| You have decided on teaching abroad so you | | | | perfect) job, you should ask these questions |
| are off on the job hunt. Aside from the | | | | to all prospective employers: |
| obvious considerations such as what country | | | | |
| to work in and what training/qualifications | | | | 1. What is the salary? |
| to obtain; there are other things a teachers | | | | |
| should consider when looking at potential job | | | | 2. How many months is the contract? |
| offers. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, |
| There are many factors a teacher considers | | | | including teacher's license, work permit, and |
| which will affect whether they accept a | | | | visa extension? |
| position. The most obvious factor would be | | | | |
| the content of the position. What is the | | | | 4. How soon can you get this paperwork |
| school asking of you as a teacher? You must | | | | processed? |
| ask yourself if the job is interesting and | | | | |
| fits into your career plans as a teacher. The | | | | 5. How many hours will I be teaching? |
| person you will be working for is also an | | | | |
| important consideration so you must take the | | | | 6. What kind of insurance is on offer? |
| time to talk to them either via email or | | | | |
| phone. It would also be beneficial to ask to | | | | 7. When are the starting and ending times |
| speak to other teachers from the school to | | | | for work? |
| find out their impressions. Knowing what the | | | | |
| job is and whom you will be working with are | | | | 8. About how many events a month are teachers |
| the first step in deciding whether to pursue | | | | required to attend outside normal working |
| it further. | | | | hours (teachers' meetings, parents' meetings, |
| | | | school festivals, seminars, etc.)? |
| Some may say that the most important | | | | |
| consideration would be salary and benefits | | | | 9. Does the school have/provide books? |
| but these should be a secondary consideration | | | | |
| to what you want to do and who you will be | | | | 10. Does the school have whiteboards or |
| working with. Regardless of the salary paid, | | | | chalkboards? |
| most people will not stay at a position where | | | | |
| they feel unsatisfied or have no growth. In | | | | 11. Does the school provide all teaching |
| addition, the people you work with or for | | | | materials needed? What are the items |
| have an enormous impact on your job | | | | provided? |
| satisfaction. However, when considering | | | | |
| salary and benefits, do not focus as much on | | | | 12. Does the school require that I attend |
| the starting salary but rather on the | | | | teach a summer camp? |
| potential for growth and increases. Does the | | | | |
| school have growth potential for you as a | | | | 13. Is there a discipline policy? What is it |
| professional? Do they spell out | | | | and how is it enforced? |
| cost-of-living increases and meritorious | | | | |
| raises? Benefits are other areas that can | | | | 14. What are the details of contract "extras" |
| supplement a position where the starting | | | | such as:a. Resigning bonusesb. Biannual or |
| salary is not as good as you would have | | | | annual plane tickets to visit homec. Housing |
| wished. Get a list of benefits from the | | | | allowances (if no housing allowance then ask |
| company and formulate any questions you may | | | | about help finding accomodations along with |
| have regarding them so that you can better | | | | cost in the school area)d. Internet access |
| discuss the position with management and | | | | both in and outside the schoole. Raise |
| other teachers at the school. | | | | schedules |
| | | | |
| Another factor that may come into play with | | | | Searching for a position is difficult. After |
| many teachers when evaluating a position is | | | | spending many hours on a search, making a |
| the resources provided by the school. | | | | careful decision regarding a job offer is |
| Teachers spend a large majority of their time | | | | important. Getting an offer does not |
| preparing for upcoming lessons. This requires | | | | necessarily mean you should take the job. |
| readily available resources such as teacher | | | | Most employers will not expect you to make a |
| books, computer, printer, internet access, | | | | decision on the spot. You will probably be |
| and preferably a reference library. In | | | | given a few days to a week to make up your |
| addition, there should be a work area set | | | | mind. If they are unable to provide you with |
| aside for teachers to plan and prepare. You | | | | the time to make a decision then you should |
| should also look at whether the school | | | | not consider this as a viable position. On |
| already has a set curriculum/syllabus and | | | | the other hand, if you decide to go with a |
| student books because you may be asked to | | | | school without finding out the proper |
| help to create these resources for your | | | | information, don't blame the school when the |
| school year if they are not provided. I have | | | | position turns out not to be what you |
| known many teachers that have felt the need | | | | expected or wanted. Weighing the advantages |
| to move on because of the demands of planning | | | | and disadvantages of the job will help you |
| for a school year without adequate resources. | | | | make a more informed decision, rather than |
| | | | deciding on impulse. |
| To help you find that perfect (or near | | | | |