How to Teach Math Abroad: Tips From a Traveling Math Teacher
Traveling as a teacher can be quite easy if you are not picky about where you are going and you only want to teach English. For those of you that want to teach specific subjects like math, it can be more lucrative but it is also a bit harder to find a job.
You need to have a degree in mathematics or a related field and an up-to-date teaching certificate from your state or province. Three to five years of experience and a clean background check from your home country are both standards. The ability to use technology and pique the student’s interests.
While you have all of these things and are highly qualified it can be tricky to find a job to your liking. I have interviewed some colleagues and traveling math teachers to help you get your first job or even find a new and better opportunity.
What types of jobs for teaching math abroad are available?
Most jobs for math teachers are for middle school to high school years and some university jobs. They tend to teach all types of math as well and not just algebra or geometry for example.
There are some jobs that are for the lower levels/grades, but since you will most likely be teaching in an ESL school they want the child to understand English first. This is not to say that there are no jobs, especially for math teachers in the lower levels, most elementary school teachers teach all subjects including math.
You will have a better chance of finding a job in the lower grades or a specific branch of math at a larger international school. The competition for these is much greater and you will need experience or a way to stand out from the rest of the field. If you want to work at an international school in Taiwan read my article here. There are a lot of great schools and opportunities.
What qualifications/requirements do I need to have?
Every school and country will vary. Often international schools will require teachers to be certified in their subject area and grade level. Depending on your state or province. Remember that these are not for all schools and this is just what you will find on the requirements page. To actually get all the paperwork and get into a country there is a lot to do. I live in Taiwan and wrote this manual on how to get started. Even if you choose a different country this should help. The Ulitmate Guide for Moving to Taiwan to Work or Live
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics or a related field
- A PGCE/B Ed. Degree must be a minimum of three years
- State/Province up-to-date teaching certificate
- PYP/MYP Training certificates for IB schools
- Under the age of 50 to 65 years old (A lot of countries don’t have age discrimination laws)
- Not have a strong accent (I know it’s not fair, I am just telling you)
- Three to five years of experience
- Two to three professional references
- Have taught abroad before
- A clean background check from where your passport is from and at bigger schools all the places you have lived for over three months in the last five years. It is annoying but can be done.
The reason they have things like teaching abroad before is so that they don’t have to worry about teachers leaving school and doing what is called a “midnight run”. The other reason for no accents and age is that parents tend to judge at first meetings. They believe that all foreigners should sound and look like they do on tv, again not fair but from my 14 years of experience, it is what happens.
How to stand out as a math teacher.
I asked John Kelley how he stands out and what can help differentiate him from the rest of the teachers in this competitive field. “A good reference in this field, the ability to use technology in the classroom, and a strong history of student progress are key. This is also why I started my online teacher job resource to have my options open as well. You need to be able to stand out from the rest of the teachers by making an online resource that not only helps students in my class, but it can also help others too. When the students go home they have something to guide them. Having recordings of your classes, and the previous lesson plans to show that not only do you understand the concepts but know how to teach them in a fun way.”
Where to find a math teaching position abroad.
I am only an ESL teacher, so my experience finding work has been different. I interviewed John David Kelley, a seasoned math teacher with over 13 years of experience that has taught in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan among others.
Where do you usually search? “I usually use Search Associates to find better and high-paying positions. I also use ISS Schrole and TES Jobs. For the first two you have to pay to join, which is well worth it since they vet the schools and help you with placement. This can be hard because I only want to teach math. TES is free but it is mostly British schools.”
For all jobs sometimes just search for schools in the cities that you want to go to and apply directly. This has worked out well for me, but make sure to take to a teacher that works there to get an idea of how the school runs.
Here are a few more sites that may help your search.
Mathematics Teaching Jobs Abroad – Teaching Abroad Direct
Teach Math Abroad | International School Jobs | WISHlistjobs
Can I teach math abroad without a mathematics degree?
Yes, at international and private schools. They will accept that you are not certified, but have experience teaching at a similar school in some cases. Some international schools will waive the certification/degree requirement if a teacher has valuable/related experience. International schools are willing to hire these teachers who bring value to the school or are in dire need of a math teacher.
What you should expect in your teaching contract.
This will again depend on the country, the Middle East often has the most lucrative contracts. A standard teaching contract abroad for math teachers is often higher than the average English teacher though since demand and competition are higher. Here is what they usually will include.
- Salary- from $2,000 to $5,000 USD but on average is around $3,500
- Accommodation allowance- Often you will get free accommodation, but if not you can expect 3/4s of the rent paid for by the school
- Free tuition fees for dependents This is often overlooked as this is a great perk. Read on here why students benefit from travel.
- Transportation allowance- They will either have a way for you to get to your school for free or give a stipend
- Medical Insurance- you will most likely pay a bit of this but the school will cover the main cost
- Visa & Residency- Covered by the school
- Economy flights- to and from your country of origin. They usually reimburse you for your flight there in the first month’s salary and pay for the return on completion of one full contractual year
- End of contract bonus- the standard is a month’s salary
- Leadership opportunities and paid PD
- Paid Holidays
