Search found 6 matches

by majorreaction
Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:03 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?
Replies: 55
Views: 61070

Re: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?

@Thames Pirate

That is great advice, I 100% won't rule any lesser known IS out when that time comes. I would be open to starting in any tier school in Germany if thats what it took to get my foot in the door.
by majorreaction
Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?
Replies: 55
Views: 61070

Re: Reply

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Thames Pirate
>
> If you were locked in a room and you couldnt leave until you named an IS/DS
> in Germany that was as close to an Eaton or Exeter which IS/DS might that
> be??
>
> @majorreaction
>
> A tier 3 IS in Asia/ME/LCSA is a far more realistic option for gaining
> experience assuming you dont have something like German language ability to
> leverage into a DS in Germany. Even after those first two years your still
> not going to be marketable for a tier 2 or tier 1 IS in Germany. Your going
> to be working the circuit for about 6 years before thats something where
> youre a viable candidate.
Thank you. As far as Europe goes is there any country I could realistically think about teaching in after two years experience if not Germany? Like Poland, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Etc?
by majorreaction
Tue Sep 17, 2019 6:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?
Replies: 55
Views: 61070

Re: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?

Thames Pirate wrote:
> OP--If you are figuring on several years before getting to a school like
> MIS anyway, you may as well do them at either a smaller school in Germany
> or another IS where you can get curriculum experience, etc. There is
> nothing wrong with the DODEA option, but you would essentially be teaching
> in an American school that just happens to be in Germany and probably not
> IB, either. MIS would probably prefer curriculum experience and experience
> with an international student body to DODEA. So it really depends on what
> your ultimate goal is--just living in Germany? Teaching at MIS? Different
> goals have different routes.
>
> If your goal is just living in Germany, the country is currently experience
> a teacher shortage. If you can get your language skills up to speed, you
> could absolutely do a Ref and become a teacher in a German school.
> Otherwise, just look at the myriad schools that teach in English. Even
> domestic schools with English as the language of instruction might be a
> good option. Or consider the DODEA.
>
> But if your goal is MIS or FIS, you will likely be better off going to
> other ISs for a few years and just applying for every possible vacancy
> while you gather experience until you get the job you want.

Thank you for the great advice. I think you are probably right. I guess the only daunting part about going with the smaller school in Germany route is not only learning a second language but being comfortable enough to teach in that language as well. Between school studies and a job im not sure if I could commit the time needed.

I know for certain that I don't want to do my two years here in the states. I want to go abroad. My ultimate goal would be to end up in MIS. I suppose going to a different IS at first could be another option. I would probably be limiting myself to tier 3 schools in Asia/Latin America/ME for the first 2 years though, right? I wouldn't be totally opposed to that if only for two years. I could use that experience to move into maybe a tier 2 IS in Northern Europe (If not Germany if I got lucky) or a better school in Asia.

Idk, I've definitely got some things to consider.
by majorreaction
Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:21 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?
Replies: 55
Views: 61070

Re: Response

@PsyGuy

Thank you so much for your very informative post. It is all things I will heavily consider and I have begun to study German.

What are your thoughts on DoDEA? When talking with my university/advisor this was a pathway that was brought up to me. Apparently my school has a relationship with DoDEA and I could potentially have the opportunity to do my student teaching abroad with them. Having student taught through DoDEA gives you priority I guess when applying to them and you could even get hired on at the end of your student teaching.

Im not sure if my chances would be very good though when it comes to getting placed in Germany at first. It sounds like it is random but that you have the opportunity to transfer out to a different school. I would be willing to start somewhere else at first if that was the case.

If I could get my foot in the door through them and gain the required experience (4-6 years?) maybe then I would have a better shot with a Munich IS or another quality IS in Germany? Not sure if DoDEA or that route is even realistic for me but it was something that was suggested.
by majorreaction
Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:24 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?
Replies: 55
Views: 61070

Re: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?

Thames Pirate wrote:
> Your options are myriad. I would say that if you plan on spending years in
> domestic teaching, you will end up with that, but if you PLAN on going
> abroad right away, you can.
>
> Do you speak German? If you are at a B2 or so, you can probably come and
> teach in a public school. Germany has a serious teacher shortage, and if
> you wanted to do your Ref here, you could probably do that and end up with
> a German teaching license. Something to consider at least.
>
> Otherwise (and definitely required with a German cert)--get a second
> endorsement. Then start looking at schools. You will want to move away
> from big agencies for this; look instead for smaller schools, often
> boarding schools--schools like Louisenlund or Schloss Salem. Or even an
> English language Gymnasium.
>
> Lots of options out there, but they require a bit of leg work to find.
Thanks so much for your informative post! I do not currently speak German, no, but it is something I have strongly considered picking up. The route you suggested is definitely one for me to consider.

Now say I were to decide to do my 2 years post-graduate here in the states instead. Would that experience alone make me competitive enough for something like a tier 2 IS in Germany? Or is there something else I would need to do such as get my masters or a specific endorsement (not sure which one) like you suggested that I should add.

I know in some countries such as Asia that 2 years of experience may make me competitive enough for a high tier 3 or tier 2 school. I wasn't sure if that was the case with Germany. I have looked at all of the German IS schools reviewed here on the site and would not be opposed to starting at any of them if thats what I had to do in order to get to a school like Munich IS for instance.
by majorreaction
Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:32 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?
Replies: 55
Views: 61070

Planning ahead. How can I become an IT in Germany?

Hey everyone,

So for the last 3 years, it has been my goal to become an international teacher. I have fortunately had the privilege of traveling and Germany is one of the places through my travels I have fallen in love with (particularly Munich and Frankfurt). It is my goal to move there and teach. I am currently a junior at UCF and am in a Secondary Education, English Language Arts program.

As I'm still only a junior, I'm wondering what I can do to make myself seem more competitive while I'm still in school and what else I can do while doing my 2 years of teaching here in the states. Should I take online workshops on IB/AP stuff? (still only have a vague idea on what that is). Should I add certifications? Should I spend my summers getting "higher-quality" experience by being a paid teaching assistant at a camp/program in the US? Are there any other things that I should do?

Though I'd prefer to start teaching abroad right after I graduate college, I realize that in order to be competitive I will most likely need to gain two years of experience here in the states. I'm not sure exactly how competitive it is to get into some of the better international schools in Germany as it is to get into some of the better schools in other countries but I would prefer for it to be an international school in Munich, Frankfurt, or Hamburg.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.