r/Internationalteachers

tl;dr: Job offer in Kuwait as a history teacher— not sure to whether to take so late in the hiring season or roll the dice and keep looking. What do?

Hi there,

As the title says, I have a job offer in a good school in Kuwait. I’m weighing my decision carefully, but, as I don’t know anyone close in real life, I’d like this community to weigh in and offer any advice/wisdom you may have in my situation.

For context, I am a history/social studies teacher from the U.S. going on 9 years in education and about to receive my M.A. in History as well; I have mostly taught AP. This would be my first job abroad, and, although my top preferred area is in Eastern Europe, it is already April and I have been pretty unsuccessful in the job hunt overall; from what I’ve been reading, this year has been tough for many.

This would be for two years teaching AP classes, and, while it could open up doors for the future and be a good area to travel around from, from what I’ve read on this subreddit predominantly, Kuwait can be tough for a number of reasons, not to mention the current issues in the region, although I’ve seen the reverse that say it isn’t so bad— more of a YMMV, “you get out of it what you put in” kind of thing.

I have a few days to mull it over and make a choice, but I’m definitely torn on it. I guess the major thing is like gambling: do I ”stay” and accept this or do I ”hit” and hope for something in Europe throughout the rest of the month? To put even more pressure on the decision, my current school and apartment are currently both asking whether to renew by the end of the month.

Those of you with experience in this, what would you recommend/advise? Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciate, as, like I said, I’m inexperience in the world of international teaching.

I got an interview at my #1 dream school which is a tier 1 school (I honestly shouldn’t have because I only have 5 years experience but I had some inside help), and I totally blew it. I didn’t say anything I prepared to say because the questions really caught me off guard. I fumbled my way through it. They weren’t even curveballs… just worded in a way that made me get flustered.

I am just seeking consolation. I feel ashamed of myself for getting that close to the dream and letting that happen. Now I feel so low… any words of comfort or stories about blessings in disguise appreciated.

And yes it WAS that bad - my husband listened from the next room and confirmed that it went poorly.

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out because I feel quite stuck and would really appreciate some honest guidance from those experienced in international teaching.

I have an M.A. in English Language and Literature and a B.Ed (India). I also have around 3 years of experience as a freelance English tutor, and I’m currently working as a Communicative English Trainer in a company.

For the past few months, I’ve been actively trying to move to the UAE (or other GCC countries) for a teaching job. I’ve applied to a large number of schools and sent emails directly as well, but unfortunately, I’ve received little to no response.

The only offer I got was from one school offering 3,200 AED for a TGT English position, which felt quite low, so I didn’t pursue it further.

At this point, I’m confused and would really appreciate advice on:

1. Is my profile suitable for teaching jobs in UAE/GCC, or am I missing something important?

2)Is 3.2k AED actually the normal starting range, or should I hold out for better?

3. What’s the most effective way to apply (recruiters, job portals, referrals, etc.)?

4. Do I need additional certifications (like IELTS, TESOL, CELTA, etc.) to improve my chances?

5. Are there specific countries in GCC where entry is easier?

I’m starting to feel quite discouraged since nothing seems to be working despite consistent effort.

Any insights, suggestions, or even reality checks would mean a lot. Thank you in advance.

Hey everyone,

Quick question for those teaching internationally:

How much do you earn, how many years of experience do you have, and do you feel like it’s fair?

I keep hearing that salaries vary wildly depending on the country and school, and I’m curious if most people feel properly compensated or not.

Feel free to share as much or as little detail as you’re comfortable with 👇

After 10 years of working in university-level ESL, I’m finishing up the process to get certified to teach in the States (I also have an MA) and I’d like to shift over to international schools. I understand that not all my experience will transfer over and that it’s a much heavier workload, but I’m ready for the move.

My biggest hurdle is that I have two active, 20kg dogs that I’ve adopted and I’d like to find a school where I might be able to rent a house with a small garden. I’ve previously taught in China, South Korea, and the Middle East and I really would like to go back to China but I understand that many Tier 1 cities have a one dog policy and some even have height restrictions.

I don’t mind starting small, I understand that with my experience I’m going to need to build up my resume again. Does anyone have any schools/cities in mind?

Hi, recently had an offer from the mentioned school. How is the environment for international teachers in there?

Hi, I got an offer from one International school in Kuwait but there is little to no information about it. Any reviews?

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I'm curious about which countries abroad (non-UK) are realistic to have my first ECT job in. I've had a look at the list of accredited schools, but I'm curious what's the norm.

Would Poland, Czech Republic, the Baltics, Russia, or Kazakhstan be unrealistic?

Or does it need to be East Asia/Southeast Asia, Middle East, or Africa?

(My subject would be Secondary English.)