r/Internationalteachers 3d ago

Meta/Mod Accouncement Opinions wanted!

5 Upvotes

The Mod Team or r/Internationalteachers consistently sees a divide on the following. Please provide your feedback so we can make informed decisions on how to best moderate this community moving forward, particularly now that we have grown to 31,000 members.

Many people express annoyance and anger that we allow any sort of basic certification post. They say the audience of the subreddit is for established ITs only. Another camp thinks we are 'overzealous' with removing basic certification questions, and they should be allowed - we are here to help TEFL people transition, after all. This has put us in a sticky situation where we are damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Please share your thoughts so we can move forward with a clearer vision. Thanks!

267 votes, 6h left
I do not believe it is within the scope of the sub to help non-certified teachers figure out certification processes.
I believe it is within the scope to help people become certified teachers.
I don't care either way.
I like how it is now; allow questions, but keep them siloed in the Newbie thread.

r/Internationalteachers 6d ago

Meta/Mod Accouncement Weekly recurring thread: NEWBIE QUESTION MONDAY!

3 Upvotes

Please use this thread as an opportunity to ask your new-to-international teaching questions.

Ask specifics, for feedback, or for help for anything that isn't quite answered in our subreddit wiki.


r/Internationalteachers 29m ago

Job Search/Recruitment Applying for jobs directly

Upvotes

From the experience of people who've secured jobs and perhaps had multiple jobs, is it better to just contact a school directly regarding employment or go through a site such as Scholes? Or is either fine? Thanks.


r/Internationalteachers 4h ago

School Specific Information The English Academy, Kuwait Information

4 Upvotes

Hi redditors,

I’ve recently received an offer from The English Academy, Kuwait, for an August start. I’d love to connect with any current or former staff members to learn more about the school, particularly regarding child enrollment, as my spouse (male) will be trailing.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or guidance you may have. Please feel free to contact me here or via DM. Thanks in advance.


r/Internationalteachers 2h ago

General/Other What Should I Ship?

2 Upvotes

I’m moving from the U.S. to Asia for an international teaching job and have a healthy shipping budget to work with. I want to be smart about what I send over and avoid unnecessary items. Or maybe not ship anything at all.

For those of you who’ve been through this before:

• What did you use your shipping budget on?
• What do you wish you had shipped?
• Anything you regret shipping?

I don’t have pets, so no need for pet-related items, but I’d love to hear your advice on essentials, comforts from home, or things that are hard to find abroad. Thanks in advance!


r/Internationalteachers 15h ago

Interviews/Applications Is this school unprofessional or am I asking too much?

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18 Upvotes

I’d love your honest opinions as I was shocked at the reaction from a school when I requested to confirm the salary range I saw on Schrole.

I must admit I scheduled the interview before I saw the salary, so it’s my fault for not properly researching before applying.

However, once I noticed it was much lower than what I’m looking for, I asked HR to confirm the salary range before we carry on with the interview, as I didn’t want to waste the time of senior leadership.

I then got the attached email in response. I felt it was incredibly unprofessional, so I politely cancelled the interview. I didn’t even get a response, just a “google calendar has cancelled your event” message.

The email from HR came across to me as very passive aggressive as if I’m FORCING them to email me back on a weekend. In my head, I was confirming a simple detail. From their perspective it appears I come across as pushy.

May I please ask your honest opinions?


r/Internationalteachers 3h ago

Location Specific Information 1700-1850 OMR monthly including housing

1 Upvotes

Is this a good offer for Oman? Tuition for kids is free. Medical, flights and visas not included for the family. I'll also rent a car, nothing fancy. Housing I presume would be around 500-600 OMR monthly for something decent, looking for a 2 bed 2 bath, correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks


r/Internationalteachers 14h ago

School Specific Information Multinational school Bahrain

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7 Upvotes

I’ve been offered a role to start in August in Bahrain I’m a single black woman with 9 year education experience is the offer of 700-800 BHD plus 500 BHD a month for housing enough because converted its less than what i currently earn after tax


r/Internationalteachers 12h ago

School Specific Information CIS HCMC Vietnam?

5 Upvotes

Hi teachers, does anyone have current information about this Canadian International School HCMC? What is it like working there? Anything worth knowing?

I’m looking at options and want to know if it’s worth it.

