For the last four years, Helen Thorogood has been working at Priestley House Junior School in West Yorkshire, where she taught Year 5 and was a KS2 Coordinator. But this month she’ll be flying off to America to take up a post she landed through Eteach at the British School of Washington. Here she tells us why she wants to work overseas, how her preparations are going, and how she’s feeling in the run up to starting her new post.

Firstly, could you tell us what made you decide to look abroad to work?

To seek out the new challenges and experiences of living and working abroad! I want to travel, sight see, and sample new cultures and customs.

What made you choose America?

Having worked in Europe before, I thought I’d travel further afield. I’ve visited USA and was pretty bowled over by New York.

And the school in Washington specifically?

I chose DC based on the criteria in their advert; I felt that my skills, knowledge and experience were just what they were looking for!

Can you tell us a bit about your new job, the school, and the area where you’ll be living?

I’ll be joining the British School of Washington which is on Wisconsin Avenue near George Town in Washington DC. It’s a school which caters for children from the age of 3-18. They follow the National Curriculum and use an International Primary Curriculum. I’ll be teaching Year 5 for two years, and I’ll be living in Maryland.

This will be my first visit to Washington DC and Maryland so I’m afraid I can’t really tell you much about the area yet. I can tell you that the school organised the accommodation, which is an area in Maryland called Silver Springs. The apartments are called Lenox Apartments which is where the school puts new staff and it is where some existing staff live. It has a pool and a gym, and there are shops, bars and restaurants nearby. I might even have a walk in wardrobe – I’ll confirm that in my next update! I will be able to get the metro or a bus to school, and I think there may be a school bus.

What do you think the major plus points will be?

I think the key pluses of working in the US are that it will enable me to broaden my horizons, gain new experiences, travel, see the sights and sample culture in another country.

And the minus points?

I think the minus points will be being away from my family and friends!

When do you start, how is the preparation going – and how are you feeling about ‘upping sticks’?

I fly to Washington DC on Saturday August 14th 2010. Once there, I have a two-week itinerary of events, including sight-seeing (getting to know the area), a session on how to use the metro, shopping, a baseball match, barbeque, time in school for preparation, meeting colleagues, induction for new families and sorting out paper work, opening bank account, etc. School officially starts on Monday August 30th.

Preparations have been going well, although there has been lots of paperwork – for example my visa application, and appointments and courses in London.

I’m well on with my packing – I just hope I can fit everything in my case! The good news though is that I can ship more goods out.

Overall I’m feeling excited about my move – it’s just what I was looking for!

Why did you use Eteach?

I had already registered with Eteach online, and I just sent an initial email enquiring about overseas appointments, which is how I got in touch with the international team at Eteach.

Tell us about the process you went through to find your job?

Well after browsing through the ads on Eteach, I came across one for the British Schools of America. I had to complete quite a lengthy application form. Two weeks after sending it off, I was invited for an interview at a hotel in Heathrow, London.

What was it like, using Eteach International to find your placement?

It’s a good website, which is easy to use. I had the option to contact schools directly, or to go through Eteach, which was extremely useful as the Team know the heads/schools. I’d definitely use Eteach again, as the help and support I received throughout was extremely valuable.

We hope to catch up with Helen over the following months to find out how she gets on in her new post, so stay tuned to your weekly Eteach Newsletter

If you’re one of the many considering a post overseas, you’ll find umpteen vacancies over in our International Zone, plus tons of tips on preparing for the big move. But nothing beats hearing what it’s really like from candidates who have already taken the plunge. Following on from our interview last month with Jo Short, who is about to jet off to Kuwait to begin a job in the sun, this month we speak to Louise Padfield, who is teaching a Year 4 class at an international school in Nigeria.

First of all, could you tell us where you’re teaching now?

I am currently teaching a Year 4 class at Famaks International Schools, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria.  www.famakschools.com

Can you tell us a bit about what it’s like?

It’s a school that follows the British National Curriculum. Therefore the teaching is very similar to teaching in the UK.  We use all British books and resources.  The only difference in the timetable is that the pupils learn French. They also have Big Writing on a Friday after break, and social studies lessons every week – about how Nigeria is changing and its history.  I have PPA when the pupils are with their specialist teacher.  The pupils have specialist teachers for French, art, ICT, music and PE.  However because I specialise in PE I occasionally take my class for this.  I have a teaching assistant in my class: she’s a Nigerian lady, and she is in my class everyday.  She teaches the pupils social studies and I am her mentor.  The other difference is that I’ve only got only 22 pupils in my class rather than 30+ as would be the norm in Britain  (I’m working in a private school, so this may be different in public schools in Nigeria).

