Resources for Finding Work Abroad
by Jeannie Barry-Sanders
LOOKING FOR INTERNATIONAL work, whether abroad or in the
U.S., can be daunting–and downright frustrating without good
resources. Fortunately, there are now many useful guides for
job searches in almost any field or discipline in almost any
country. However, you won’t find many of these published resources
in your local bookstore. Some of the best guides, published
by small organizations, lack retail distribution. Even books
by major publishers may not be stocked.
To help you in your search, we’ve provided a list of the
top resources available along with complete contact information.
*Resources of broadest interest–and thus essential–are
marked with a star.
**Best resources to start with are marked with two stars.
Teaching Abroad: K-12 and University-Level
*Fulbright Scholar Program: Grants for U.S. Faculty and
Professionals. Free information from Council for International
Exchange of Scholars, 3007 Tilden St. NW, Suite 5L, Washington,
DC 20008-3009; 202-686-7877; fax 202-362-3442; scholars@cies.iie.org,
[www.cies.org]. Program
offers university-level opportunities for lecturing and research
abroad; most positions require doctoral or master’s degrees
and/or equivalent professional experience. Application deadlines
are May 1 (distinguished chairs program); Aug 1 (lecturing
and research awards); Nov 1 (international education administrators);
Jan 1 (NATO scholars) Rolling deadline (senior specialists).
*Fulbright Teacher Exchange: Opportunities Abroad for
Educators. Free application from the U.S. Department of
State, Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, 600 Maryland Ave.
SW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20024-2520; 800-726-0479; fulbright@grad.usda.gov,
[www.grad.usda.gov/info_for/fulbright.cfm].
Program descriptions and application for direct exchanges
in over 30 countries for currently employed K-12 and community
college faculty and administrators. Application deadline for
2002-2003: Oct 15.
*Overseas Academic Opportunities. Monthly bulletin.
$42/year from Overseas Academic Opportunities, 72 Franklin
Ave., Ocean Grove, NJ 07756; Tel./fax 732-774-1040. Openings
primarily for new teachers in all K-12 subject areas for jobs
where the only language needed is English and state certification
is not required. Positions are regularly available in over
50 countries.
*Overseas Placement Service for Educators, Univ. of Northern
Iowa. (UNI). To order registration materials for the oldest
and one of the largest U.S. international recruiting fairs
for K-12 teachers, send $5 to Overseas Placement Service for
Educators, Univ. of Northern Iowa, SSC #19, Cedar Falls, IA
50614-0390; 319-273-2083, fax 319-273-6998; overseas.placement@uni.edu,
[www.uni.edu/placement/overseas].
The Fair, held each February, attracts over 100 American international
schools. Fact book and newsletters are included with registration
(also available as separate purchases).
*The ISS Directory of Overseas Schools, edited
by Gina Parziale. 1999 (revised annually). 560 pp. International
Schools Services. $34.95 from Peterson’s. The most comprehensive
and up-to-date directory to over 580 overseas American and
international K-12 schools that hire certified teachers. For
other publications and services contact: International Schools
Services, 15 Roszel Rd., P.O. Box 5910, Princeton, NJ 08543;
609-452-0990, fax 609-452-2690; iss@iss.edu,
[www.iss.edu]. Available
directly from ISS: NewsLinks , $20/year, a bimonthly news
magazine for the international school community; and Teaching
and Administrative Opportunities Abroad , free, application
to ISS job fairs (apply by Nov) for teaching overseas.
Friends of World Teaching. Friends of World Teaching
maintains updated listings of English-speaking schools and
colleges in over 100 foreign countries where educators may
apply throughout the year. For a free brochure, please send
a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Friends of World Teaching,
P.O. Box 84480, San Diego, CA 92138-4480; 800-503-7436, fax
619-224-5363; details@fowt.com,
[www.fowt.com].
Overseas American-Sponsored Elementary Schools Assisted
by the U.S. Department of State. Free pamphlet available
from the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. Department of State,
Rm. H328, SA-1, Washington, DC 20522-0132; 202-261-8200, fax
202-261-8224, [www.state.gov].
Information on 192 private overseas K-12 schools. Fact Sheets,
provide more detailed information. Complete information free
on web site [www.state.gov/www/about_state/schools/index.html].
Overseas Employment Opportunities for Educators.
Annual. Free from Department of Defense, Office of Dependent
Educational Activity, Office of Personnel, Dependents Schools,
4040 N. Fairfax Dr., 6th Fl., Alexandria, VA 22203; 703-696-1352;
[www.odedodea.edu].
Application for K-12 employment opportunities in over 200
schools worldwide serving U.S. military bases. Minimum academic
requirement is a BA or BS with at least 18 hours of education
courses.
Teaching English Abroad
*”Teaching Abroad Without Certification,” by William
Nolting. Available free on the Univ. of Michigan Web site,
[www.umich.edu/~icenter/overseas].
A well-researched listing of U.S.-based organizations which
can place teachers of English abroad.
**French Cultural Services: English Teaching Assistant
Program. Applications available from: Cultural Services
of the French Embassy, 972 5th Ave., New York, NY 10021; fax
212-439-1455; [http://info-france-usa.org/culture/education/index.html].
