In Touch With TIC April 2015

IN TOUCH WITH April 2015

NEW JOB, NEW COUNTRY, NEW CURRICULUMA teacher tells all...

SHOULD I STAY ORSHOULD I GO?We answer the most common questions teachers ask about international schools

SWAPPING UK FOR SUNNY BERMUDATeaching and living in a tropical paradise

@teachingoverseasTIC Recruitment is now on Instagram! Follow us

today for photos from teachers working in breathtaking locations around the world!

Front cover: beach near Warwick Academy, Bermuda

CONTENTS

4 SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?We answer the most common questions teachers have about moving over-seas to teach in an international school.

8 NEW JOB, NEW COUNTRY, NEW CURRICULUMEnglish and Drama teacher Claire Woodhouse takes the plunge, teaching the IB for the very first time in the Middle East.

11 SWAPPING UK FOR SUNNY BERMUDALanguages teacher Mhairi Flood McCaw swapped the UK for the tropical paradise of Bermuda. She talks about the sun, students and roller derbies!

13 LATEST VACANCIESWhere in the world do you want to teach next year? Check out our latest vacancies to find out where you could be.

IN TOUCH WITH TIC - APRIL 2015www.ticrecruitment.com

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TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY

FEATURE

Making your mind up about moving overseas to teach is not easy. Every teacher in the world thinks the same two things: ‘What am I leaving behind?’ and ‘What will I be moving to?’ Heading to the unknown on your own is always daunting.

However it’s not an unknown and you’re not on your own if you take responsible steps in the planning process.

Easter is the time of year when many teachers around the world make this life-changing decision. Here are eight questions most people ask at this stage:

1. Will I still have the same level of stress as I’m getting here at home? Many national systems, such as the UK education system, are controlled by government policy which sets standards, requirements and budgets that can be far removed from the needs of an individual school. This can cause overwork, overstress, too much paperwork, not enough focus on teaching, too little time for planning during work hours, and insufficient staff support.

TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY

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SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

FEATURE TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY

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Because most international schools are independent, they set their own standards, budgets and work hours based on the needs of the school. There are accreditations to meet and many schools participate in formal inspections, but these typically focus on proactive models designed for supportive school improvement. Wherever you’re based in the world, as a teacher you will always work hard and, working in an international school you will face the demands of delivering very high standards of learning and teaching. But you can rest assured that you will not face some of the stressful bureauro-cratic ssues that you could well be facing if you are currently working in a national system.

2. Aren’t international schools just for privileged, rich kids? Not at all. Yes, they are fee paying, but fees range significantly between schools. Most international school children today are local children whose families are investing a huge percentage of their entire family income because they want their children to get the best possible education and career opportunities. As for many expatriate children, who might be travelling from one country to another with their parents’ jobs, an international school is the centre of their life while based in a particular country. These children may be considered privileged in some ways, but expatriate children need particular teacher support and understanding to help them through their transient lifestyles.

3. Is this the right thing to do with a family in tow? Moving overseas with a family can be the biggest worry for parents. However, many teachers do it and their children benefit enormously. Some international schools offer free or subsidised education for the children of their teaching staff, and some provide family-appropriate accommodation and services. Children benefit from the international minded approach of the international school culture and the learning approach, and there’s often far more time at weekends and holidays to enjoy the locality, to travel and to spend quality time with your children.

4. Does this make sense financially? Teacher salaries and benefits vary from country to country, and from school to school. On the whole, international school salaries are comparable or more favourable than most national school systems. In addition, the benefit packages are usually more extensive, with many international schools providing accommodation or an accommodation allowance, medical insurance, pension, travel, and some schools are located in tax-free countries too. Many international school teachers say they get more chance to save than they did back home.


5. What about my family I’m leaving behind? Leaving family and friends back home is, of course, a big concern. Many international schools appreciate this and provide travel allowance to visit home in the holidays. Today’s extensive communication options such as Skype, FaceTime and social media make staying in touch and sharing your new life experiences very easy and cheap for everyone. And you may get to see family and friends more often than you think when they realise they have an affordable holiday destination with a built-in tour guide!

6. But I have a home with a mortgage.Many international school teachers choose to rent out their house while they’re away, which means someone else will be paying towards your mortgage for you. This is a very normal option and today you can find many support services to make home rental for expatriates an easy and trouble-free possibility.

7. It’s such a big decision. What commitment do I have to make?International schools recognise this. They also recognise that many teachers want to take the opportunity to work in two or three different countries while they are working overseas. So initial contracts are often short – usually 1 or 2 years. This gives you the confidence to try international teaching without an extensive commitment.

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“My daughter is half a day away by plane, however a journey I would highly recommend. Visiting her in her new home and her new country is a highly enriching experience. The school is wonderful, the accommo-dation is incredible, the weather is tropical, the country and its culture fascinating, and hanging out with her is the best gift of all.”Donna Morgan Fazekas, from Ontario, Canada, is mum to Hailey Fazekas who is teaching at an international school in Doha, Qatar


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8. Will I have any problems getting a job when I return home? International school experience is now valued by many national and independent schools around the world. If your international school experience enables you to gain experience of teaching internationally-recognised curricula, such as the highly regarded International Baccalaureate, you will be gaining in your skill set. You will also acquire extensive experience of teaching children where English is their second or other language; a skill valued by many schools around the world today. And a huge number of international schools follow national curricula, particularly the National Curriculum of England which is used in half of all international schools (many others follow an American style curriculum). So if you choose your school well, you willnot be losing touch with the curriculum requirements of home.