What are the major plus points?

There are a few plus points: the number of pupils in my class, as I mentioned above;  the money is tax free and I have free accommodation and my own car;  and I was given a laptop upon arrival, and have free internet access.  My only outgoings are for food and petrol, and I get two meals a day in school.  I manage to live on £350 a month and still eat out regularly and go clubbing at least once a week.

And the minus points of teaching overseas?

The bugs are definitely a minus point! They get everywhere.  I have now got a good aim and you learn quickly to shut the doors straight after you.  We do have issues with electricity in Nigeria: there is nothing worse than being in the middle of cooking dinner, or being in the shower, or in the middle of teaching – while using the interactive whiteboard and the electricity goes off.  It is very annoying and you never get used to it.

Can you tell us a bit more about the place?

I live in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.  It is safe here but there are some areas of Nigeria where safety is an issue.  There is a Hilton Hotel where I go on weekends to sunbathe, and there are a lot of expats here so it is easy to meet people who have similar interests.  There are lots of markets and you have to learn to haggle on the price for things.  You can buy British foods, but not everywhere – and they are expensive.  You have to be careful where you eat.  There are many good restaurants and takeaways in Abuja, you just have to find them.

I think you were previously working in the UK: what are the major differences?

In Britain I had just graduated from university (July 2009). I was volunteering in a special needs school, and was then employed by them as a special support assistant.  I was working with autistic children aged 3-19.  SEN in Nigeria is not taught in the same way.  The deputy head teacher and I are trying to implement a SEN policy for the school at the moment so we are hoping it will be successful.  SEN doesn’t have such a high profile in Nigeria as it does in the UK and there are cultural differences in attitudes towards SEN.

Can you tell us why you decided to teach overseas, and the application process?

I had always wanted to travel, so I searched on Eteach and applied for all the schools abroad that were accepting NQTs.  I had two interviews and was successful in both; I chose Nigeria because it was the better option at the time for me.  I will not say that it has been easy to move abroad.  It was hard and at times very upsetting. I am very glad that I came, although I have decided to return to Britain at the end of this term because I wish to complete my NQT year.

I wrote a covering letter about my experience and interests, attached my CV and emailed all of the schools.  After a day or two, I was emailed back by the headteacher with questions for me to answer.  He wanted to be sure that I had thought it through; he encouraged me to do more research and gave me the email address for a teacher who had already moved from Britian and was teaching in the school.  He also asked me if I had any questions.  He then emailed me with a choice of days and times to have my interview.  It was all very quick.

I had my interview over the phone.  It cut out twice so they had to ring me back!  After the interview I had an email three days later saying that I was successful.  I then received the contract – make sure that you read this well and do not sign until everything you want is in writing.  I then signed and emailed it back.  After a day I received all the information I needed to acquire my visa.

Ten days later I was on the plane to Nigeria.  When I arrived in Nigeria, a man met me before customs and took me through, He then got my luggage and the director of the school came to pick me up.  I was taken to my house and they helped me move in.  I was introduced to the two teachers I was living with.

Would you recommend teaching overseas to others (and if so, why?)

I would only advise people to move to Nigeria if they have the support of their family and friends as I did, and if they are willing to accept the significant cultural differences that exist. Then they can enjoy the things that the country offers.  I am glad that I did my research and that I was prepared.

What was it like, using Eteach International to find your placement?

Eteach made the application very easy; the website is simple and clear.

Would you use Eteach again?

I am currently using Eteach to find a job for when I return to the UK.  I have recommended the International Zone to friends who have also got jobs abroad.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Just always remember:

·    You can never do enough research.

·    Get everything in writing.

 ·    There are places in Britain where you will not walk alone at night – it is the same here.

 ·   Contact other expats to make friends.

·     Keep to your contract.

Jo Short will be leaving behind her well-paid job in the retail sector in August, and jetting off for a job in the sun. A post at the international British School of Kuwait is waiting for her, following a successful application through eteach.com. So why did she decide to pick up sticks – and how is she feeling prior to making the big move?

Jo successfully completed her initial teacher training in Exeter after deciding to quit her well-paid job with WH Smith and pursue her dream vocation as a primary teacher.

Unsuccessful in clinching a full-time induction post because of a tough teaching market for newly qualified teachers, Jo signed up as an Eteach supply teacher, and had been working three days a week.

