International schools are large and small, found in over 100 countries, in some of the largest cities around the world and in the countryside. English is the main language of instruction.

Governance: International schools are usually private and can be non-profit with a parent-run of directors, sponsored by a corporation, or sponsored by embassies. Some are proprietary in nature.

School curricula can be based on one or more of: the International Baccalaureate (IB), American curriculum, the IGCSE from the UK, host country requirements, or others, including Canadian (usually Ontario).

The majority of the students are university bound and can be entirely host country nationals or drawn primarily from the international community. In most cases, the student body is a mixture of the two groups.

The teaching staff is often a mix of host country nationals and 'import' teachers.

Given all of the above variables, it's best to have a very flexible view of international schools.

Queen's University has an annual recruiting fair in February with approximately 80 international schools in attendance. There is an ongoing International Teacher Placement Service also available for certified teachers unable to attend the recruiting fair.

Regional Associations

• Association of American Schools in South America
• European Council of International Schools
• Association of International Schools in Africa
• Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
• East Asia Regional Council of Schools
• Latin American Tri-Association
• Mediterranean Association of International Schools

Job Search Related Links

• The International Educator - Extensive vacancy listing plus information about subscribing to newspaper.
• Times Educational Supplement - TES job postings section includes some international school opportunities
• Teaching Jobs Overseas
• k12teachoverseas.com - Information on specific positions, schools' web sites, and more.
• Overseas Teacher's Digest - News, articles and resources.
• International Supply Teachers - Teachers on the Move - Short-term work in international schools.
• US Department of State - Listing of American Schools around the world.
• International School Search - On-line directory of 5400 international schools including IB schools and members of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS).

Curriculum Links

• Advanced Placement Program (AP) - Senior high school curriculum common in American international schools.
• International Baccalaureate Organisation (IB) - Originally a high school diploma program, now K-12, common in international schools.

There are several countries where English is the official language and the language of instruction in the state or public school system. The geographic regions of most interest include the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Bahamas and Bermuda.

To be able to teach in another country, as a non-citizen you must be able to secure a work permit. Work permits are issued only in cases where it is necessary to bring in a foreigner to fill a position where there is a shortage of suitably qualified host country citizens. The type of teachers needed varies from one country to another, and from one region to another within a particular country. There is a broad range of working and living conditions, making generalizations about teaching in countries where English is the official language difficult to make.

Besides a work permit, teachers must also obtain the proper teaching certification from the jurisdiction in which you would be teaching. Each country (or state) has specific requirements, distinctive to their own certification bodies. If you are seeking a position on your own, you will need to research whether or not your Ontario Certificate of Qualification meets the needs of the jurisdiction concerned. In some cases, teaching agencies can debunk this sometimes complex process.

For Australia, the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months (you must apply after your 18th birthday but before your 31st). You can work for up to 6 months with each employer. If you teach in Australia through an agency, they can advise further on visa procurement.

For the UK, the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa enables you to live and work in the UK for 24 months. If you reach your 31st birthday during that time, you can stay in the UK while your visa remains valid. You can leave and come back to the UK at any time during your stay. If you teach in the UK through an agency, they can advise further on visa procurement.

For the USA, while there are different visas that one can obtain, finding a position and procuring the visa is not always an easy process. The HB1 Visa is issued to teachers who can teach subjects in subject areas where there is a shortage of suitable qualified US citizens. There is also a cultural exchange visa, the J-1 visa valid for up to 3 years, is used by some school districts and organizations including the Visiting International Faculty Program (below).

United States of America

• US Department of Education
• State Education Agencies — Links to the states' departments of education.
• National Public School Locator — US public schools and school districts.
• Local School Directory — US public and private schools directory, K-12, by state.
• Education America Network — A registry for teachers and employers.
• Teachers-Teachers.com— A registry for teachers and employers.
• USTeach.com — A registry for teachers and school districts.
• Academic Employment Network — Vacancies plus certification information by state.
• Visiting International Faculty Program — VIF brings teachers into several states from Canada and elsewhere.
• Council of the Great City Schools — Links to the largest school public school districts in the USA.
• Teach For America — For recent college graduates, of all academic majors, who are willing to commit to two years to teach in under-resourced urban and rural public schools.
• Private School Review - Profiles of USA private schools
• Boarding School Review - College Preparatory and Jr. Boarding Schools.
• Public School Review Profiles of USA public schools K-12.
• Carney Sandoe and Associates — Placement agency for teachers and administrators interested in private schools.
• ISM's Career Corner — Openings for administrators and teachers in private schools.
• American Association for Employment in Education — A range of job search resources.
• American Association of School Administrators
• Teach California — Overview of teaching in California.
• ed-join.org — A registry of teaching opportunities in California.
• Edutech — K–12 and community college opportunities in California.
• Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) — Certification in California.

