| Teaching abroad is an opportunity to expand your | | | | will be able to continue at your new school. It’s an |
| horizons and enhance your resume with the view to | | | | important consideration if you are moving to an IB |
| advancing up the career ladder. But, if you have a | | | | school because all students are required to learn a |
| family, making sure you’ve got all the information | | | | language other than their mother tongue. In grades 11 |
| you can find will help you find the best position for your | | | | and 12 (years 12 and 13) this is particularly relevant |
| whole family. | | | | because your child will be expected to sit the Diploma |
| There are many international teachers who love the | | | | exam which presumes a prior knowledge of the |
| lifestyle and are of the opinion that their children are | | | | language. If you are moving to an IB school and your |
| the better for getting an international education. | | | | child has never studied a foreign language before, ask |
| Essentially your children will not only benefit from | | | | which languages are offered at the ‘ab initio’ |
| expanded horizons themselves, but they’ll be | | | | level. This is the level that Diploma students can enter |
| getting a private education too! Teaching overseas is | | | | a language for the first time. |
| not for the faint-hearted, but the risks of making a poor | | | | Extra-curricular activities offered |
| decision can be managed. | | | | Smaller international schools may be a pleasant |
| Here are some items to consider if you’re going to | | | | change from working in a national public system, but |
| teach abroad with children: | | | | the downside is that there may be only limited |
| Tuition as part of the salary package | | | | opportunities for your children to take part in |
| International schools are fee-paying schools. This | | | | extra-curricular activities. Again, check schools’ |
| means that parents or their employers pay for children | | | | websites to see what sports are offered. If there is no |
| to attend the school, and it’s not cheap. In most | | | | obvious link, you can always look at the pictures to |
| salary packages you come across you’ll find that | | | | see if there are any sports or music related ones. If |
| tuition for your children is included. The thing to check is | | | | your children are dedicated sports players you can |
| whether it’s included for the number of children you | | | | inquire about regional sporting competitions and what |
| have. Often you’ll have to pay tuition for you third | | | | sports take part in them. Other activities to find out |
| and/or fourth child. | | | | about, depending on the interests of your children, are |
| Learning difficulties and learning support | | | | Model United Nations, Amnesty International, |
| If your child has learning difficulties don’t try and | | | | International Youth Awards (similar to the Duke of |
| hide it from the school because you’re worried that | | | | Edinburgh Award), orchestra, choir, drama productions, |
| the situation will affect your employability. If it does, you | | | | etc. |
| probably don’t want to work there, and you surely | | | | Leisure activities in the community |
| don’t want your child going to school there! | | | | What activities do your children take part in when they |
| Learning support departments are becoming more | | | | have leisure time? What would they like to try? You |
| common in the better schools, and as a consequence | | | | can find out about leisure activities in the community |
| there’s a raised awareness of special education | | | | you’ll be moving two by either asking the recruiter |
| and supporting children with difficulties. To find out | | | | (at interview, after you’ve been offered a position), |
| whether learning support is available at a school | | | | on schools’ websites (you can often find a page |
| you’re thinking of applying to work at, check their | | | | on ‘life’ in the same area as the employment or |
| website for a list of departments or a list of staff. If | | | | admissions pages) or by searching on the internet. |
| there is no mention of learning support provision, either | | | | When you’re searching on the internet use city |
| ask the school directly or have a friend email the | | | | AND activity, for example, Bangkok AND Flamenco |
| school, pretend to be a prospective parent and ask for | | | | dancing. |
| you. | | | | The key to making the right choices is having accurate |
| Languages offered | | | | and complete information at your fingertips. Following |
| Most schools will offer a number of foreign languages | | | | these simple tips will ensure that you have good quality |
| for your child to learn. If your child has already been | | | | information on which to base this important decision |
| learning a language, you may want to find out if they | | | | about the lives of your children. |