There is something to be said for teaching. The skills you learn by taming lions – I mean, educating children – in the classroom are those skills that can prepare you for lifelong success. This is ideal if you want to exchange the dull and rustling landscapes of Blighty for warmer and brighter shores.
Britain’s attitude towards longer periods abroad has changed dramatically over the past decade. What was once the domain of the gap-yah student has become a real possibility for even larger segments of society. The possibility of living, working and travelling abroad is now a compelling reason for more and more of us to devote time to our regular educational careers and withdraw the unknown.
Whether you are looking for a complete career review or just a few sabbaticals from the debilitating daily routine of the British education system, there is much to discover off the coast of our little island. Here are six of our favourites.
1. Teach in an International School
The most obvious alternative to teaching in a British school is, uh, teaching in an international school.
First, the agreements are quite reassuring. Most, if not all, are what we would consider private schools. They serve a diverse range of international families, many involved in the foreign service or simply other expatriates looking for an education in English for their children based on the British or American program. Therefore, if you are familiar with the UK curriculum on a subject, you have a good chance of becoming a successful candidate. In addition, if you have experience teaching the International Baccalaureate, which is often given in place of level A diplomas, that is even better. As the courses are taught in English, you do not need additional qualifications; your UK QTS is sufficient.
However, the differences between the two could not have been greater. Many teachers who lifted sticks and moved abroad reported that their work-life balance has improved considerably. This is mainly due to the fact that, while teaching subjects you know, you are not required to complete the bureaucracy that underpins the British system: first of all, prepare for Ofsted inspections.
In addition, teachers’ salaries around the world vary, but can often be equal to, if not better than, those in the United Kingdom, some even being tax-exempt, particularly in Middle Eastern schools. Tasty benefits, including accommodation, health and theft benefits, are also often included.
How to Apply: Different companies specialize in recruiting British teachers to perform educational functions in these types of schools. The Go Overseas Teaching job board is a great place to start your search. International Schools Review has a list of user-generated school reviews to help you make an informed decision before applying and also to organize recruitment scholarships every year in different countries of the world.
2. Become a TEFL Teacher
Second, it is clear that the list of popular overseas jobs for British teachers to teach English as a foreign language. Unlike teaching in an international school, teaching English abroad generally requires obtaining an additional qualification, this time a TEFL certificate.
If you already have the pedagogical skills that you have acquired by teaching in the British classroom, this should be a walk in the park. Additionally, you can study online or in-person (see the most important things to look at before choosing a TEFL course) and, if you’re ready to go, you can get your TEFL qualification in the country you plan to study. ” teach abroad (like Thailand). This gives you time to settle in and find your bearings before securing a new position.
Salaries for TEFL / ESL teachers can be very lucrative and we have covered destinations were teaching English abroad can help you earn a bank, although you can expect your salary to be lower than when you go to an international school.
However, you can expect that you will be in charge of only one element of the training of a class and therefore your overall responsibilities are considerably lower than those of your British class, which means that you can expect to a much easier day job and a more rewarding work-life balance.
And if you hope to travel while you work, it is also possible to teach remotely via Skype.
How to Apply: You must first apply for a TEFL program or check out our article on countries around the world to study a CELTA certificate, then browse our huge list of TEFL jobs abroad.
3. Spend Time as an Au Pair
Continue with the theme of children, another popular job for going abroad if you are a teacher and an au pair. Of course, that means you really have to spend time and educate the kids – there is no reimbursement at the end of the school day in this career – but it can be an extremely rewarding and educational experience – for all involved persons.
Former teachers will find their experience in children’s work and discipline invaluable in this role, which requires as much patience and diplomacy as each passage in class.
For Au Pairing, you must be a native speaker, because your role is both babysitter and sometimes tutor for the children of your host family. This is often in English, as parents are looking for people to help them acquire English from their children, although a typical day as an au pair may be very different depending on the needs of your employers.
As part of the agreement, your host family provides you with food and nourishment and generally a stipend for your work. In addition, you need to be curious and comfortable with new people, as you are usually part of the family quickly – making it an ideal opportunity to learn a new language and discover a new culture.
How to Apply: Find out how to register as an au pair in Denmark, Taiwan and Iceland or dive into our comprehensive list of au pair jobs abroad.
4. Transform into a Tour Guide
If you have a preference for facts and history or a real preference for geography and the world, a job abroad as a guide is an excellent way to combine a number of seriously striking presentation skills with global travel. Expect the envy of your friends and former colleagues while you take photos of you and your customers on location.
You can get a job with a major tour operator and guide their journeys through countries or find your way in booking a company from one location where you bring customers around your local area. While for the rest of the world it seems like the work of a guide is on a permanent vacation, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and the reality is a tough and competitive job – though one that is well worth it.
This is a great task for charismatic and solution-oriented people because you are the face of the company for your customers, and every problem that comes up with us must be solved by yourself. Patience for the inevitable moment that you feel that you have answered the same question a hundred times and can do so with unbridled enthusiasm is also essential.
How to apply: it is a very competitive field and for many jobs, you basically have to audition for a few months for a position – unpaid – before you decide whether you will get the position. A better way to guarantee a job is to have travelled a lot in the region where you are applying and to know the language. Watch for vacancies on the websites of your favourite tour operators; these are generally published at least nine months before the summer season (around September for the northern hemisphere and July for the southern hemisphere).
5. Take a Working Holiday Abroad
Fancy a year of “down under”? Like the idea of a year-long sabbatical instead of stopping work permanently? A working holiday visa may be something for you, especially since a large number of countries (not just Australia!) Offer them to British citizens.
Different countries have their own requirements for who can and cannot apply. You can get a 12-month visa for Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, a 12-month visa (which can be extended to 24 months) for Australia and a 23-month visa if you are between 18 and 30 years for New Zealand, and if you are between 18 and 35 years old, you can apply for a Canadian visa for two years.
For most destinations, once you have obtained your visa, you will be eligible for vacancies across the country that can perform the full range of hospitality to office jobs, all depending on your skills.
How to Apply: You can find the full terms and conditions for applying on country-specific government websites: Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