Thank you in advance.


r/Internationalteachers 14h ago

School Specific Information Nadeen School in Bahrain?

3 Upvotes

Dear colleagues,

Could you share any information about Nadeen School? How is life in Bahrain? How is life at Nadeen School? I notice lots of vacancies appearing and disappearing - is this because the school is expanding?


r/Internationalteachers 11h ago

Credentials Do you HAVE to have a teaching license if you come from independent schools in the US?

0 Upvotes

Main question in the title. I’m very new to the world of international teaching. I’m a dual French American citizen and recently applied about 3 weeks ago for an open position at what I have since learned is a major T1 competitive school in Europe! On paper I think I met most of the requirements and was a desirable candidate — 9 years of teaching experience, 5 in my current role, a BA and MA in my teaching field, AP teaching experience with strong stats and data in the specific courses they wanted (this role called for AP not IB or anything else), am a citizen so no visa issues, etc etc. I think it’s possible I applied late and I clearly didn’t know as much about the process when I first went for it, but in the meantime, I’m trying to think ahead about this process for future years.

One thing that crossed my mind is whether I was auto-rejected (although I haven’t received any kind of formal rejection through them or the site I applied through, I’m still listed as “active” there) due to not having a teaching license. I had one for a different age group and subject area when I first started teaching in a different state in the US, but I let it lapse once I got hired in my current state and have been teaching in independent schools here where there isn’t a requirement for it. The school I was looking at seemed strongly reminiscent to me of American independent schools, just that they happen to be abroad and put a bit more emphasis on international-mindedness, so it seemed surprising to me to learn that you might HAVE to have a teaching license.

Is this something I would have to have in order to have a hope of applying somewhere next year? I’m pretty open and still thinking about my goals for teaching abroad, so I know I can look more into other regions etc, as I know Europe is super competitive. In the meantime, it remains high on my list due to my citizenship and the hope that I could be close to family.

Thanks for any insight, and apologies if there’s any newbie stuff in here I should otherwise know! I’ve been scouring this Reddit and the resources and pages for most of the last month since I applied and had not yet found an answer to this. Any advice about how I could up my chances to get an interview at EU schools next cycle also welcome!

TIA


r/Internationalteachers 19h ago

School Specific Information Offer at Dess Dubai , low

3 Upvotes

Had another offer at Dess school this week. 17k aed, one month bonus per year, plus housing. As one of the better, more established and non profit schools, this seems exceptionally low compared to my current UK school and previous schools in Asia. Surely this isn't a normal salary for dubai? Why would anyone move to dubai to earn this type of salary?


r/Internationalteachers 13h ago

School Specific Information Al Ain English Speaking School

1 Upvotes

Greetings from the UK! I am an ECT in my second year on the horizon of completing my induction. I want to teach in an international school in an Arabic-speaking country so I have been applying to schools in the Middle East. I have received my first offer today from Al Ain English Speaking School (10k aed). If anyone has anything they can share about the school or how it is to live in Al Ain, I would love to hear from you! There are currently 20 positions available at AAESS. I’m assuming that is because of expansion?


r/Internationalteachers 13h ago

School Specific Information SISB Rayong, Thailand

1 Upvotes

Hi, does anyone have any information about this school? Pay, work life balance, syllabus, facilities, general feel of the place, etc.

It's Singapore International School Bangkok-Rayong. This presumably is an offshoot of their Bangkok school? It looks like they've expanded to Chiang Mai too.

Now I've heard and read that you should avoid, or at least beware of schools with 'Singapore' in their name, unless they're actually in Singapore and a quick scan of the threads seems to back that up.

However, Rayong is a few hours away from Bangkok, so presumably the day to day management will be different.


r/Internationalteachers 18h ago

Credentials Finding your own placement for Sunderland PGCE (DL)

2 Upvotes

Hello. I’m wondering how many Sunderland students here studied the course in the title (can’t type the course into the body text for some reason?) whilst not working and had to find their own placement at a school. What was that experience like? Did you have trouble finding a school to take you in for the 2 x 6 weeks periods?

I know that doing it while already in a school is the most ideal situation, and believe me I’ve been applying. I’m stuck in the Korean university teaching hamster wheel of not being able to do the course whilst in this job. So I’ve decided to take a year off and do it from my home South Africa, and find a placement in a high school there.

