The following list contains sites that will help you to begin your search for international teaching positions. These sources vary in the extent to which job postings are monitored or screened for reliability; it is important to evaluate any job posting carefully, keeping your own personal and professional goals and needs in mind. It is a good idea to check a variety of sites both to compare information and to gain a sense of the kinds of teaching opportunities available.

This list will be updated quarterly, and suggestions are always welcome.

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Professional Organizations

Various resources for ESL / EFL teachers: conferences, workshops, publications, job postings. Consult these sites for general information and useful links.

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL- national organization): www.tesol.org – many resources for teaching, teacher education, and curriculum materials.  Student membership is $51.00 per year, non-student is $75.00. National and regional conferences held annually, with optional specialized workshops.

Washington Association for the Education of Speakers of Other Languages (WAESOL): http://www.waesol.org/ - regional organization with multiple resources. Conferences held annually. Student membership is $15.00 per year, professional membership is $30.00. 

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) – Information on U.S. and international independent schools: http://www.nais.org/

Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS): http://www.pnais.org/  Regional branch of NAIS. Various resources for teachers. Limited international listings for Canada.

The Association of Schools in South America (AASSA): http://www.aassa.com Teacher recruitment for American / international schools throughout South America.

Association for Asian Studies (AAS): www.aasianst.org.  Main focus is on academic jobs in U.S. higher education for Asia specialists, but the newsletter contains occasional advertisements for teaching positions at other levels. The AAS publication Education about Asia is an excellent resource for learning more about Asia for those interested in teaching in Asian countries. Membership fees based on income.

U.S. Government-Related Agencies

Placement through these agencies generally requires planning at least a year in advance. Background checks may be required.

           Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for Undergraduate Study Abroad
           http://www.iie.org/gilman       
           Spring 2005 Online Application Now Available -
           Application Deadline September 22, 2004  
Founded under the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000 this congressionally-           funded program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education. The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who have been traditionally underrepresented in US study abroad and those with high financial need. The program aims to encourage students to choose nontraditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe and Australia, and aims to support students who have been traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. This includes but is not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in underrepresented fields such as education, the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students of nontraditional age. The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range and type of two-year and four-year public and private institutions from all 50 states.

The Gilman Scholarship provides awards of up to $5,000 for U.S. citizen undergraduate students at two- and four-year institutions to pursue country-based undergraduate opportunities abroad of up to one academic year. To be eligible students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or in Cuba. Short-term programs are eligible provided they are a minimum of four weeks in length. For more information, full eligibility criteria and the online application please access the Gilman Program website at www.iie.org/gilman or contact the Gilman office directly.

                      Gilman International Scholarship Program
                    Institute of International Education - Houston
                              520 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 740
                                     Houston, TX 77027
                                 Toll Free: 888 887-5939
                                   Phone: 713 621 6300
                                        gilman@iie.org

 

Fulbright U.S. Student Program:  www.iie.org  Go to Fulbright section and look under Teaching in U.S. Student Program listings – teaching assistantships in various countries.  May be used for international practicum, depending on conditions.  For current WWU students: Applications are due to WWU Fulbright Program Adviser in late September or early October; contact Prof. Shaw Gynan at sgynan@cc.wwu.edu.

Peace Corps:  http://www.peacecorps.gov  Opportunities in education and other fields; some choice of location.  Some training and in-country support provided.

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA): http://dodea.edu American schools located on U.S. military bases around the world, serving primarily children of U.S. service personnel.

Information site on Teaching in South Korea:  http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul/wwwh3550.html Useful practical advice on teaching placements, living conditions, and contract negotiations, drawing on experiences of many teachers in South Korea at various levels.

National Committee on US–China Relations: http://www.ncuscr.org/  Teacher exchange between US and China – applicants must hold a regular teaching position already. Supported by both federal and private funds. 

Other Placement Agencies

Cost for placement services available through these organizations varies, as does the level of training and orientation provided.

Bridge Fund: http://www.bridgefund.org/  Teaching placements and social services projects in Tibetan communities in China, with various cooperative partnerships.

China Educational Exchange (Mennonite): http://www.chinaeducationalexchange.org/ Focuses on teaching and social assistance projects in rural China.

China Teaching Program: www.wwu.edu/~ctp  Placement for one year in Beijing or Shanghai. Significant teaching experience and/or completed TESOL certification may be required. Contact TESOL Program international advisor regarding recent changes in this program.

Colorado China Council: www.asiacouncil.org  Placements in China for summer or academic year, with training program during August in Shanghai.

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE):  http://www.ciee.org/ Study abroad, volunteer and internship opportunities, international employment in teaching and other fields. Placements in various locations in China and Thailand for 5 to 10 months, at all levels (primary school through university). 

JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme:  http://www.jetprogramme.org/ Teaching and community positions in Japan. Japanese language ability required for some positions.

Kai Communication Support: http://www.kaics-hawaii.com/index.html email to kaics@aloha.net, address to Kai Ioh; mailing address: 75-426 Hoene Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Placements in Japanese kindergartens / elementary schools. Website currently under construction in Japanese only.

Princeton-in-Asia (at Princeton University): www.princeton.edu/~pia  Placements in various Asian countries.

Trace Foundation: www.trace.org  Teaching placements and sustainable development projects in Tibetan communities of China.

Volunteers in Asia (at Stanford University): www.viaprograms.org Placements in various Asian countries. Pre-departure training.

WorldTeach (at Harvard University): www.worldteach.org Placements in numerous locations worldwide. WorldTeach will offer a new program in Hunan Province, China, beginning in 2004-05.

Job listings
(no placement services; in addition to listings, these publications contain various kinds of information about international education and travel)

Transitions Abroad Magazine: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/ This well-respected publication, which has extensive online resources in addition to the print edition, contains a wealth of information on teaching, studying, traveling and living abroad. Entries are better screened than in many such sources.

GoAbroad.com: http://www.goabroad.com/ contains many online listings for teaching and volunteer opportunities, as well as travel advice. Not carefully monitored for reliability of listings or other information. 

Dave’s ESL Café http://www.eslcafe.com/ also has many listings for teaching jobs and internships.  Not carefully monitored for reliability of listings or other information. Many anecdotal reports, often potentially misleading though sometimes informative. You may want to check this site for comparative purposes.

Escape from America Magazine www.EscapeArtist.com contains various kinds of information about living, traveling and working abroad, with commentaries on personal experiences. Not carefully monitored for reliability of listings or other information.