PGDE students overseas

Where will you teach abroad?

I have always enjoyed travelling, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures but I was content teaching in Fife and planning my annual holidays. Or so I thought, until one day I stumbled across a recruitment ad from the New South Wales Education department, who were targeting International Teachers of STEM subjects to relocate to Australia. Before I knew it, I had applied, had an online interview, and was offered a permanent job. Now I am so excited about the next stage of my teaching career.

Is there anything that you are worried about?

I have a fear of snakes so that might be interesting when I come across one!

What are you looking forward to about teaching abroad?

I am excited to see what design and technology education looks like in another country. I am also looking forward to increased opportunities for outdoor learning due to the glorious weather.

What do you anticipate being the differences between teaching in Scotland and in your chosen country?

New South Wales, Australia has the highest number of Indigenous students across all states in Australia. At my new school almost half of the students identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. I look forward to getting to know more about their culture and incorporating it into my teaching to be inclusive of their heritage.

How has your PGDE enabled you to work abroad?

Being in my 40’s, I am too old for a working holiday visa in Australia. However, Secondary School teachers are in high demand, particularly teachers of STEM subjects. My PGDE and teaching experience in Scotland has enabled me to get a permanent skilled migration visa. Following my recruitment, I was told by an Australian school Principal how teachers from Scotland with a PGDE are held in the highest regard due to the quality of the programme and how it prepares classroom-ready teachers.

How did you find adjusting to your new home and work?

I experienced culture shock on arrival in Abu Dhabi and in Rio de Janeiro. In Abu Dhabi I struggled with the less liberal attitudes, which would not be acceptable in the Scotland.

In Rio, I found the opposite! But after living there a while, I relaxed into the more liberal culture.

I didn’t enjoy working in Kuwait, and this taught me the importance of carefully choosing a school that fits well, not just a location.

I worked in several roles in the UAE. What made me keep returning was the brilliant friends I had made while living there.

Why did you choose to teach abroad and what did you enjoy about it?

I did it for adventure, money and travel opportunities. I was also bored of my friend group and going out drinking every weekend and wanted to experience more of the world.

I enjoyed the feeling of absolute freedom that I felt while building a life in each of those places.

I also took advantage of great pay in UAE. When I came home from Abu Dhabi, I was able to put a deposit down on a home.

I also loved learning about different nationalities and realising some stereotypes are true!

Would you recommend teaching abroad to other PGDE students?

Yes. I feel very strongly about teaching abroad.

From working at so many schools, the experience you get is second to none, life and curriculum wise! How many other teachers know how the Scottish curriculum stacks up against "Key Stage 3", iGCSES, GCSEs, A levels, MYP and International Baccalaureate?

Also, you grow from every experience. When my marriage broke down in Dubai, I handled the life change like a pro. I’d had so many times where I started from zero and rebuilt my life (and where it ended up being okay!) that I coped a lot better than my close circle (who had never worked abroad) expected me to.

Building my life in other countries had given me resilience to cope with the changes that life throws at you.

Why did you choose to become a teacher?

I had some really inspirational teachers during my time at school. They were patient, funny and encouraged my interest in science. When I went to university to study chemistry, I was briefly involved in a project to have students go into local high schools to help out; this is when I knew teaching was what I wanted to do.

Why did you choose to teach in New Zealand, and what was it like?

My parents had lived and worked abroad before I was born, and I always knew I wanted to do this myself at some point. I really enjoyed living in New Zealand. I found it to be a very laid back and friendly place to live!

The overall experience of teaching in another education system was really interesting. I also loved bring able to travel round the country in my school holidays.

Would you recommend teaching abroad to other teachers?

Absolutely! The experience of teaching in a different country – in a different culture – is one that shaped my practice for years to come. Being able to adapt to different challenges really helped me discover the teacher I wanted to be.

What advice would you give to someone who was considering teaching in another country?

ad up on different schools so you have a feel of what you are going into. Choose a country you would like to spend some time in over your holidays – it is a great way of seeing a part of the world you have always wanted to visit.