this is truly terrifying.

Thanks for your responses. Anyone else?

Go for it--with five years of experience and no dependents, you will have a decent chance of being hired at the UNI fair. That said, you will definitely want to expand your search to schools beyond Europe. There are lots of places in the world that offer security and social opportunities within the community like you're looking for.

If you are already planning to attend UNI, I wouldn't bother also paying for SEARCH. If you want to do some searching on your own outside of the fair, TIE is super cheap and lists tons of openings.

Begin researching countries and schools NOW. The good thing about UNI is that when you register, you are sent a packet that contains information on all of the schools that should be attending (including hiring package). That information plus information that you find on the paid portion of this site will give you a good idea of where you want to apply to BEFORE you arrive in Iowa in January. That kind of preparation makes the fair so much more easy to navigate and you won't end up wasting time talking to schools that aren't worth your time. For example, the American International School at Ho Chi Minh City. Today this forum listed it as one of the worst schools to work at, though at the UNI fair two years ago I remember there being a VERY long line in front of their table at the round robin.

Good luck!

I am curious about personal experiences raising children while working the International School circuit.

How would you compare medical care, costs of childcare, quality of life, the relative ease or difficulty compared to the U.S., and in which country did you do it (or are you currently doing it)?

Thanks!

My school has a technology teacher with a computer lab that teaches computer skills and collaborates with classroom teachers on specific projects. We also have a "technology specialist" for the school that helps teachers integrate technology into the classroom and supports teachers in understanding how to use technology in general.

A lot of the negativity that you see on this site is aimed at teaching English in a non-traditional school setting with a certificate that is not earned at a college/university and does not qualify as a K-12 teaching certificate. The ELL/ESL certificate that you would earn (I am assuming) as a state certification is different, and would enable you to teach in international schools, many of which have ESL positions. Adding a Special Ed certification would not hurt, as many of the ways to accommodate moderate learning disabilities are the same ways that one would accommodate English Language Learners. However, it is not absolutely necessary in order to gain a position at an IS.

I would argue that following the path of something that you love is far from hopeless.

I think option 2 is the most balanced. Certification, Master's degree, done--you're all set up with nothing to worry about obtaining online later. I would scrap the CELTA and save the $2,000 for something more worthwhile (like registering for and attending a fair next year). If you can work while in school, maybe you can get an Instructional Assistant position to beef up your resume in terms of experience (I know it wouldn't technically COUNT, but it is still something) or tutor in your grade/subject level.

So, you will finish your degree in Spring semester 2015? You could feasibily apply for jobs at the winter 2015 UNI fair, which hires a fair share of first year teachers. If you didn't get an offer that was enticing to you, what's one or two more years stateside gaining some valuable experience?

Go for the MAT & certificate, see what happens through TIE and UNI, go abroad if you land a position, and if not, a couple of years of experience is only going to make you a more viable candidate.

Honestly, my first two years of teaching were so difficult that I cannot imagine having that stress compounded up on the stress of moving to a new country. Kudos to those teachers who have the guts to go for it and are able to!

Best of luck! Sounds like you are really excited to go overseas. With a little bit of patience and hard work, I think you'll have a better foundation to go for it!

@MedellinHeel

I guess it depends on one's definition of "alternative route," which I think generally refers to a program not affiliated with a college or university (an Education Service Center, for example), with online or combined face to face/online coursework, and with a non-standard internship.

In fact, there are plenty of colleges and universities that offer post-baccalaureate, traditional coursework that leads to recommendation for certification (but not an additional degree) for students holding undergraduate degrees in a variety of fields.

No, you should not be limited. Teacher Ready culminates in a Florida state teacher certification with the paper to go along with it. It is considered to be a legitimate way to earn certification.

Furthermore, your resume does not have to indicate that you took an alternative route to certification. You simply note that you are highly qualified and state certified in your area.

http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education

US News and World Report collected a list of online education programs. It would be a good place to start.

Best of luck.

Is there a way to keep it covered? With hair or a shirt?

I would definitely hide it during any interviews. The dress code/tattoo policy will depend on the school, but I would accept the fact that you may work somewhere where it needs to be covered while on campus at all times, regardless of the weather.

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denim

I would like to hear about people working at some of the better schools in South America--FDR in Lima, Nido in Santiago, CNG in Bogota, etc. Through what avenue did you land your current position? Fair or no fair? If fair, which one?

Thanks!

I know that IB/PYP experience is required by many higher tier IB/PYP schools. What about for Learning Support positions?