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Programs
Teachers have some of the best opportunities of any profession for
working abroad. To better understand these, it is useful to distinguish
among three main types of teaching, each of which represents
a different labor market in which different credentials are needed.
Teaching English Abroad
English is the new “lingua franca” worldwide for commerce,
diplomacy, technology and higher education. As a result, there are widespread
opportunities for native speakers of English to teach English abroad.
Teaching English as a Foreign (or Second) Language is known by many
acronyms, including TEFL, TESL, EFL, ESL, or even TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Since teaching is usually done in English,
exposure to the local language and culture will be on one's own time.
Teaching English Without K-12 Certification
This is the main option for recent graduates and others lacking specialized
skills. Most positions require a bachelor's degree and a commitment
of at least one academic year. Location is typically in Asia or Eastern
Europe. For a listing of dozens of organizations which can place English
teachers into overseas jobs, see Teaching
Abroad Without Certification. Of course, teachers with teaching
credentials or experience will also be welcomed by these organizations!
Teaching English for Qualified Teachers
Teachers with a Master's degree in TEFL have additional and generally
better-paid options abroad, ranging from teaching in private K-12
schools to teaching in overseas programs administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The best source of job listings for qualified TEFL
teachers is the online job listings of The Professional Association, TESOL.
TESOL also sends out a Placement Bulletin that includes worlwide job listings and career development articles. This service is only available to TESOL members.
K-12 Teaching Abroad
Teachers with K-12 certification (some experience a plus) have still
another wide range of options. The types of schools where one can teach
vary in terms of the amount of integration into the host culture, from
island to full immersion. The following are
listed in an order which proceeds from culturally less-integrated
to culturally more-integrated settings:
Department of Defense Schools
| Department of Defense Schools |
Located at U.S. military bases around the world, the teaching environment is roughly similar to that of American public schools. Contact with
host-country nationals would be relatively limited, since students and
staff are American. Consider, as well, that the milieu will be decidedly
military. |
Private International Schools
Located worldwide, nearly 1,000 private, English-language K-12 schools educate
the children of expatriate diplomats and businesspeople, and occasionally
offspring of wealthy host-country nationals. The teaching environment
would be similar to that of elite U.S. private schools. Although one can
apply directly to a given school, the most efficient way to apply is
through job fairs given in the U.S., most of which take place in February
(apply early, since some fill up by December!). Job
fairs include the following:
| International Schools Services (ISS) |
Very selective program entails interviewing at an International Recruitment Center
(IRC) after passing the initial screening by ISS. Must have bachelor's
degree, teaching certification, experience living overseas and be
willing to go to any country for a 2-year contract. Areas in special
demand include math, science, computers, library science, and elementary
teaching. Apply by December 1 in order to qualify to register for
the IRC. Of 2,000 candidates per year, approximately one third obtain positions. Most teachers placed by ISS have several years teaching
experience. |
| Search Associates |
Contacts with some 100 schools. Fairs in February (or March) and in June. Candidates lacking certification or experience may be eligible for Search Associate's International School Intern Program (ISIP). |
| University of Northern Iowa's Overseas Placement Service for Educators |
Nonprofit. More than 100 schools and organizations are represented
at a job fair in February in Iowa. |
| Queens University |
Held in February in Kingston, Ontario. Participation is limited to individuals with two years of full time elementary or secondary school experience. Most contracts for two academic years. |
Volunteer Organizations
Despite the name, most of the placements, if long term (two years), usually provide
for the expenses of the teacher as well as a stipend. Options range
from the government-sponsored Peace Corps to religious organizations
(from non-proselytizing to traditional missionaries). Unlike private
schools, pupils in these schools will be the children of ordinary people
from the host country.
Religious organizations should be contacted directly; some
recruit at the teaching abroad fairs already mentioned. For contact
information, see the directories of volunteer organizations below.
Fulbright Programs for Teachers
| Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program |
This program is unique in two respects. It is a mutual, one-for-one
exchange of teachers and participants who are fully integrated into
regular host country schools. K-12, community college teachers, and
administrators are all eligible. Applicants must currently have a full-time
teaching or administrative position. Application deadline is in October
for the following academic year. |
| Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships |
See the U-M campus Fulbright advisors in the U-M International Institute. English teaching options for recent B.A./B.S. graduates, master's and
doctoral candidates, young professionals and artists in over 38 countries. Currently enrolled U-M
students should apply through the university, others apply "at-large" through IIE.
Application deadline is in September for current U-M students and in October for those applying "at-large". |
University-Level Teaching Abroad
Nearly all these positions require a Ph.D. (or at least “ABD”)
or other advanced professional degree.
Fulbright Scholar Program
| Council for International Exchange of ScholarsFulbright Scholar Program |
Provides grants for college and university faculty as well as professionals and independent
scholars to support an academic year of teaching and/or research overseas.
Very early application deadlines. Grants also available for international education administrators. |
Teaching for Study Abroad Programs
This is generally a tough market, since U.S.-sponsored programs tend to use home-campus faculty or to hire local professors.
Special Placement Programs
Many of the organizations listed in Teaching Abroad Without Certification can offer university-level positions for those who are qualified. Worth special mention are:
| International Scholars Fellowship Program of the Open Society Institute |
The International Scholars Fellowship Program selects highly qualified scholars from the social sciences and humanities to teach and/or consult at partner universities in South Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union (excluding the Baltic states), and Mongolia. Curriculum development and academic planning are two of the most important roles of the scholars. Applicants should possess a PhD or the highest degree available in their field and be well-established in academics. Recent degree recipients will not be considered. The application deadline for 2008 was in April. |
| Colorado China Council |
Places individuals with bachelor's to doctorate degrees into teaching
positions in Chinese in universities and secondary schools for the academic year (August-June). Teachers/instructors will be asked to give classes in spoken English, focusing on reading, writing, and listening skills, as well as American/British literature, history, culture and occasionally specialized areas such as business, economics, IT, and law, for those who qualify. No Chinese is necessary. Program charges a fee. Orientation - including Chinese language training, Housing, health insurance, and stipend paid are included; you pay round-trip airfare. Application deadline is March 1st. |
| International Educators for Africa |
This mentoring program places an ethnically diverse group of experienced
American administrators, school teachers, non-professional teachers
with special skills, and college professors in formal and informal
educational institutions in sub-Saharan African countries. These volunteers
spend one academic year helping to improve the educational system
in areas such as curriculum and policy development, teacher training,
demonstrative teaching, health and HIV/AIDS prevention education,
technical assistance, and computer literacy. Application deadline
is late February. Participants must have three years of experience as a treacher, professor, or administrator and be a citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States. |
Regular Faculty Positions Abroad
See standard academic job listings such as the following:
"Resources for K-12 and University-Level Teaching Abroad"
Last reviewed: 2/09 |
