The term “international” has evolved into something of a catchphrase in the Chinese educational system. There is a significant need for foreign instructors since English is in such high demand, and parents are shipping their children in droves to other countries in order to get them out of the stifling public school system. There are several different types of foreign schools in China.
Understanding the Foreign Schools In China
International schools located in other countries are essentially prestigious secondary schools located in other countries that have been relocated to China. Because of the exorbitant cost of education at these academies, many foreign nationals and Chinese citizens are unable to enroll their children there. It may seem like a good bargain for instructors to work at one of these prep schools, but in order to be hired there, you need to have the necessary qualifications.
Candidates often need to possess a teaching credential from their home country in order to be considered for a classroom teaching position at a foreign international school. For instance, those who want to teach at the Canadian International School of Beijing are required to have a valid teaching credential issued in Canada. Other institutions, such as those that are a member of the International Schools of China group, require that applicants have a degree in either Elementary Education, Secondary Education, or a subject-specific degree in order to be considered for teaching positions.
Additionally, having a significant amount of past teaching experience over a span of years is beneficial. However, it is common practice for schools to employ individuals who are not credentialed as teaching assistants, interns, coaches, or substitute instructors. When hiring new instructors, international and foreign schools would often urge them to sign a contract for a period of two years.
There are several advantages to working as a teacher in a foreign international school. The salary for instructors in China is far greater than what is typical, and it is often comparable to what teachers would get in their home countries. Many forms of assistance, such as housing, continuing education, and social opportunities, are made available to faculty members by educational institutions. Class sizes are also substantially less than what they would be in a Chinese school or even a public school in the West.
There are a few methods to obtain a job at a Chinese foreign school. Most schools advertise open positions immediately on their website, but looking through all of them may be a nuisance. Two alternative methods to go about it are to look via an agency, or visit an international school expo. Council of International Schools hosts a variety of fairs across the globe every year, and International Schools Services runs a smaller one every winter in Asia.