Interview by video

But her lucky break came earlier this year, when she applied for a post via Eteach almost 3,000 miles away; she successfully landed the job at the British School of Kuwait after being interviewed via video conference at her parents’ home by the school principle and key stage 1 coordinator.

Far from being a statistic of the so called ‘brain drain’, Jo sees her Kuwaiti ‘adventure’ as a golden opportunity to escape the recession, broaden her teaching horizons and increase her chances of gaining an induction post on her return to the UK – altogether better than dropping out of the profession after three years of a teacher training course financed by the taxpayer. Specialising in special needs, Jo plans to use her training to good effect in the UK when the right induction post comes along.

“I fully intend to return to the UK after a year or so in Kuwait and use my specialist training in a school that can really use them, but by taking this golden opportunity I can broaden my teaching horizons and also satisfy my travel lust.”

Perks

With all the financial perks of a tax free salary, petrol prices the equivalent of seven pence per litre, a two bedroom flat and a hire lease car thrown in, Jo can expect a life style she was used to in her twenties on her arrival in Kuwait.

In fact, her only concern about uprooting to the Arab nation is that her cats will miss her when she leaves them in the safe hands of mum and dad!

For Jo, the prospect of working in a scorching hot country bordering a war zone, and adhering to the country’s strict religion, is not a daunting one.

She’s reading up on the Muslim religion so she can be respectful of the Kuwaiti culture and is also learning Arabic.

“People have asked me how I feel about going to a country so close to Iraq, but I think there can be dangers anywhere you go. It really is not a consideration.”

However, she is aware that in the private sector parental demands and expectations will be great: “I am used to the pressures of working with children with special needs, but I know in Kuwait my greatest challenge will be the demands of parents. I will need to perform to the best of my ability.”

Jo says applying for jobs with eteach.com was easy and enlightening: “The job information is clearly presented and having a profile of the school really helped – thank you Eteach for this opportunity”.

To find out more about opportunities for school support staff, teachers and leaders overseas, head over to the Eteach International Zone – or email international@eteach.com detailing where you would consider teaching, your availability and with a copy of your CV.

If the recent arctic conditions have started you thinking about teaching abroad in the sun, then you’re not alone: ice or no ice, our recent survey found that more than a third of the UK’s teachers are actively looking for work overseas.

If a job in another country is your new year’s resolution, now’s the time to start looking. And the best place to start? With Eteach of course!

Your teaching qualification can become your passport to a world of travel opportunities, and working overseas is an invitation to experience first-hand the sights, sounds, people and cultures of another country.

The recent Eteach poll, which questioned almost 800 UK teachers, suggested that more than a third (34.6%) are actively looking for work overseas, while a similar proportion (31.8%) said they are “open” to the idea.

If you’re one of the many teachers thinking about taking the plunge, then a really useful place to start is the International Zone at eteach.com.

As you would expect, the site lists quality international teaching jobs at reputable schools around the world. Not only can you browse opportunities, but you can sign up to receive email alerts whenever a new post comes up that fits the criteria you set.

And because picking up sticks to work in another country can seem rather daunting, we’ve packed the International Zone with really helpful tips and practical advice about how to make the big move.

You’ll find quality information about the opportunities that exist, the rewards and benefits on offer, the skills and qualifications you’ll need, how to choose where to go, information on work permits and visas, FAQs and much much more.

So to start your international teaching journey, head on over to the Eteach International Zone. And don’t forget register with eteach.com if you haven’t done so already, to take full advantage of our suite of digital job-hunting tools.

What would prompt you to work overseas? Why not leave a comment and let us know!

Coming soon: Eteach International seminars in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Cardiff. We’ll keep you posted…

Konichi Wa, Hola, As-Salam Alaykum
We’ve had an amazing response to our International Teaching survey!
Thanks to you for sharing your experience and aspirations with us…

Some of the key findings from the survey are:

34.6% of respondents actively looking for work overseas
31.8% said they are “open” to the idea
30.7% of those saying they want to work overseas have between 6 and 10 years’ experience
24.9% have been teachers for between 16 and 20 years
27.9% of those who are searching for jobs overseas are between 41 and 50 years old
26.9% are between 31 and 40

Why are teachers looking to work overseas?

32.8% cited better working conditions, cited by 32.8%
at 52.7% the biggest reason was broadening personal horizon

Your thoughts have captured the attention of the media…
- Guardian

- Daily Express

- Channel 4

We have over 300 vacancies in our International Zone

Plus over 2,000 new candidates have joined our new International e-newsletter…

Sign up today!

A world of opportunity awaits you!

Colin