Several hundred academic-year positions available for Americans
under 30 with a college degree and working knowledge of French.
Stipend covers living expenses.
**Japan Exchange Teaching Program (JET). Free applications
from Office of the JET Program, Embassy of Japan, 2520 Massachusetts
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008; 800-INFO-JET or 202-939-6772,
[www.jet.org], or contact
any Japanese consulate. This is the largest program for teaching
English abroad, with more than 6,000 participants annually.
Offers 2 types of paid positions in Japan: English-teaching
assistantships in secondary schools or Coordinator for International
Relations (latter requires Japanese proficiency). Application
deadline early Dec.
**Peace Corps. Peace Corps, 1111 20th St., NW, Rm.
8436, Washington, DC 20526; 800-424-8580; [www.peacecorps.gov].
Peace Corps sends substantial numbers of teachers of English
and other subjects such as math, science and business to regions
including Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia, Latin America,
Middle East and the Pacific Basin. See Peace Corps entry in
the Volunteer section for more details.
**Teaching English Abroad: Talk Your Way Around the
World, by Susan Griffith. Vacation Work (U.K.). 1999.
415 pp. $16.95 from Peterson’s. The only book with extensive
worldwide coverage (including Western and Eastern Europe,
the Middle East, and other regions left out of other guides),
this outstanding volume gives in-depth information on everything
from preparation to the job search. Many first-hand reports
from teachers. Extensive directories of schools.
**Work Abroad: The Complete Guide to Finding Work Overseas.
Transitions Abroad’s book includes over 80 pages of first-hand
reports on teaching abroad, with information on placement
programs for teaching abroad of most relevance to Americans.
*Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships. Applications
free from Dept. of State, Fulbright, IIE/ U.S. Student Programs
Division, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017-3580;
212-984-5330, [www.iie.org/fulbright].
Enrolled students must apply through own college; graduates
apply “at-large” to regional IIE offices. English teaching
options for graduates in Belgium/Luxembourg, France, Germany,
Hungary, Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. Application deadline for
current students is in mid-September (or mid-October “at-large”
applicants) the following academic year.
*Make a Mil-Yen: Teaching English in Japan,
by Don Best. 1994. 176 pp. $14.95 plus $3 (book rate) or $3.95
(first-class) shipping from Stone Bridge Press, P.O. Box 8208,
Berkeley, CA 94707; 800-947-7271, fax 510-524-8711; sbp@stonebridge.com,
[www.stonebridge.com].
Guide has info. on everything from the job search to settling
in. The experts at O-Hayo Sensei consider this to be the best
book on Japan from an American perspective currently available.
*More Than a Native Speaker: An Introduction for Volunteers
Teaching Abroad, by Don Snow. 1996. 321 pp. (Order
#641). $29.95 (member $24.95) plus $4.50 shipping from TESOL.
Covers classroom survival skills for teaching English as a
second or foreign language from lesson planning to adaptation
to life in a new country, with detailed discussions of how
to teach listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary,
and culture.
*O-Hayo Sensei: The Newsletter of Teaching Jobs in
Japan, edited by Lynn Cullivan. Twice-monthly by e-mail,
$12 for 12 issues. Single issue free, check web site. To subscribe,
send check or money order payable to O-Hayo Sensei, Subscription
Dept., 1032 Irving St., PMB 508, San Francisco, CA 94122;
fax 415-731-1113; editor@ohayosensei.com,
[www.ohayosensei.com].
Lengthy lists of current job openings for English teachers,
university-level teachers and others. Classifieds, Japan info
and list of school.
The ELT Guide. 1999. 9th ed. 271 pp. TESOL.
(Order #683GAZ). $28.95 (member $24.95). Comprehensive reference
for English language teaching worldwide. Primarily intended
for ESL teachers with professional credentials. Country-by-country
guide with recruitment information, school listings, and training
courses.
Native Speaker: Teach English and See the World,
by Elizabeth Reid. 1996. 96 pp. In One Ear Publications. $7.95
plus $3 s/h from Book Clearing House, 46 Purdy St., Harrison
NY 10528, 800-431-1579. A basic guide to teaching English
as a second language, finding a position, and setting up private
classes, by an American who taught in Latin America.
Teaching English Guides (Passport Books/In
Print Publishing series). Books in this British series offer
extensive advice by professional teachers on teaching and
living abroad for the specific regions covered. Available
in the U.S. from Passport Books, 4255 W. Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood,
IL 60646; 800-323-4900. Available elsewhere from the original
publisher, In Print Publishing, U.K.
*Teaching English in Japan, by Jerry O’Sullivan.
1996. 227 pp. $14.95. Most useful for its extensive suggestions
for teaching English to Japanese speakers.
TESOL Placement Bulletin. TESOL members: $28/year,
nonmembers $38/year. Monthly bulletin lists position openings
for qualified ESL/EFL teachers and administrators. TESOL,
700 South Washington St., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314;
703-836-0774, fax 703-836-6447; info@tesol.org,
[www.tesol.org].
