Page 30 - ELG1911 Nov Issue 467

El•Gazette 467.qxp_El•Gazette 467 23/10/2019 13:10 Page 30

TEACH IN .

Teach In

International Schools in Asia

El Gazette looks at teaching in international

schools in China, Vietnam and Thailand

he demand for international schools Tier 3 schools are owned by for-profit local
has rocketed. There are now 400,000 companies. They rarely have international
teachers working in the sector and a accreditation. The students are mainly local
Tteacher shortage is looming, which is children and the staff are a mix of local
good news for teachers looking to move out of teachers, and inexperienced or even The British School of Guangzhou, a Nord Anglia Scho
EFL and into mainstream schools. unqualified Westerners.
Those looking for an international schools Accordingly, salary packages at these Some teachers report that international
career may also need to take another schools tend to offer few extras and salaries schools in many cities have agreed to offer the
qualification, such as an iPGCE (a UK may be no more than in EFL schools. same pay and conditions, and to not hire
postgraduate teaching qualification), but However, they can be a good place to start if teachers away from other schools. If true, this
Teflers can rack up useful mainstream you are not state-qualified. could limit opportunities for changing jobs.
teaching experience first. Many schools also require teachers to
Here, we take a look at the ins and outs of Teaching in China participate in extra-curricular activities and
the sector, focusing on three fast-growing Since 2018, schools for students aged 6 to 15 work on Saturdays.
markets: China, Vietnam and Thailand. enrolling Chinese citizens must run all courses Chinese law on tax exemptions for foreign
on a not-for-profit basis and use the Chinese residents is changing, so you may want to
Types of international schools National Curriculum. High school students consult a Chinese tax advisor before signing a
International schools are often ranked in may attend private international schools or contract.
three loose tiers: the international section of a public high
school. Teaching in Vietnam
Tier 1 schools are not-for-profit and International school teachers do not need Since the cap on students was lifted in 2017,
traditionally run by educational foundations, to be state qualified, but they do need to have the enrolment of Vietnamese students in
national bodies or churches. If a school is a degree in Education or a first degree in the international schools has grown rapidly. There
owned and operated by a not-for-profit British subject they are teaching. are more than 100 international schools in
public school, it is seen as Tier 1, but for- Tier 1 schools in China offer English-only Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi alone, with
profit ‘partner schools’ which simply use a instruction (or other languages, such as more opening every year. Most offer either a
famous name are generally considered as French) and follow a foreign curriculum, but US, British, or IB curriculum.
Tier 2. for younger students, they are now restricted There are very few Tier 1 not-for-profit
These schools charge Western level fees to expatriate students only. These schools hire schools here. However, salaries are high and
and the staff and a high proportion of the state-qualified teachers with international the cost of living is low, and many Tier 2
students will be expatriates. They hire experience. schools also offer attractive packages. For
experienced, state-qualified teachers, though Tier 2 bilingual schools often ‘partner’ with example, Nord Anglia offer all teachers hired
may accept former EFL teachers with an overseas schools. Above age 15, they often from overseas either free accommodation or a
iPGCSE or an MEd and relevant experience. switch to a foreign curriculum, such as US housing allowance, family medical insurance
Salaries are at Western levels, and contracts Advanced Placement or British A Levels. and return air tickets and two free school
usually include housing, annual airfare, Most students are Chinese. Bilingual schools places. Schools generally require state-
pension, relocation allowance, annual bonus, may recruit teachers in-country, making them qualified teachers with mainstream
professional development funds and free a better bet for EFL teachers, especially those experience, though some have EAL positions.
education for children of staff. with an iPGCE. Many are boarding schools Schools with only local licenses (Tier 3)
and may offer free accommodation on campus must deliver a bilingual provision and teach
Tier 2 schools are usually for-profit and are in return for residential duties. Vietnamese culture. They often run a
may be owned by private companies or chains Tier 3 ‘schools’ are simply private tutorial
like GEMS, Cognita or NordAnglia. The centres which offer ‘high school programmes’
student body is typically a mix of local and leading to A Levels, IB or other international
expatriate children. Fees and salaries vary exams. They need EFL teachers who have ABC INTERNATIONAL
from high to mid-range. Packages are less experience with IELTS and TOEFL. Pay rates
generous than Tier 1 schools, although a are around the same as language schools, but
housing allowance, annual airfare and health they can offer a good way into the sector.
insurance are typically included.
These schools may accept EFL teachers Keep in mind
without qualifications, but with some Costs in some Chinese cities can be as high
mainstream experience, for EAL support. as, or higher than, in the West. Also, traffic in
Some will also help fund an iPGCE or an some cities can mean long commutes, and ABC International secondary school in
MEd. pollution is another concern. Ho Chi Minh City
30 November 2019