Ever wondered how you are going to afford a lifestyle change or early retirement in one of the world’s best destinations?

Does the idea of being chauffeured to school appeal to you? How about living in a swanky city in your favourite country- with help with accommodation costs? Or does the chink, chink of your evening gin and tonic appeal to you- brought to you by your maid at the end of your workday? All these things are possible- depending on which country you decide will be your next best place to live abroad.

Teaching is a great way to combine living abroad with earning enough to enjoy your new life. Teaching in an international school is a great way to live abroad; if you are English speaking, have two years’ teaching experience under your belt and a university teaching degree. International School lessons are usually taught in English and usually the curriculum you’d be teaching is based on the American or British system. The diversity of background’s of students and teachers is what sets an international school apart from those back home.

The good news is that the number of international schools worldwide and the demand for teachers is growing.

Start your search for a teaching job in an International School (there are over 5,000 worldwide) here:

The International Educator www.tieonline.com

Well laid out, user friendly website. Need to become a subscriber. Search job vacancies, information/resources, post your CV online. Costs: $39 USD for a web only annual subscription plus another $29USD for instant job vacancies by email.

Search Associates www.search-associates.com

The Council of International Schools (CIS) www.cois.org. Annual CIS recruitment fair dates for 2012- in London are January 27th-30th and April 20th- 22nd. You will need to register online beforehand in order to attend this fair.

Times Educational Supplement www.tes.co.uk Search “International” for current teaching vacancies.

Teachers’ International consultancy (TIC) www.findteachingjobsoverseas.co.uk

Browse a Directory of International schools in any country: www.english-schools.org

Job recruitment fairs are a great way to see what’s on offer under one roof. See the links above for the dates/venues of jobfairs near you. Often, once you’ve expressed your interest in a certain country/school you can have an interview at that time and a new job within days! (Think of the whole process as a bit like speed dating!)

It’s important to check out what’s offered as part of the total package: are return flights included (or just one way) or not at all? Is accommodation included- if not what are rental costs? Is accommodation subsidised? You need to be asking plenty of questions before you leave home rather than discover some nasty answers on arrival at your new location.

Also check out local living costs: food/taxes etc.

Make sure you have a written contract-so you know your hours, salary and general responsibilities and the length of contract. Check resources available at the school, what visas are needed and whether medical insurance is part of the package benefits. And most important of all- don’t part with any money upfront.

Although it’s not essential to know the language of the country you will be living in- it will make life a lot easier if you know enough of the basics for everyday living. Here are 3 recommended online resources to get you started.

– BBC Languages www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other

– MIT Open Courseware http://web.mit.edu/fll

– Open University (Learning Space) http://openlearn.open.ac.uk

Billie, an experienced schoolteacher and freelance travel writer, is currently living in Christchurch, New Zealand with her family. If you would like to discover more about the best places to live abroad and how to fund your life overseas then read her blog posts/articles at: http://www.bestplacestoliveabroad.com Subscribe by email to my \’Best places to live abroad\’ blog posts to receive hot off the press news, in depth country profiles, real estate best buys and more from around the world.

f you would like to discover more about the best places to live abroad and how to fund your life overseas then read her blog posts/articles at: http://www.bestplacestoliveabroad.com Subscribe by email to my \’Best places to live abroad\’ blog posts to receive hot off the press news.

Author Bio: Billie, an experienced schoolteacher and freelance travel writer, is currently living in Christchurch, New Zealand with her family. If you would like to discover more about the best places to live abroad and how to fund your life overseas then read her blog posts/articles at: http://www.bestplacestoliveabroad.com Subscribe by email to my \’Best places to live abroad\’ blog posts to receive hot off the press news, in depth country profiles, real estate best buys and more from around the world.

Category: Travel
Keywords: travel, live abroad, teaching, international schools, English