Middle East

Teaching in the Middle East is a very attractive proposition for several reasons - sun, beaches, tax-free salaries and free accommodation are just a few of them!

The following information is an insight to get you started, however, please contact Academics International directly for a personalised consultation to ensure you secure the right job in the right location.

Middle Eastern salaries are usually paid in local currency. Use www.xe.com to get a conversion rate.

Middle Eastern schools almost always provide housing as part of the employment package, as housing is very expensive. Housing is usually an apartment that is hard furnished with a bed, dresser, table and chairs, etc. Soft furnishings such as cutlery and dishes may or may not be provided, but are not expensive to buy in any case. Utilities are very cheap and may or may not be included in your employment package.

Contracts are usually 2-3 years. Shorter term contracts are not often available because of the high cost to the school of procuring a work permit. Schools generally prefer to amortise this cost over more than one year. Kuwait is the only part of the Middle East where 1 year working contracts are available.

Most salaries are TAX-FREE, which is an unfamiliar concept to the majority of western teachers. To compare the tax-free salary to your own, remember to look at your take home pay, minus the cost of rent/mortgage, utilities and real estate/council taxes. Most single teachers find that they can live quite comfortably on a tax-free package of £1000 per month.

The provided housing may not be suitable for a family, and is usually never suitable for more than 2 dependents (including non-teaching spouse and dependent children) per teacher. However, concessions may be made for teaching couples. Whilst some schools will provide a housing stipend in lieu of housing, it is usually no more than the cost of a studio apartment and often less. If your partner has procured a post in this region, and his/her employment package includes housing then you are in luck but don’t expect the school to offer you money in lieu of the housing benefit.

Schools usually provide discounted tuition to children of teachers, but it is rarely free. Typically, they offer a discount of 25–33% which makes it very difficult for teachers who are the sole breadwinners who have dependent children.

Unmarried partners can present problems for teachers wishing to relocate to this area especially when there are dependent children. We do not recommend this area to female teachers with unmarried partners and dependent children unless she has sole custody of the children and her partner has his own work authorisation. Make sure you discuss your personal situation with your consultant so we can best advise you.

Some parts of the Middle East are dry, meaning that the sale of alcohol is forbidden. However, our teachers have reported that enterprising shopkeepers will often sell everything you need to brew your own wine and beer, and the local embassies will often host pub nights and other social events. However, it is important to respect local sensibilities: public drunkenness is strongly discouraged wherever you go in this region.

Schools in this area are purpose built and usually quite new with outstanding facilities. The school leaders might be western ex-pats or experienced local educators but in any case working in a Middle Eastern school usually requires patience and acceptance of the many cultural differences between east and west.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) positions are often available and contract lengths are the same as for teachers. Pay is frequently less than a primary/secondary teaching position and a TEFL certificate plus at least a year of experience is required.

Almost all Middle East countries have age restrictions, some will have restrictions on children born out of wedlock as well as a wife's ability to sponsor the residency of her spouse, and all have different rules on what teaching qualifications are acceptable. But do not worry we take this into account during our matching process.

Would you like to know more? Register today with Academics International and let the jobs come to you!

 

Far East

The Far East and Southeast Asia region is a hugely popular destination for teachers looking for a complete change and contrast to their own culture! A rapidly developing area, thanks to the growth in multinational corporations, schools in this area serve both expatriate children as well as local children whose parents understand the value of an international education.

Whether you teach in Taiwan, Korea, China, Thailand or Vietnam, you will find a welcoming community full of people from all over the world. Please find some general guidelines for teaching in the Far East below.

Education is the key focus for families in this region, and you can expect that in almost every school you will have some local children in your classes. Teachers are well-respected and behaviour problems practically non-existent.

Flights are often provided at the beginning and end of a 2 year contract, sometimes more frequently and can include flights for relatives depending on the situation.

Housing is almost always provided either an apartment or a housing stipend with help to find your own place.

Public transportation is widely available and frequently used.

Because this region is growing quickly and becoming increasingly important on the world stage, teaching here is an exciting and relatively new opportunity that is certainly worth considering.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) positions are sometimes available. Pay is frequently less than a primary/secondary teaching position and a TEFL certificate is required as well as experience teaching English as a foreign language. TEFL teachers may not get flights or housing, or will have expenses reimbursed after a contract is completed.

TEFL positions in primary and secondary international schools require a primary or secondary teaching qualification plus a TEFL certificate and experience with these age groups. TEFL positions in local/state schools (language assistants/teaching assistants) in Taiwan might be suitable for native English speakers with a bachelor's degree only and some experience of working with children.

Would you like to know more? Register today with Academics International and let the jobs come to you!

 

Africa

Teaching in Africa is an adventure in many ways. A huge and diverse continent, Africa is a diverse mix of desert, savannah, forest and sea. Teachers well-suited to teaching in Africa are adventurous, resilient and accepting of different ways of life. Northern Africa takes an influence from the Middle East with ancient cities that are always growing and changing such as Cairo and Tripoli. Eastern and Western Africa have a mix of climates and topographies, and countries in Southern Africa tend to be more temperate.

Please find some guidelines to teaching in African below.

The majority of international schools in Africa are set in cities, though in some countries like Nigeria, boarding schools might be set in the suburbs of larger cities as well as the more urban districts.

Positions will almost always include housing and yearly flights for teachers. Housing often includes domestic help in the package or for a small fee.

Most positions will include free schooling for the children of teachers.

Many schools in Africa are boarding schools, and teachers may be required to take periodic boarding duty. Make sure to ask about the expectations during your interview.

In most schools you can expect to work with African as well as ex-pat teachers, and teach a mix of children. Some African schools, however, serve a middle class local population.

Class sizes in Africa are usually larger than in the UK with 30-40 children per class. However, classroom management is not normally an issue as children are eager to learn and behaviour on the whole is of a very high standard.

Many African cultures value community and belonging, so it is important to have an open mind be accepting of the many differences. Africa is brimming with diversity so please expect to see many extremes of poverty, beauty and wealth.

The transportation, power and communication infrastructures in most parts of Africa are still being developed so do not expect the same quality and reliability of services that exist in developed western nations. Mobile phones, for instance, are usually more reliable and accessible than land lines in most regions.

Safety and security are important to teachers, and the schools offer a wealth of information and advice to their ex-pat teachers. For example, in many schools in Nigeria, access to a car and driver is part of the employment package so teachers have reliable transportation 7 days a week. Contact your country's Embassy in the region you are considering if you would like more information about these matters but remember.

The cost of living in most African countries is extremely low and salaries may reflect this.

Nigeria is a special area of interest to many teachers as it has many well-paid job opportunities for ex-pat teachers. Contact your Academics International consultant for detailed information on living and working in this exciting region.

Would you like to know more? Register today with Academics International and let the jobs come to you!