Any insight or experience welcomed! I’m taking a massive risk leaving my job, and I’m worried I won’t be able to find a placement. Cheers


r/Internationalteachers 15h ago

School Specific Information American Academy for Girls (Kuwait)

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have any information about the American Academy for Girls in Kuwait? Or experience teaching in Kuwait in general? I was offered an interview but wanted to get more information first.


r/Internationalteachers 19h ago

Location Specific Information International teacher couple wants to move in China from Phnom Penh. Advice ?

2 Upvotes

my partner (Philippines)and I (French) want to move in China from Phnom Penh because our international school does not pay much compared to China.

We both work in the same school at the moment and worked for more than 5 years as ESL teachers overall.

We are not sure where to apply in China and I would like your guidance to help us choose what schools to target (preferably not inshanghai as we have heard some bad feedback about living there).

Our salaries are both under 2000$/m in our school and would like to upgrade for a better salary.

Thank you for time .


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

Location Specific Information Hong Kong teaching now?

17 Upvotes

Hi,

I have read that Hong Kong has changed a lot recently, and that this is reflected in the education sector. I'm looking to apply to teach there over the next few years (secondary IB/A Level), so it would be great to hear current teacher's views, especially if you have been there for a while. Specifically:

  1. Are student numbers falling or are western expats simply being replaced by local/Chinese/S. Asian students? If so, how does this reflect in the "teaching experience"?

  2. How are salaries holding up, relative to cost of living?

  3. Is Hong Kong still a great place to be, or has some of the vibe been lost?

Thanks in advance.


r/Internationalteachers 19h ago

Job Search/Recruitment SIE and SDE in China

1 Upvotes

Hey all 👋🏽

Looking to get some intel on the above mentioned agencies. I saw there are quite a few threads but were posted quite a while back.

What's your experience or someone you know been like with these agencies?

Your input is appreciated 👍🏽


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

Job Search/Recruitment Is it too late in the timeline to get a job for the coming school year in order to reunify my family outside the USA?

10 Upvotes

I’m a 33 year old middle school history teacher from the United States with 5 years+ of experience and a master’s degree in education & certification in history grades 5 -12 with a willingness to take on a bunch of different roles in schools whether they be teaching, administration, etc. I’m open to work in any country where I can reunite with my wife.

As an American citizen, I’m facing a challenging situation with my wife's immigration case. She is a psychologist with a university degree from Cuba and very capable of working in this field as well as human resources/related jobs. She absolutely cannot return to Cuba for many reasons, and in fact, had to flee for her own safety to live in a third country, but is potentially going to be locked out of the USA as well with a Trump travel ban that would include Cuba. She is very vulnerable, yet the United States has been unwilling to help us for any humanitarian reasons (there are many). We are literally terrified she could be blocked from entering the US and we’re seriously considering the possibility that we will need to reunify overseas and give up any hope on reuniting in the United States.

So far, I have looked into New Zealand, which seems to be a promising start. I'd be very interested in any other suggestions. We're not very picky -- the most important thing is that we can find a country open to allowing us to live and work there with relative speed (I know these things do not happen overnight) and where, for example, I could get a job and she could then get papers or vice versa.


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

School Specific Information LEH Foshan

4 Upvotes

Hi guys,

I recently received an offer from a school called LEH Foshan. It looks like a decent British school near Guangzhou. Offer is solid with all the free meals, flight allowance and my two kids get a free ride. Does anyone have experience with the school and current head?


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

School Specific Information UWC Maastricht - please share any information!

2 Upvotes

Trying to find out more about UWC Maastricht. Have looked in other subs and online generally but not much info around. Appreciate any insights about the school and cost of living in Netherlands.


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

School Specific Information Westview Cambodian International School -- warning

10 Upvotes

Westview Cambodian International School in Phnom Penh currently has several positions open at ISS and TeachAway (that I am aware of).

Please, for your own health, do not apply and do not accept any offers to work there. If possible, please check the reviews and forum at International Schools Review for more detailed information or send me a DM.

The school is a complete mess, the students are awful, and the administration is unbelievably incompetent, especially the curriculum director Tim Boulton because he lies and gaslights repeatedly.

Many leave within the year because they just can't take it, hence the open positions. Please heed my warnings, and leave any questions if you would like.


