Making the decision to teach abroad is not a simple one – it’s the project of a lifetime. The first question to ask is: what is the reason for this mobility? It’s vital to have a good reason in mind for leaving, as insufficient motivation will lead you to return as quickly as you left.
For your stay abroad, you’ll need to take out international health insurance to ensure you enjoy your experience with complete peace of mind. International health insurance is also often required to obtain your visa or teaching position.
What are the advantages of teaching abroad?
In the course of a teaching career, mobility abroad enables you to enrich your professional skills and acquire new teaching methods. Thanks to this experience, you can enrich your own life by discovering a new culture and language. It will broaden your worldview and cultural skills, which you can then use to benefit your future students.
Teaching abroad as an expatriate
To qualify for the expatriate contract, you must :
– Be a Ministry of Education employee
– Proof of at least two years’ effective service in the position as a permanent employee
Recruitment is based on a proposal from the head of the establishment, and on the advice of the local joint consultative committee.
If your application is accepted, your teaching salary will be the gross amount at the time of your departure. It will be supplemented by various allowances, including a monthly expatriation allowance. The amount of this allowance varies from country to country. You will also benefit from other advantages, such as a return trip to your home country every 1, 2 or 3 years. As an expatriate, your rights to promotion and retirement remain unaffected.
Teaching abroad as a resident
The resident contract is for applicants who have already been living abroad for at least three months. What’s more, a resident’s salary is less advantageous than that of an expatriate. In addition to their teaching duties, expatriate positions include specific pedagogical consultancy missions. As well as in-service training or school management (for 1st degree), which is not the case for resident positions.
To be a resident, you must :
– Hold a teaching diploma recognized by the French Ministry of Education and Youth.
– At least 3 years’ actual service in the job as a permanent employee.
The procedure, which may differ depending on the recruiting organization, involves putting together an application file. This usually includes a handwritten covering letter, a detailed CV and administrative documents. As well as anything that can demonstrate and highlight personal and professional skills that are relevant to the job in question.
Teaching abroad with a local contract
The local contract allows you to be recruited by the school of your choice, to which you will have applied directly. Remuneration, social security coverage and contract conditions depend on local law. They are therefore specific to each country, and generally less advantageous than for expatriate and resident status. You’ll need to take into account the cost of living in the country you’ve chosen to live in.
This type of contract can also help a teacher who can’t find a resident contract at first, as it’s quicker and easier to access. It’s an entry point for 1 or 2 years, which then gives you priority on a resident position.
Teaching staff recruited on a local contract by a school will be placed on availability.
Teaching abroad as a volunteer
Unlike volunteers, volunteers make a formal commitment: they sign a contract to carry out a mission in the service of others, as part of one of the schemes specifically set up for voluntary work.
Aimed at everyone, the purpose of the Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale (VSI) is “to carry out a full-time mission of general interest”. Lasting from 12 to 24 months, it requires teachers to apply for an unpaid leave of absence.
Volunteers sign a contract with an approved association, which undertakes to prepare them for their departure and return, and to support them during their assignment. It also guarantees full health and social protection, as well as a monthly allowance of at least 100 euros. This does not include board and lodging, or travel expenses to and from the mission site.
What kind of health insurance do I need to teach abroad?
This makes it all the more important to take out an international health insurance policy. In some countries, healthcare costs can quickly reach very high levels. With international health insurance from Mondassur, you’re covered every day in the event of an accident or health problem. You can also benefit from repatriation assistance and legal coverage abroad.
