Teacher Requirements to Teach Abroad
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 for ESL Teachers
Required Qualifications
- Native English speaker* – Due to demand by our partner schools teachers must be able to speak English at a native level.
- 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 in the US, UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand is required; additional degrees and certifications are always desirable. If you have a Bachelors from another country and a Masters from one of the countries above, then that will suffice as well.
- Teachers Certificate – Most schools require a teachers certificate from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South African for all teachers they hire. This is due to the fact that the host country will often not grant a work permit to the teacher without a teaching 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 to hire teachers who are enthusiastic in their teaching and their lives because they want individuals who will inspire and challenge students.
- 1-year minimum commitment* – Teachers must be able to sign a one year teaching contract, although you should know that most schools require a minimum of two years. 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 two references who can attest to your character and teaching expertise. In addition, teaching applicants must not have been convicted of a felony.
Desired Qualifications
- Overseas experience – International schools prefer to recruit teachers who have studied or worked abroad before. Those who have not should strongly desire to work and live in an international environment, should understand the challenges, and should demonstrate flexibility in adapting to new situations.
- Global perspective – Evidence of multiculturalism in a teacher’s life is particularly important for those who have not lived and worked overseas before.
- Single teacher or a teaching couple – Since travel expenses, housing, insurance, and visa procurement are taken care of by the school, we have very few opportunities for teachers with dependents.
- IB experience – International Baccalaureate (IB) program experience is preferred and in some schools it is required.
- 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.