The opportunity to teach abroad Every year, the teaching profession attracts thousands of teachers from all over the world, whether they wish to pass on their mother tongue, broaden their professional horizons or settle permanently in a new country. Before taking the plunge, it’s essential to understand the different statuses available, their conditions of access, and the steps to anticipate depending on your country of origin and destination.
Whatever the setting, international health insurance is one of the first steps you should take. It protects your health throughout your assignment and, in many countries, is a prerequisite for obtaining your visa or validating your contract.
Why teach abroad?
A teaching abroad transforms a career. On a professional level, this mobility enables you to acquire new teaching methods, adapt to varied educational systems and develop intercultural skills that few other experiences offer. On a personal level, it opens the door to a new language, a new culture and a different way of looking at the world, all of which have a lasting impact on teaching practice.
For language teachers, going abroad to teach French, English or any other language abroad is a rare opportunity to teach in a context of total immersion, where demand is high and added value immediate.
The different statuses for teaching abroad
1) Secondment or expatriation via your current employer
In many countries, permanent teachers can be seconded abroad by their home institution. This status is generally the most protective: it maintains promotion and pension rights, and is accompanied by destination-related allowances. Conditions vary according to the country of origin and the employing organization, whether a national administration, a university or a network of international institutions.
This type of teaching position abroad is obtained by application, often at the suggestion of a school head, and generally requires several years’ seniority.
2) Local recruitment by a foreign establishment
This is the most accessible way to teaching abroad without a competitive examination or without sufficient seniority in a public system. You apply directly to an establishment: international school, bilingual lycée, private university, language center. Remuneration and contractual conditions depend entirely on local law, and vary significantly from country to country.
This status is often an effective way to gain initial international experience, build a local network and then move on to more stable positions. As social security coverage is generally limited in this context, a international health insurance is particularly important. If you’re attached to a school, you should know that Mondassur also offers insurance for teachers and students abroad in a single contract.
3) Resident status in a network of international establishments
Some international school networks recruit teachers who have already been resident in the host country for several months. This intermediate status offers greater contractual stability than a local contract, while remaining distinct from full secondment. Duties are focused on teaching, without the coordination or management responsibilities that can be included in secondment positions.
Entry criteria vary according to network and country, but prior teaching experience and a command of the required language level are systematically required.
4) International volunteering
The Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale (VSI) and its equivalents in other countries, enable people to carry out a teaching assignment within an approved associative or humanitarian framework. These missions, generally lasting between 12 and 24 months, are aimed at profiles motivated by a commitment to serving others, often in areas where access to education remains limited.
Volunteers sign a formal contract with an organization that supports them before, during and after their assignment. A monthly allowance, accommodation and travel expenses are generally provided, as well as health and social protection for the duration of the stay.
Why is health cover essential abroad?
Go to teaching abroad without adequate health cover exposes you to financial and medical risks that few teachers really anticipate before they leave.
- Local healthcare systems are not accessible to all. In many countries, access to medical care is conditional on affiliation to a local health insurance scheme or immediate payment of medical expenses. Without international coverage, a simple consultation with a doctor may require a substantial advance payment, and hospitalization can quickly become a critical financial situation.
- Medical costs vary considerably from country to country. In the USA, for example, a night in intensive care regularly exceeds $10,000. In Japan, emergency appendicitis surgery can cost several thousand euros. In Australia, the cost of medical repatriation to the country of origin frequently reaches 50,000 euros. These amounts are not exceptions: they are situations that expatriates face every year.
- A visa or employment contract often requires proof of insurance. Many countries require proof of health cover to issue a long-stay visa or validate a teaching contract. Without a certificate that meets local requirements, your departure may be jeopardized at the final stage of the process.
- Unforeseen events can’t be prevented: An accident on the way to work, a tropical disease, a dental emergency or a chronic health problem that occurs far from home: these situations affect mobile teachers every year, whatever their destination. A international health insurance guarantees access to healthcare without having to compromise between health and finances.
What kind of health insurance do I need to teach abroad?
As soon as you start working outside your home country, your usual health cover will no longer apply, or will only apply in part. If you’re accompanying mobile students, please note that a international student insurance is also available to cover them under the same conditions. In many destinations, medical costs are high: hospitalization in the United States, medical evacuation in Southeast Asia or surgery in Latin America can represent considerable sums without appropriate coverage.
At Mondassur, our international health insurance covers routine care and medical emergencies, repatriation assistance and civil liability abroad. They are tailored to your status, your destination and the duration of your assignment, whether you’re away for a few months or several years. Our advisors will guide you towards the formula best suited to your situation, whatever your country of origin.
