I am a 37-year-old secondary ICT teacher and have been teaching for three years. I have been questioning where I am going in education, even if I changed schools. I believe that teaching abroad would widen my expertise and knowledge; with my varied background I’d be able to offer more than just an ICT teacher. I might be suited to a teaching contract in an underprivileged school, possibly in the Third World. Also, I’d like to rent out my house while away. Is there a place where teachers can post accommodation needs.
Apart from one-year exchanges, there are broadly two types of teaching abroad experience - working in international schools, often with privileged pupils who are part of the ex-pat community or children of affluent locals, or working in state schools that educate children in less well-off communities. Jobs for the first are often advertised in The TES and on the web. Most of those working in the second type do so through volunteer programmes, often only paying the equivalent of a local wage. Check the Voluntary Service Overseas or British Council websites for information.
Don’t forget, your pension will be affected if you teach overseas. I don’t know of any central website for teachers who want to rent out their house.
Advertise at a university teacher training department or schools that might have newly qualified staff.
If you have a question for John Howson, please email susan.young@tes.co.uk
