When candidates apply for teaching positions abroad, they often ask, “What is the difference between School A and School B.” It can be confusing; hundreds of different names, benefits provided, workload, and requirements are all under the same name as “Teaching Abroad.” However, the functions of these schools may all differ from one another drastically. Let me introduce and warn you about the three major categories of schools you’ll encounter when looking for a teaching position abroad.
Cram Schools
Buxibans(bu she bans), Jukus, Hagwons, Dershanes, Bimbels, and Tuition Schools, most commonly called “Cram Schools,” are the most common jobs available for teaching abroad. Although the name may change in different nations, the purpose is the same. Cram schools are designed for supplemental learning, whether test preparation or general English classes. After the bell rings at their public or private school, students come in droves to these cram schools, where they will sit and participate in extra classes that their parents want them to attend. So why are Cram Schools the most common work for those who want to teach abroad? For a few reasons, the first being Cram Schools usually require limited experience to work there. Another is the sheer amount of them that exist. Often these cram schools are franchises like McDonald’s or Starbucks, put around schools to attract prospecting parents. A native-speaking teacher is also attractive to these schools as it is a competitive advantage for marketing. Unfortunately, this can breed discrimination and racism, but we’ll save that for another blog post. I have compiled a pro and con list for working at Cram Schools below:
Pro:
Need little experience
Lessons are prepared, so the teacher needs to follow along.
More flexible schedule so you can explore.
Cons:
No career growth
Salary is usually less than other teaching positions.
Management may replace you quickly, as teachers are often seen as just marketing.
Recommend for:
Candidates who decide that they want to travel and be paid comfortably while doing it.
Not Recommended for:
Any career teacher or candidate who wants career growth in said country or even back home.
International Schools
The next type of school is the private international school. These schools are usually full-time positions (40 hours a week) and are the more traditional teaching role. Typically they have more requirements and benefits than cram schools. International Schools are privately funded by parents who pay hefty tuition for their child to receive an “international education,” usually based on a curriculum from the UK or US. Teachers are expected to have experience in their subject matter, usually an advanced degree, though this depends on the country and school. International schools, on average, pay much higher and include more benefits. However, one difference between international schools and cram schools is the parents. Since international schools require and rely on the parents’ funding, they have control. The control the parents have can drive teachers mad. In my experience, most teachers have left a contract early or quit an international school because of parents’ demands.
Pros:
Higher salary and better benefits.
Subject Teaching
More Career Growth Opportunities
Cons
You are working full-time abroad and have less time to travel
Parents’ Demands ( you even may have to change grades)
The school will choose parents over you
Recommend for:
Career Teachers or those with teaching experience that want a higher salary.
Not recommended for:
Those who have problems with changing grades and generally changing with parents’ demands.
Public Schools
Lastly, we come to our last type of school abroad, the public school. This one is a little harder to generalize as it differs from country to country. Sometimes the benefits are better than international schools, like in Taiwan, and other times they are not. Public schools are government funded, which usually means you do not have to deal with parents’ demands, though typically, the requirements are higher, and licensing is required. Public schools also have more extended vacations and better benefits than other teaching positions open to foreign teachers.
Pros
Long Vacations
Just be a teacher, no customer service with parents
Government benefits
Cons
Higher Requirements
Classroom materials and technology are more dated
No career growth
Recommended for: Those who have experience and want a teaching job abroad with benefits
Not recommended for: Those who want career growth within a school.
Of course, these descriptions are not a perfect guide to choosing a school abroad. Every school will have a different culture and work environment. The easiest way to see this is through researching the school and asking former and current employees about their experience. Doing this could avoid a horror story and enjoy their time abroad.