United Kingdom

• Department for Education
• Office for Standards in Education — Posts evaluation reports on individual UK schools.
• Teachers 4 London — Lists specific positions in London with information about the boroughs and other information and advice.
• Education Jobs — Specific positions listed.
• Aplusjobs — Specific positions listed.
• Times Educational Supplement — TES job postings section has teaching opportunities throughout UK

The UK agencies below place teachers in positions ranging from daily substitute teaching to full year contracts:

• Engage Education
• TimePlan
• Protocol Education
• Elite Education
• Red Teachers
• Smart Teachers
• ITN Mark Education
• Randstad Education
• Axcis Education Recruitment
• Cover Teachers
• A Star Teachers

Australia

• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations — Federal web site providing an overview of Australian education.
• Teaching in Australia
• New South Wales — Employment information.
• Queensland — Employment Information
• South Australia — Employment information.
• Victoria — Employment information.
• Western Australia — Employment information.
• Leading Out — Teacher placement and support agency providing employment opportunities, accommodation, social and travel resources.
• Resource Ed Australia — Teacher placement agency for daily supply teaching and short term contracts.
• ANZUK — Teacher placement agency for daily supply teaching and short term contracts.
• Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship
• Australian High Commission (in Ottawa)
• Classified ads including teaching positions

New Zealand

• TeachNZ — An overview of education in NZ including employment opportunities.
• Education Gazette — All teaching positions in NZ are listed here.
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority — For appraisal of foreign teaching credentials.
• New Zealand Teachers Council — Registration is a mandatory step for anyone wishing to teach in NZ.
• New Zealand Ministry of Education
• New Zealand Immigration Service

Other

• Bermuda and the Caribbean

Teaching English as a second language offers many opportunities around the world in a range of settings. Teacher certification is an asset but often not a requirement. Salaries and benefits, working and living conditions vary widely.

• Maple Bear / Global Schools Ltd — A Canadian organization with ESL opportunities in several countries.
• TESOL Online — A major organisation with a range of services for ESL teachers.
• Oxford Seminars — Information about ESL opportunities and ESL certification courses
• Teach Overseas — An ESL site for Canadians.
• Footprints Recruiting — An ESL site based in Canada.
• Transitions Abroad — Broad based information.
• ESL Herald — World wide opportunities.
• Dave's ESL Cafe — World wide opportunities
• ESLworldwide.com — World-wide opportunities.
• ESL Jobs World — World-wide opportunities.
• GoTeachAbroad — World-wide opportunities.
• Employment Opportunities for Language Teachers — World-wide opportunities.
• ESL employment — World-wide opportunities.
• Linguistic Funland — Resources for language and linguistics teaching and learning.
• Teach Away — Opportunities in Asia.
• English First — Opportunities in China, Indonesia, Russia.
• Teach and Travel Jobs — Opportunities in Korea.
• ESLTeacher Recruiter — Opportunities in Korea.
• Planet ESL — Opportunities in Korea.
• Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme — Opportunities in Japan.
• O-Hayo Sensei — Opportunities in Japan.
• EF Education — A corporation with opportunities in many countries.
• TESall.com — World-wide opportunities with a search engine.

There are many Canadian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) engaged in international development. Below are some, both secular and religious, that are involved in education but it is necessary to explore a number of issues directly with each NGO.

Each NGO will differ on a number of levels according to:

1. The types of positions available
2. The countries in which they are located
3. The length of service commitment required
4. Their development goals and philosophy
5. Their application procedures and deadlines
6. Their selection criteria
7. The salary and benefits offered

• Canadian Council for International Co-operation - General information site. Publisher of 'Who's Who in International Development', an excellent on-line directory of Canadian NGOs.
• Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) - General information site.
• Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) - General information site including employment opportunities. (Government agency not an NGO)
• Canadian Teachers' Federation Project Overseas - Offers short term opportunities in developing countries for experienced teachers.
• Aga Khan Foundation Canada
• Crossroads International
• Canada World Youth
• CUSO-VSO
• World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
• WorldTeach
• Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
• Scarboro Missions
• AFS Interculture Canada
• NGOabroad

• Association of Christian Schools International — For information about paid and volunteer positions in member schools.
• Big Guide to Working and Living Overseas
• London Times Educational Supplement — includes ads for positions in the UK plus ESL and international schools world-wide.
• Embassy World — A directory of the world's embassies and consulates.
• Embassy Directory in Canada
• Canada Revenue Agency — For information about exemption from Canadian taxes on overseas earnings. Find out if you qualify for 'non-resident status'.
• TrowbridgePC — Specialists in international taxation issues for Canadians working overseas
• Health Canada — General advice for travellers.
• Travel Health Online — Health and safety information by country.
• Traveler's Health — A comprehensive site by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta.
• World Health Organization — current information about specific countries
• MDtravelhealth.com — travel health information
• Travel Health Notices — information for travellers from Public Health Agency of Canada
• Currency Converter
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada) — Travel/living information and travel warnings.
• Travel Library — Personal travelogues, trip reports, world wide travel information.
• Lonely Planet — A wide range of travel information.
• Gay Teachers Overseas — travel advice including security issues