| Teaching abroad is an opportunity to expand | | | | you may want to find out if they will be able |
| your horizons and enhance your resume with | | | | to continue at your new school. It's an |
| the view to advancing up the career ladder. | | | | important consideration if you are moving to |
| But, if you have a family, making sure you've | | | | an IB school because all students are |
| got all the information you can find will | | | | required to learn a language other than their |
| help you find the best position for your | | | | mother tongue. In grades 11 and 12 (years 12 |
| whole family. | | | | and 13) this is particularly relevant because |
| | | | your child will be expected to sit the |
| There are many international teachers who | | | | Diploma exam which presumes a prior knowledge |
| love the lifestyle and are of the opinion | | | | of the language. If you are moving to an IB |
| that their children are the better for | | | | school and your child has never studied a |
| getting an international education. | | | | foreign language before, ask which languages |
| Essentially your children will not only | | | | are offered at the 'ab initio' level. This is |
| benefit from expanded horizons themselves, | | | | the level that Diploma students can enter a |
| but they'll be getting a private education | | | | language for the first time. |
| too! Teaching overseas is not for the | | | | |
| faint-hearted, but the risks of making a poor | | | | Extra-curricular activities offered |
| decision can be managed. | | | | |
| | | | Smaller international schools may be a |
| Here are some items to consider if you're | | | | pleasant change from working in a national |
| going to teach abroad with children: | | | | public system, but the downside is that there |
| | | | may be only limited opportunities for your |
| Tuition as part of the salary package | | | | children to take part in extra-curricular |
| | | | activities. Again, check schools' websites to |
| International schools are fee-paying schools. | | | | see what sports are offered. If there is no |
| This means that parents or their employers | | | | obvious link, you can always look at the |
| pay for children to attend the school, and | | | | pictures to see if there are any sports or |
| it's not cheap. In most salary packages you | | | | music related ones. If your children are |
| come across you'll find that tuition for your | | | | dedicated sports players you can inquire |
| children is included. The thing to check is | | | | about regional sporting competitions and what |
| whether it's included for the number of | | | | sports take part in them. Other activities to |
| children you have. Often you'll have to pay | | | | find out about, depending on the interests of |
| tuition for you third and/or fourth child. | | | | your children, are Model United Nations, |
| | | | Amnesty International, International Youth |
| Learning difficulties and learning support | | | | Awards (similar to the Duke of Edinburgh |
| | | | Award), orchestra, choir, drama productions, |
| If your child has learning difficulties don't | | | | etc. |
| try and hide it from the school because | | | | |
| you're worried that the situation will affect | | | | Leisure activities in the community |
| your employability. If it does, you probably | | | | |
| don't want to work there, and you surely | | | | What activities do your children take part in |
| don't want your child going to school there! | | | | when they have leisure time? What would they |
| Learning support departments are becoming | | | | like to try? You can find out about leisure |
| more common in the better schools, and as a | | | | activities in the community you'll be moving |
| consequence there's a raised awareness of | | | | two by either asking the recruiter (at |
| special education and supporting children | | | | interview, after you've been offered a |
| with difficulties. To find out whether | | | | position), on schools' websites (you can |
| learning support is available at a school | | | | often find a page on 'life' in the same area |
| you're thinking of applying to work at, check | | | | as the employment or admissions pages) or by |
| their website for a list of departments or a | | | | searching on the internet. When you're |
| list of staff. If there is no mention of | | | | searching on the internet use city AND |
| learning support provision, either ask the | | | | activity, for example, Bangkok AND Flamenco |
| school directly or have a friend email the | | | | dancing. |
| school, pretend to be a prospective parent | | | | |
| and ask for you. | | | | The key to making the right choices is having |
| | | | accurate and complete information at your |
| Languages offered | | | | fingertips. Following these simple tips will |
| | | | ensure that you have good quality information |
| Most schools will offer a number of foreign | | | | on which to base this important decision |
| languages for your child to learn. If your | | | | about the lives of your children. |
| child has already been learning a language, | | | | |