work overseas without a healthy dose of flexibility and a sense
of adventure.
- Creativity and enthusiasm - International schools want teachers who are creative and enthusiastic in their teaching and
in their lives because they want individuals who will inspire
and challenge students.
- 2-year minimum availability - Teachers must be able to sign a two year teaching contract, as required by most schools. Of course, at the end of a contract continued employment is possible upon mutual agreement of the teacher and school.
- Excellent references - Teachers should be prepared to provide three references, one supervisor, one parent of a recent
student, and one other character reference. In addition, teaching
applicants must not have a criminal record.
Desired Qualifications
- Teachers Certification - Most schools require teacher's
certification for teachers and all prefer it. However, many schools
have teacher intern positions available, for which no certification
is required (however, a Bachelor's degree is). For those positions,
applicants should have graduated with honors from an excellent
university and have experience working with young people in some
capacity.
- Overseas experience - International schools prefer teachers
who have studied or worked overseas before. Those who have not
should strongly desire to work and live in an international environment,
should understand the associated challenges, and should demonstrate
flexibility in adapting to new situations or living conditions.
- Global perspective - Evidence of multiculturalism in
a teacher's life is particularly important for those who have
not lived and worked overseas before. A willingness or desire
to learn the language is also a plus.
- Single teacher or a teaching couple - Since travel expenses,
housing, insurance, and visa procurement are taken care of by
the school, most of the time teachers who have no accompanying,
non-working dependents are preferred.
- IB experience - International Baccalaureate (IB) program
experience is preferred and in some schools required.
- Extra-curricular activities- The more outside skills
a teacher has and the more activities they are involved in, the
more desirable they are to schools. International school teachers
are often expected to participate in extra-curricular activities
and schools want to know teaching candidates have a willingness
and desire to be involved in a variety of things outside of their
job.
- Language knowledge - It is good to have some prior knowledge
of the local language, or of any foreign language. Not only does
this make a teacher more useful to a school, but it indicates
a global perspective in their life.
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