Hi there

My partner and I are both looking for a career change and have decided that we want to become international teachers. This is a 5 year plan for us; 3 years to get University qualified and then 2 years experience in Australia. He already has a Bachelor of Marketing and will be applying for a Masters of Teaching. There is a new clinical program in Australia which offers a 3 year paid internship whilst he completes his qualification. Due to his undergrad degree he is eligible to become a secondary economics/ business teacher.

I am currently enrolled in my first year of Bachelor of Business/ Bachelor of Teaching and already have an MBA (exec) which I gained in 2010 via alternate entry (as I didn't have an undergrad they accepted me on career experience). The Teacher Institute in Australia require 3 years of previous study for a Masters, so I am unable to qualify for Masters programs and have to complete a Bachelor degree. I had planned to become a secondary economics/ business teacher, but I have just started my first prac placement and am already having doubts around if this is the subject/ age range of teaching I want to do.

I have sat in on classes with Years 7, 9 and 12. After experiencing the senior students I am not sure that I have the personality to deal with this age group. I have also taken into consideration that as a teaching couple we are not going to be very marketable both holding the same specialisation i.e. secondary economics.

My questions are:

1. Should I switch to primary or middle years teaching (I loved the Year 7's!!) and my partner continue on with secondary economics?
2. Do overseas schools prefer a Middle Years or Primary teaching qualification?
3. Will this be the best combination to make us most marketable to overseas schools?
4. We are planning a family currently so will have a 5 year old when we are planning to go overseas, will this be a problem?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. I am having great anxiety over this and am considering switching my course and possibly institution for next semester.

Thanks mates!