If you’re a licensed teacher at home, have you ever dreamed of switching things up The Holiday style and teaching abroad in another country? Have you ever wanted to teach in another English speaking country like Ireland or New Zealand? Maybe you’ve always wanted to go further afield and challenge yourself by going on teaching exchange programs in countries where English isn’t even the native language. You brave soldier, you!
The good news is that you can, with teaching exchange programs. Share teaching ideas and tips with teachers abroad and learn something new from them too. Also, unlike ESL teaching positions, the fantastic thing about these programs is that you get to trade places with another teacher abroad for a certain time while receiving your home salary. Bonus: Your job’s still safe at home at the end of the program.
What are teacher exchange programs?
In essence, a teacher exchange means that you swap jobs (and even your house or apartment) with another teacher in another part of the world for a specific time period. You get to learn how teachers teach and students learn in other locations across the globe. You can teach abroad for as little as two weeks to as long as a full academic year. Also, instead of spending your vacay solely on Netflix and chill, why not travel meaningfully and sign up for summer teacher exchange programs?
For some teachers tired of the routine at their home schools, an international teacher exchange is just what they need to get motivated and back on track. At the end of the program, teachers return to their schools and share what they’ve learned with their colleagues and classrooms, making for a more internationally focused and fulfilling teaching career.
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Who can do them?
Unlike TEFL jobs, these programs aren’t for amateurs. The majority of teaching exchange programs are only open to qualified and experienced elementary, middle school, and high school teachers. There are also a few opportunities open to eligible preschool teachers and university lecturers.
You must have enough full-time professional teaching experience. Sorry newbies but get some teaching notches on that belt and then we’ll talk. Most importantly, you have to be a properly qualified teacher in your home country. Depending on where you’re from, that could mean at minimum, a B. Ed, a teacher’s license from your home state, or a bachelors and PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education).
