| "> | | | | specific content in a language that isn't their own can |
| Considering the recent unprecedented growth in the | | | | be a real struggle. You are not going into international |
| number of international schools in the world on top of | | | | teaching to work harder than you do at home! |
| the abundance already operating worldwide, it is no | | | | Military Schools |
| wonder you might be reeling from the thought of | | | | A US Department of Defense (DoD) school is a |
| choosing the 'right' school for you. | | | | school that is attached to a military base abroad. The |
| Of course, that is assuming you are already frothing at | | | | DoD is responsible for providing education for all school |
| the mouth to kick-start your international teaching | | | | aged dependents of all military and civilian employees |
| career and that you are looking for clarification of | | | | who are required to live abroad in order to do their |
| what international teaching is all about and how to | | | | jobs. |
| break into this select group of educational | | | | There are over 100 US Department of Defense |
| professionals. If you are not, well why not? Using my | | | | schools in Europe, and currently there are 210 schools |
| teaching credentials to secure a job teaching abroad | | | | located around the world in 12 countries. You might |
| was the best career decision I have ever made. | | | | encounter the children of military personnel in American |
| But I digress... this is all about helping you get a handle | | | | schools abroad when there is no DOD school |
| on the different kinds of international schools there are | | | | available. |
| who are looking for international teachers to staff | | | | The British Equivalent is Service Children's Education |
| them. | | | | (SCE) Schools who operate 27 schools world wide |
| Privately Owned International Schools | | | | with the majority of them situated in Cyprus and |
| Private international schools are essentially businesses | | | | Germany. SCE schools are designed to give the |
| with directors who are aiming to make a profit. There | | | | students the same kind of education they would |
| is a considerable amount of money to be made in | | | | receive if living in the UK and attending school there. |
| providing private education in areas where the supply | | | | The good, the bad and the ugly of Military Schools... |
| is less than demanded. | | | | The Good -It is easy to evaluate the package you will |
| Many wealthy parents are demanding English language | | | | receive because you will be employed on a national |
| education for their children, and that has lead to the | | | | contract. If you are working for the SCE you will be |
| propagation of international schools. This is a particular | | | | employed on a British teaching contract, with a few |
| feature of the Middle East and Asia, where new | | | | extras. You will also be paid in Sterling. The same goes |
| schools are starting up each year. The year I was | | | | for a DoD school. |
| looking for my current position there were a total of 5 | | | | The Bad - TAX! You will have to pay national taxes. |
| new schools starting up in Dubai. | | | | One of the benefits that comes with teaching at an |
| The good, the bad and the ugly of private international | | | | international school is that you can pay less tax or |
| schools... | | | | work in a tax free environment. When you work for a |
| The Good - they are plentiful. There are a large | | | | overseas military school you will be employed 'in' the |
| number of private international schools to choose from. | | | | country whose military the school serves. |
| The Bad - While it is possible to balance good | | | | The Ugly - You'll be teaching American or British |
| educational practice with the desire to make | | | | students the relevant curriculum. You will miss out on |
| substantial profits, it is unlikely that in a knock down | | | | experiencing a true multi-cultural classroom and all the |
| fight between the two that the goal of educating the | | | | benefits of teaching international children. |
| students well will win. | | | | Private Board-Run International Schools |
| The Ugly - When a school's continued survival, and | | | | Let's face it, most international schools are going to be |
| consequently profit making potential, is dependent upon | | | | private. What reason would any country's government |
| tuition money from students, how likely do you think it is | | | | have to run a special school for foreign children? I can |
| that the school will expel students that are negatively | | | | think of a few and none of them are particularly good! |
| affecting the learning of others? | | | | And so, you're going to be stuck with a private school. |
| English Speaking 'International' Schools | | | | But this doesn't have to be a bad thing. |
| Some schools do not do a very good job of being an | | | | Private board-run international schools are generally |
| international school, rather they should be called English | | | | the best of the lot. These schools are run on a |
| Speaking Schools. In fact, many schools springing up in | | | | not-for-profit basis where any and all profits are usually |
| the Middle East do call themselves just that because | | | | ploughed back into the school in order to fund future |
| most of the students are local. | | | | improvements. |
| The student body of an international school should hail | | | | The board is often made up of a mixture of local |
| from outside the school's host country. If the majority | | | | business people and officials (to ease the school's |
| of the student body is local to the host country, then | | | | relationship with officials), parents and teachers. The |
| surely that negates it being an 'international' school? | | | | primary goal of these schools is more likely to be to |
| Many international schools put a limit on the proportion | | | | provide an excellent education for students because |
| of students that can come from the host country. | | | | you've got educators and parents on the decision |
| These international schools often have a waiting list for | | | | making body. |
| local students. | | | | The good, the bad and the ugly of Private Board-Run |
| The good, the bad and the ugly of English Speaking | | | | International Schools... |
| 'International' Schools... | | | | The Good - Good quality education is a priority of the |
| The Good - once again, there are a lot of them | | | | people with the power to make the decisions. You'll be |
| around, all looking for international teachers. | | | | treated like a professional here. |
| The Bad - instead of enjoying a multi-cultural | | | | The Bad - When board members include people who |
| classroom with students that are enthusiastic and all | | | | are not trained educators, sometimes they have some |
| have different experiences to bring to class | | | | trouble prioritising issues the way education |
| discussions. You will be teaching wealthy children who | | | | administrators would for the good of the whole school. |
| possibly have no concept of what it is like to have to | | | | The Ugly - You'll sometimes get a power hungry |
| do things like chores and who may not have any | | | | megalomaniac on the board, and once they're there |
| concept of the real world. | | | | they can be difficult to oust. |
| The Ugly - you will be teaching a class full of students | | | | Still, if possible, this is the kind of school you really want |
| who will share a common language that you don't | | | | to be working for! |
| understand, mono-lingual classes being taught subject | | | | |