Can You Be A Teacher In another Country?

24th March 2021

Teaching is a highly fulfilling profession that plays a massive role in constructing the societies that we live in. The demand for quality teachers prevails in every corner of the world because governments, schools, and parents always want their kids to receive the best form of learning so that they can grow up into educated individuals. That said, it is possible for teachers to travel to different corners of the world and gather international exposure in different institutes.

In fact, options such as an online international teaching diploma course and a range of other teacher training programs have become available for aspiring teachers to develop their teaching abilities and become eligible for international job opportunities. This has led to a rise in the number of teacher training institutes as well. Let us take at some of the main considerations for becoming an international teacher.
 

• Qualifications: Qualifications are the first thing that almost every institute will consider before accepting someone as a teacher. Typically, in order to excel on an international platform, a BA or MA in education can significantly boost your chances to become an international teacher. Coupled with that, an international teaching diploma or other teacher training certifications can reflect your knowledge of different teaching methods, tools, and other means to deliver quality learning.
   
• Teaching experience: When trying to work abroad, carrying a few years of teaching, training, or other relevant experience can play a plus point in supporting your application. It portrays that you have worked as a teacher before, have handled classrooms, and thus can implement the experience and learning gained formerly, in the new job.
   
• Proper communication skills: When applying in international institutes, you will have to be able to communicate fluently in English as it is spoken in almost every corner of the world. Since you might not know the country’s local language, not being able to adequately interact in English will lead to communication gaps and the employer may get confused. At the same time, if you are not a good communicator, then even teaching certain topics and explaining them will become difficult. Communication skills is the most basic skill that every teacher must possess, which is why the teacher training programs also have special phases on communication and interaction skills.
   
• Stay updated: The field if education is dynamic and always evolving. What might be relevant today may not be so in the very next day. Therefore, in order to fit into international platforms, you always need to be aware of the contemporary teaching tools, methods, activities, materials, and technology that is being used. Lacking ability to integrate the modern concepts will indicate that the teacher is still stuck up on the traditional ways, and hence their ability to become an international teacher will be disrupted.
   


• Flexible: You may not always end up securing a job in a place that you wanted to. Therefore, staying flexible is always important. Someone who is willing to travel around, explore different places and adjust to different cultures are more likely to find better opportunities, internationally. This is because they will be able to adopt to changes and fit into the different workplaces without much of a hassle. This is certainly the route to become a truly international teacher.
   
• Prepared: If you are willing to travel abroad and teach, then you need to have all your documents ready and organised. This will manifest your suitability as a teacher. Having a passport, and other documents necessary for travelling is of utmost importance, as is the skills and knowledge required to become a successful international teacher. Besides, organising those documents and always having access to them is also of prime importance.

There is no magic formula to becoming an international teacher as a strategy that works for one person may not apply to another. However, the aforementioned strategies are some of the tips that both experienced and aspiring teachers can consider in order to become successful international teachers. As the demand for education will never shrink, it is important to prepare and be equipped so that one can and reap international opportunities available to teachers and trainers.

Written By : Bindita Sinha