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Teaching with Kids in Tow
Updated 15 November 2009
There are lots of advantages of bringing your family with you to teach abroad. Your children will learn the language, culture and customs and broaden their perspectives. However, there are practical matters to take into consideration before planning the big move. Wherever you decide to go, be sure to research that country carefully beforehand. Dave’s ESLcafe is a good place to start. Not only do you have yourself to worry about, but your family as well. You’ll want to be sure that everyone’s happy with the decision to live abroad. If you're looking for jobs, find links in the Job Sites article.
Remember to always ask for a written reference when you leave a job, no matter if it's paid or a volunteer position. Have your employer write when you work, job title, levels worked with, and what your responsibilities were. It should be printed on school letterhead and carry your employer's stamp (if they have one), their signature, their name, job title, school address, phone, and email. Try to get two copies of this.
Money Matters
The first thing that you will have to think about is your budget. Most teaching jobs pay enough for you to live off of while teaching and living in that country, but having enough for a spouse/partner and kids is a whole other story. You can make it work, though. Take a look at Creating a Budget to find out how.
If money is a concern, try to take on a couple of private classes and ask your school about overtime pay. You can find out more ways to make money by reading Supplement Your Teaching Salary. You’ll also need to consider benefits, such as medical insurance, pension, maternity leave, visas for your family, bonuses, sick pay, professional development, housing allowance, shipping allowance, and flight allowance when considering relocating with a family. Be sure to ask your employer beforehand and get it in writing before hopping on the plane.
Keep in mind that the higher paying jobs usually require experience, qualifications and often connections. Getting a DELTA, PGDE, teaching license, or an MA would be very useful. Add a couple of years of experience and you’re good to go.
If your partner works or teaches, than there will be less constraints, but you still might have to struggle to make ends meet. In general, the countries that pay the most are Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and countries in the Middle East. Many families are happy in the Middle East, benefits are great (such as free education and housing) and it’s a chance to learn about a very different culture. The one downside is that foreigners and locals do not mix that much. Also, international and bilingual schools, as well as DOD schools often offer excellent packages that may include education for your children. Teaching Fellows from Fulbright (But be sure to read the eligibility and ineligibility info first. Generally if you have lived abroad for 5 out of the last 6 years this will be a disadvantage.) and Georgetown's ELT programme are also good, though not as good as international school packages. You’ll have to weight the pros and cons before you go.
Your Children's Education
Education is a big concern for parents overseas. Although there are plenty of international schools, fees are usually out of reach for many English teachers. That being said, many top tier schools offer free or discounted rates to their teachers, so if you can get into an international school, your child’s education will be one less thing to worry about. Although some schools have a limit on the number of children that can receive a discount.
If international schools are beyond your reach, don’t worry, there are plenty of great local schools out there. Just be sure to ask around for recommendations and visit the school a couple of times before enrolling your child there. Keep in mind that if your child doesn’t speak the local language, he or she will need time to adjust. This is normal, give them a few months and soon they’ll be speaking like a native. Remember, the older the child, the more difficult it is to adjust. Some programmes, such as the IB programme or the IGSCE, will be difficult to enter into in higher grades.
Another option would be to homeschool, but that would mean one parent would have to stay home. If money-wise that would work out for you, you could try that. You can find info on homeschooling at Homeschool, Homeschool Facts, and Virtual Schools. Make sure that the homeschooling programme is valid and recognised by your home country. Or try half the time at a local school and half at home. That way your child could integrate more into the society, as well as learn the language and make friends, and you could still educate your child as you saw fit. It’s not uncommon for children to attend some classes, such as Maths and language at school, and the rest at home. Talk to your school beforehand.
Where to Live
Housing will also be a concern. Some schools will get you housing, but it might not be big enough for your family. Ask your employer about larger housing for people with a family or if they give a housing allowance of some sort.
Visas
Visas are not to be forgotten, although may people teach on tourist visas, you’ll have to make sure that you can get visas for everyone in your family. Once you get a visa it should be no problem, countries usually have dependent visas for family members. But getting your visa might be tricky, Some countries like Korea and China are relatively easy to get visas for. Other countries, such as EU ones, are more difficult, especially if you’re American. Ask your school about visas before you go and it’s always better to have the visa in your passport before you arrive in country. Be wary of those schools that want you to enter on a tourist visa and say that they will get you a work visa after you arrive.
Medical/Pension
Some employers cover part or all of your medical expenses. And they might make contributions towards your pension. Don't forget maternity leave. Time off depends on the country and can range from three months to a year. So be sure to ask beforehand. Sick pay can be another benefit. Some schools will give you a bonus for not using sick days, check your contract.
Other
As for child friendly environments, the Middle East and Asia seem to be good options. The Middle East pays pretty well, and you'll get great benefits, like housing, flights, and baggage allowance. You will have to have experience and many places want you to have at least an MA. Asia is another option, though has more start up costs. Right now Japan is saturated, but you might take a look at China, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, or Thailand. China isn't among the best paying, but cost of living is very low. Taiwan has high start up costs, but you can live pretty well there. Korea has a booming ESL business, but be sure to ask about housing, or you might just be given a one room flat. Thailand is a laid back country, where cost of living is low.
End of year bonuses, vacation pay, and flights are definitely worth asking about and are great benefits. Ask if the school will cover flights for your family, or just you. Some places may help you pay for professional development courses in and out of the country. Others offer perks such as gym membership. If you participate in extra curricular activities, your school might give you extra pay. Other expect you to do it as part of your contract.
Contracts
You’ll have to consider time as well. Institutes usually have you sign a year contract, but schools may ask for two or three years. Consider how long you will be in the country of your choice and also hw you will transition back to life at home. If you plan on going for a couple of years, putting things in storage will be the least of your worries, you will also need to have a job to come back to. And reverse culture shock is something that you will have to expect when going home. It’s not impossible, but planning and careful research will make sure that your transition goes smoothly.
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