9. How do I find a good school, that’s right for me? Perhaps that’s the most important question, because if this decision is well made, then many of the above concerns will be addressed. There are over 7,000 international schools around the world and half of them will currently be advertising in such places as the TES, the Guardian, through recruitment fairs and on a range of websites. So how do you know which is the right job and the right location? The recruitment advisors at Teachers International Consultancy (TIC) are specialists at helping to advise you. This is a completely free service and every single day of the year we help teachers make these decisions. TIC only works with reputable and accredited international schools. TIC is the sole recruiter for some of the best schools in the world. TIC gets to know about you, your skills, your needs and your circumstances before suggesting any jobs so that you are only offered jobs that are right for you. TIC has full details of all vacancies it promotes, including the job role, salary package and benefits, so you won’t have to go through an exhaustive search. TIC has ex-international school teachers and leaders on staff so we can give you first-hand knowledge and support. So… TIC will help you find a good school, that’s right for you.

10. What do I do to make the next step?Just register on the TIC website. There is absolutely no cost or commitment. The TIC online registration system is highly protected and totally discrete. We only ask for information that we’ll need to help us find the best possible job opportunities for you. Please take the time to complete all the questions and to upload your CV or resume, so that we can do the best possible search of appropriate jobs. This will take about five minutes. Then one of our specialist advisors will be in touch to support you through the job-hunting process; with absolutely no pressure, and with practical support and advice if and when you need it.

INSIGHT TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY


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Claire Woodhouse is a teacher from Buckinghamshire, England. She is currently teaching English and Drama at ACS Doha International School in Qatar. Here Claire talks about her experience of moving to a new job in a new country with a very different curriculum:

I decided to move to an international school to improve my teaching skills by learning another school’s education system. I also felt in need of an adventure. I wanted to challenge myself by living and working in a completely different environment – to see if I could!

Developing professionallyThe teaching and learning environment at ACS International School has really helped me to develop professionally. Not only am I able to teach my qualified subject, English, but also Drama – which is completely new to me! I’m teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, which has a very different focus and skill set to the UK curriculum. It took me a while to get used to this way of teaching, as it’s far less data and progress-driven than the UK system, but the benefits are great! I enjoy the cross-curricular teaching and the programme is incredibly flexible. The school provides online IB training and I’m also supported by colleagues, who are always on hand to help me.

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Should I return to the UK, I would be happy to teach the IB again – learning the programme has made me a more marketable teacher! Even if I returned to teach the national curriculum, I would still add elements of the IB into my classes. I would encourage students to think more laterally and creatively for example. I also think aspects of the IB programme would be particularly beneficial for SEN and EAL students.

This school differs from my old school in that the hierarchy of management is less formal. They aren’t obsessed with number crunching and data input about student progress – so different from schools in the UK! There is a vibrant, welcoming social life amongst the teachers. Curiously, I’ve noticed that when you remove the constant need for reporting and testing, the students seem to achieve more and learn more profoundly. This is very rewarding for a teacher!

From this experience I’ve gained the ability to become more flexible, adaptable and tolerant, which are not qualities I would have used so much in my old school.

I’ve also become a more attentive teacher. For example, recently my students were part of an off-timetable programme. It would have been easy to not supervise them as much as I would have in formal lessons. But I felt the skills they were learning - teamwork, prioritising time, working with unfamiliar resources – were so important that I involved myself more in their work, to ensure they did the best they could.

Life in QatarI love the family-centred culture of Qatar - you often see whole families out together. It’s a very conservative, safe society for women to live in.

In my free time I work out, swim, visit different places in the city and socialise with friends.

My teaching timetable is easier than in the UK, so I’m able to socialise far more with my colleagues, which makes for very effective ‘down time’ from work. I spend a lot less time lesson planning and marking than I did before, so I try to use that extra time fully. It’s easy to make friends here because the expat community is so small. I have many friends who are not school colleagues. I don’t think it’s an entirely good idea to only socialise with people you work with...you just end up talking about work all the time!


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As I’ve had visitors during the school breaks so far, I haven’t travelled as much as I’d planned. I did spend a week in Sri Lanka with friends over the February half term. It’s a country that’s relatively easy to reach, and quite a lot cheaper than it would be travelling from the UK – I’d totally recommend it! It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.

Advice to teachers considering teaching overseasTo other UK teachers looking to move overseas I’d most definitely say ‘Do it! What are you waiting for?’, It’s the best career move I ever made! I’ve been challenged by the experience of building a new job and social life for myself, away from everything that was easy and familiar to me.

Teachers International Consultancy was very helpful in my job search. I’d never looked for jobs abroad before and did not know my way around local rules.

