Taking your Family Abroad to Teach English
A reader wrote the following: 
My wife and I are thinking about a life-change and the first thing we thought about was teaching English abroad.
We want to give ourselves and our girls (4 and 7) unique experiences while doing something positive for other people.
My question is whether you think it’s possible for a family of four to be able to do something like this.
Have you heard of other families doing this? I’m most concerned about how my girls would be educated in schools abroad or if they could even get into a school?
Taking a family along with you overseas definitely complicates things.
The problem is this . . .
In most countries your children will not be allowed into the local school system, even if we assume they are fluent in the local language (will they be?).
The alternative, good quality international schools can often cost as much if not more than an English teacher’s wages every month, for just ONE student’s tuition.
So . . . this is a problem. But there are ways to get around problems, as we all know.
Some Solutions
I don’t know your education or qualifications, so my responses will be a bit general, but should still provide some guidance. The options assume you are a native speaker with a passport from a country that would ordinarily be considered an English speaking country.
The options are listed in the order of relative ease of pursuing that path.
Home Schooling
The first option that is most often proposed is home schooling.
I’ve not seen this work well and usually it is the child’s education that gets shortchanged. I am sure there are excellent exceptions about, but in 20 years abroad, I’ve not yet personally run into one. I’ve certainly had people tell me it worked fine for them, I’ve just not personally witnessed it.
Consider also, If one spouse stays home to teach the children, you are limited to the other spouse’s income. It can be real stretch for a regular English teacher’s income to provide for more than two people.
Something else to consider is that there is good research indicating that at some point children really need the social interaction that a school provides.
They need to understand and learn everything from how to avoid the class bully to how to make friends with new people. Learning cooperative play in large groups is also important.
Second and Third Tier International Schools
There are a lot of second and third tier “international schools” overseas. They don’t provide a first class traditional “international school” education, but they do provide something.
These are often “bilingual” schools trying to provide local children with either an English based education or at least more exposure to English than just a few language classes. They are often trying to provide an education that is a step up from what the local public schools provide.
If you work for one of these schools you are often allowed to admit one or several children into the program for free or at least at significantly reduced rates.
These schools won’t require you to meet the same requirements that a full-fledged international school would. You don’t have to have the minimum two years experience or the full teacher certification from your home country. A degree and a TEFL certification is often all that is required. Not all such schools will provide free or reduced tuition, but many do.
Normal Universities / Teachers Colleges
In some countries, tertiary schools with a strong Education Department will sometimes have an on campus “international” or bilingual school – roughly similar to what we just reviewed above. These schools are there to help provide classroom practice for the teachers-in-training attending that college/university.
These type colleges are often called a Teacher’s College/University or a “Normal University”. If you are hired to teach at this type of school, you will sometimes be offered an option to place your children in the university program for free or reduced tuition. In some countries like China – for example – you might need only a degree and a TEFL certification for such university positions.
Teaching in the Middle East
Another option, possibly the best, but having the most stringent qualifications requirement, is to seek employment in the Middle East.
The Gulf States in particular tend to pay well and employment contracts usually provide for free tuition for a limited number of children (often two) at a first class international school.
These employers, however, will usually want a couple of years of previous teaching experience, a relevant graduate degree and/or a TEFL certification.
If you intend to stay abroad for a long time, this type setting should be your goal and you can use the two previous options to work your way toward this one.
TED’s Tips™ #1: Taking a family abroad offers some real challenges, but what better gift can a parent give their children than a better awareness and understanding of the world around them?
Don’t give up if this is your goal. Focus your job search on the options mentioned above and you will succeed.
- English Teaching Internships in China
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Tags: family life and teaching english, Teaching English abroad with your family, TEFL family
Uncategorized | Ted | 
February 15, 2012 8:52 pm
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