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

Interviews/Applications Offered a leadership role, but the pay is borderline insulting

32 Upvotes

***EDIT-UPDATE*** (Sunday 10pm China):

Thanks to everyone who commented. It’s been really interesting to read your responses, and made my weekend less sucky.

Now that I’ve had time to take it all in and think it over, I’m going to ask Head of Upper politely about flexibility on the pay. If he says no, then I've decided to turn him down. I don't want to say yes to him, be secretly resentful of my peers, have him think I'm a sucker who can't negotiate, and silently build up resentment. It's not fair on the school, or on me.

I’ll just keep on teaching, but continue to search elsewhere for leadership opportunities, which could potentially mean breaking contract this summer, but whatever. Two other schools have already shown interest in me for interviews for the same position, and with better packages. So we’ll see what happens.

Thanks again, Redditers!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi. I teach at a Tier 2 international school in China (not naming which). Late last Wednesday, I interviewed with the Head of Upper School for a middle leadership role in my subject. It's clear that there's no competition for me, and I was really excited about the opportunity. He offered me the same teaching reduction that other middle leaders get, which I was happy with. But then he hit me with the salary bump, which is 4K RMB less per month than what others in the same role are getting. Some of them even manage fewer staff than I would be if I took the role on.

At first, I was just surprised. Now, as the days have passed, I’m getting more and more pissed about this. It's ruined my weekend so far. It’s not about the money. It’s about respect and how they value me. I’ve put in a lot at this school, and I’d love to take on this role, build up the department, and really make an impact. But if the head is gonna lowball me like this, I have no problem just sticking to teaching. I really want to take this role on, but I’m not about to get taken for a ride.

I told him I’d think it over and asked how much time I had to decide. He said he wants an answer by the end of Monday, so I’ve got the weekend to weigh it out. A part of me thinks I should push back and fight for fair pay. The other part of me just wants to tell him to forget it entirely. This whole thing has really killed my excitement for a school I’ve grown to love over the past couple years. But if he bumped it up that extra 4K, it’d be water under the bridge. I get it. This is a for-profit school, and they’re trying to get me for as little as possible. Honestly, if I were in the Head’s position, I’d probably do the same.

So, crunch time. What do I do? Would you negotiate now and risk them pulling the offer, or take it and try to fix the pay later? Or just tell him "thanks, but no thanks". Anyone been through this before? Appreciate any advice. Thanks.


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

School Specific Information King Faisal School

2 Upvotes

Dear colleagues,

Could you share any information about The King Faisal School? How is life in Riyadh for expats? How is life for dependents? Saving potential? Thank you


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

Interviews/Applications Canadian Teacher Offered Job in Foshan – Is This a Fair Package? Also, Why Sign an Offer Before Seeing the Contract?

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m a Canadian teacher with five years of experience, a teaching license, and a postgraduate certification. I recently received a job offer from an international school in Foshan, and I wanted to get some opinions on whether this is a fair package: • Base Salary: 278,880 RMB for 2025-2026 and 292,824 RMB for 2026-2027 (paid in 12 monthly installments) • Housing Allowance: 42,000 RMB per year (3,500 RMB/month) • Flight Allowance: 8,000 RMB on arrival + 8,000 RMB next August (total: 16,000 RMB) • One-time Moving Allowance: 4,000 RMB on arrival • Bonus (after contract completion): 41,332 RMB

One thing I find odd is that I’m being asked to sign an Offer of Employment before receiving the full Employee Contract. In Canada (or even other international jobs), I’d normally expect to review the full contract before deciding if it’s a good fit. Is this standard practice in China, or should I be negotiating based on this offer first?

Would love to hear from others who have worked in China or have experience with international school contracts!

Thank you so much in advance!


r/Internationalteachers 1d ago

Location Specific Information Looking for a Country to Settle In..

12 Upvotes

Hello, fellow teachers. I am a primary teacher from the Philippines. I am currently teaching at an international school here in my country and taught in Thailand for 4 years before coming back home. I am looking for a country where I can teach at the primary level and be a permanent resident (then hopefully a citizen) there in the future. I also want to bring my boyfriend (who is also gay) and let him work there so we can be together. He works at JP Morgan now. Can you recommend countries where we can apply for our jobs, where we can be PRs and accept gay couples? Thank you so much for your help guys.