After my contract ends at ACS Doha, I am considering applying for other jobs in Qatar. Alternatively, now that I’ve been in the Gulf for a year, I feel happier about looking further afield and am also considering Abu Dhabi, Oman, Kuwait, Dubai or another Emirate!

THE LATEST TIC BLOGSThe TIC Blog offers a weekly look at teaching in an international school. TIC’s team of experts share advice on a wide range of fascinating topics. Here our some of our latest blogs:

How to pick a good teacher recruitment company TIC recruitment Manager Gemma McSweeney explains what a teacher recruitment agency should be doing for you and what makes TIC Recruitment stand out. Ten interesting facts about international schools...that you might now know TIC Managing Director Andrew Wigford shares his favourite facts about international schools that might surprise you!

Five things to consider before moving overseas TIC’s Asia Consultant Tim Creber offers five key considerations all teachers should think about before moving abroad to work in an international school.

Read these blogs and more at www.ticrecruitment.com/blog

MY STORY TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY


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FROM UK TO SUNNY BERMUDA

Mhairi Flood-McCaw is a teacher from the UK who is in her second year teaching languages in Bermuda. Here she talks about swapping wet and windy UK for sunny, sultry Bermuda:

What led me to teach in Bermuda?“I work in a very small foreign languages department at Somersfield Academy, an international school in Bermuda. I teach the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) to children aged between 11 and 16.

I studied languages at Leeds University and have experienced living abroad before - in both Mexico and Brazil. I’ve always enjoyed the challenges and adventures which come with living in a new place and particularly enjoy the lifestyles of countries with warmer climates. Moving to live and work in sunny Bermuda was a perfect choice for me!

I was initially attracted to Somersfield Academy because it’s a Montessori school that also teaches the IB Middle Years Programme. I realised that working in an environment which embraced and encouraged many different styles of teaching would give me the opportunity to grow as a teacher.

CASE STUDY TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY

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Opportunities to develop as a teacherSince being at Somersfield Academy I’ve definitely developed as a teacher. The MYP allows me freedom and the opportunity to be creative in my teaching. As I no longer have to follow a national curriculum I can teach themes and topics that really interest me. For example, there’s more opportunity to teach arts and cultural subjects with the IB. The programme also encourages students to lead their own enquiries, which I think is wonderful. If I return to the UK, I will definitely try to teach in a way that is more creative and student led.

Another benefit of working in a small department of an international school is that it’s helped me to become more decisive and independent as a teacher. I’ve grown in confidence. I now work in a more conceptual way and take greater risks. I recently led an eTwinning project called Culture in a Box. My students created presentations for young people in a Parisian school who were studying Spanish. The children in Bermuda were so excited to use Spanish to communicate with other young Spanish learners across the globe.

Life outside the classroomI love living in a warm, sunny climate and Bermuda has some breath-taking beaches. The island is small, just under 21 square miles, so I’ve had a chance to explore most of it. Living on a small island also makes it really easy to get around and socialise. It’s been really easy to make friends as Bermudians tend to be very open and friendly people. Sometimes I socialise with teachers from my school, but there are also lots of ex-pats here who have now become friends.

Living in a different country and within another culture has also given me the chance to experience new opportunities outside the classroom. I’ve learnt to ride a moped as this is a common form of transport in Bermuda. I’ve also tried kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and one weekend I even went whale watching!

IN TOUCH WITH TIC - FEBRUARY 2015www.ticrecruitment.com

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CASE STUDY TEACHERS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY

I’ve started Bemuda’s first female flat-track roller derby team! I played roller derby for two years in Halifax, West Yorkshire and was sad to give up the sport when I moved away. Starting the team here has been challenging, but I’ve met so many wonderful people along the way, and have even been on TV here promoting the sport. Forty-two women have signed up and training is well underway at a beautiful, outdoor skate rink by the sea.

Bermuda is also ideally located for travel in the USA - I’m only a two hour flight away from New York City. I’m staying in Bermuda for at least another year during which I’m planning to explore America more.

Thanks to TIC my future looks brightI really appreciated that the TIC team kept in contact with me during the interview process and their interview tips and advice were very useful. I would definitely use TIC in future...if I can ever leave this beautiful island!”

LATEST VACANCIESIf you’ve decided on an international move, take action now before you miss the best opportunities in the best schools. Here are just some of the latest TIC vacancies:

• Head of Primary (PYP) - Abu Dhabi

• Deputy Head Primary (PYP) - Dubai

• Head of Secondary - Mexico City

• Business and Economics teacher - Bangkok

• Biology teacher - Bangkok

• Middle School Science - Switzerland

• Head of Modern Foreign Languages - Beijing

• Lower Primary teacher - Bermuda

To find out more about the vacancies we have available, visit www.ticrecruitment.com/vacancies or send us a message at [email protected].

• English teacher - Moscow

• Primary teacher - Bucharest

• Mathematics teacher - Kazakhstan

• Physics teacher - Baku

• Early Childhood teacher - Doha

• Primary teacher - Doha

• English teacher - Doha

• DT teacher - Kuala Lumpur

TIC Recruitmentwww.ticrecruitment.com

In Touch With TIC April 2015

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