Research Says Teaching Abroad is Good For Your Career

New research available exclusively to Shelter Offshore reveals that many teachers are enhancing their personal and professional lives by spending a period of time teaching abroad

Are you interested in developing your teaching career?  Then why not think about teaching abroad?  That’s what 89% of the respondents in a study into international teaching suggested to would-be expat teachers.

Every single one of the research group which included international teachers past and present, said that the experience of teaching overseas had enriched them as a person.  66% had learned a new language during their time overseas for example, and 20% of these had become fluent speakers – which just goes to show how enhancing a sojourn overseas can truly be.

In this report we examine the findings of the research in depth, and discuss ways in which you as an individual can perhaps find positive new challenges from a career teaching abroad.

The research, conducted by international recruitment organisation Teachers International Consultancy (TIC), involved teachers of nine different nationalities and was conducted with the support of Bath University summer school, Fieldwork Education summer school and the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

What’s So Good About Teaching Abroad?

So what was it that these teachers liked so much about teaching in international schools?  It seems that primarily they favoured the level of international awareness of students and teachers alike, followed closely by the behaviour of the children and also the curriculum that they got to teach. 

The success of their experiences is tempting many teachers to stay abroad for longer than they originally anticipated when they expatriated in the first place.  This is demonstrated by the fact that 57% of teachers surveyed had already worked for five or more years in the international system.  A third of those who were involved with the study anticipated returning to their homelands within the next five years, and 71% said that they will probably or definitely continue to teach on their return home.

This is good news for schools everywhere because international schools are seeing a rise in the number of teachers who are extending their contracts, and schools back home are then benefiting from the experiences of returning teachers.  In terms of the benefits schools back home get to appreciate, there are of course the aforementioned language skills, together with the fact that 68% of the teachers interviewed said their overseas teaching experiences has significantly enhanced their overall teaching skills.

Have You Got What it Takes to Teach Abroad?

If you’re thinking that perhaps a teaching assignment abroad might be just what you’re looking for, it’s time to find out what makes a good international teacher.

The most important characteristic, according to the survey, was flexibility, with being a good communicator and having an international outlook being two other valued qualities, well ahead of having a high quality education and knowledge of a foreign language for example.  As for why the expatriate teachers surveyed had gone abroad in the first place, 79% admitted that it was for the adventure and the excitement, whilst 67% said it was for the opportunity to travel.

Where to Find Teaching Abroad Jobs

If you want to go and teach abroad and are wondering where you begin your search for a job, in retrospect, many of the teachers surveyed said they would not use job fairs or independently hunt down an international job in the future; the majority preferring to work with a specialist organisation or consultant who could advise them on the most reputable, accredited schools to consider.  Such organisations were deemed to be the best to guide prospective candidates through the interview process, as well as being fully available to support them with issues such as contracts and visas.

Director of Teachers International Consultancy, Andrew Wigford, says he can personally attest to many of these comments.  “My wife Angie and I worked for sixteen years in international schools, and our skill base, curriculum knowledge and all-round teaching ability grew in leaps and bounds during our time abroad.  It was also a massive step in our personal development, giving us a greater sense of adventure, complete confidence in travelling anywhere, and a much bigger perspective of the world.  Almost every teacher that we meet going through the international school experience develops these same characteristics.”

Andrew also agrees with the need for a teacher to use a knowledgeable recruitment agency or consultant when looking for work abroad.  “We personally knew of several teachers who tried to work with schools directly, only to experience problems or unexpected pitfalls along the way.  The visa process can be very complicated for example and although many international schools are accredited with very high standards and reputations, there are some unscrupulous schools out there that can give the whole system a bad name.  Working with a specialist organisation or representative that only represents reputable and accredited schools will help avoid many of these problems.”

Andrew Wigford is director of Teachers International Consultancy (TIC).  For more information about their research and teacher placement support services, visit their website or call TIC on +44 (0) 29 2021 2083.