American Expat with debt / wages & cost of living abroad

That's a difficult question to answer. Teaching at U.S. military facilities in Europe might be one possibility, but not sure what the pay would be like there vs. a private school. Which areas do you normally teach in? There could be opportunities for ESL teachers in some countries.

I'm certified in science, history and technology with a general age range of 9yrs to 18yrs. Or grades 4 -12. But I know grades and ages translate differently depending on location. I don't know how I would fare in an ESL teaching. I'm very interested in the boarding school model actually. It's a novel concept to me and I would be interested in learning how they run and operate. Thanks for the input! :)

The DOD teachers don't earn that high of a salary and it is tough getting hired there.

Check out the international schools in Frankfurt, Munich, or Berlin. Frankfurt has at least 5 of them and they do pay fairly well.
Frankfurt International School, Phorms, International School of Frankfurt, Metropolitan, are just 3 of them.

Expat life has its' ups and downs so check out the forums for each country as listed on the Local. Here you will find hiring info, visa questions and answers, where to live, etc. Toytown Germany is a wonderful source if Germany is of interest.
http://www.thelocal.de/
http://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/

A friend (ex-pat) of mine taught at a university technological institute in Switzerland for twenty years. Pay was not great, no guarantee of continued employment or hours. Your situation may be different for lower grades.

Politics is everywhere.

There is a shortage of of science and mathematics teachers in England, and there certainly is recruitment abroad and suitably qualified people won't have that much difficulty getting visas, at least for state/free schools. Whether the kind of salary is enough to service your current bills only you will know.

Try daveseslcafe.com. Plenty of teaching expats on there who can give you on the ground experience.

"My biggest worry is that I have acquired over $100,000 dollars in attorney, medical and student debt bills. **I'm sick of American politics and the American education system and how teachers are treated. I'm ready for a new adventure and challenge in my life, while still paying my American bills."**

IMO your teacher-story is a widely-shared but mostly untold one. Petty injustices dominate our media while the hugest injustice of all, the scam perpetrated by our ed system on teachers, students, taxpayers and future generations, goes largely unnoticed. Teachers can't always step into better jobs so easily irrespective of the continent they're on - but despite the fact that they're treated like morons by the education establishment, they absolutely CAN observe, think, and talk better than most others... I say keep your job for now but fight back - write that book that begs to be written in simple language that any reader can grasp. There are so many injustices and stupidities... maybe focus narrowly on a few "big" ones that drive your own stories, problems you can address with feasible fixes (borrow from successes in ed systems abroad?) Lots of research to do but no family, summers off??... and you've probably already gotten started on that research to some extent. Maybe you'll need to tie up with some European teachers, students and authorities for material? Then a few years from now you pay off your bills and have any adventure you like without the hovering stress-cloud.

Look toward the oil states if you want to make enough money to quickly pay off your debt. If you can get some sort of ESL certification, you'll up your employability. You can then get on with your life once you're debt free.

read some of the international magazines and newspapers, like The Economist for awhile, and you'll see there is no safe haven from bad politics.

Bets has the best suggestion with the oil states----if you can stand the politics. Friends of mine made a bunch of money working as teachers in Saudi Arabia for just a few years. Then you can pay off your debts and go live where you want.

This will not gain me any friends BUT ------

over $100,000 dollars in attorney, medical and student debt bills.

If you are truly over a hundred thousand, then a bankruptcy has to be part of the consideration. Student debt cannot be discharge but everything else would be a possibility. You cannot find an overseas especially in education that will pay you an in excess of twenty, twenty-five thousand so that you could pay off the debt in a reasonable time.

Good luck but you need to solve your financial problems before heading overseas.

Bankruptcy to discharge debts when you are capable of paying them, well, would you like to be the creditors?

I agree but the capacity to paid is not there or a best, very limited. There is a reason why bankruptcy is a permitted, legal, recourse. Some people need a second chance. I would not make the same recommendation if he had posted, "I have a over a $100,000 credit card debt." And I have been stuck with more than one corporate bankruptcy. It is called, "The cost of doing business." Don't be too uppity!

Thanks for all the input and for being respectful. I feel like I should clarify some things. I know there are politics everywhere. I was more specifically referring to political bs in education. The fact is, the u.s. doesn't value education or intelligence or respect teachers. I spend most of my time doing paper work demanded by the government and clueless legislators who have no business putting in their two sense; when i should be able to invest that time with students and teaching. But I know with my overall research is that education is of great importance in many European countries and the profession is respected as much as doctors.

In regards to my debt that I mentioned. I'm not an irresponsible person financially. The only debt I have ever carried was student loans and I have always worked on paying it down. But most of this debt I now have was caused by a severe family emergency which put me out of work for nearly 20 months. It was unavoidable and you just do what you have to when it comes to family. Now that this ordeal is behind me I am looking forward to moving on.

Wherever I end up, I'm not looking to get rich. I just want to earn enough to be able to make regular payments on my debts. I have considered bankruptcy but I am uncomfortable with the idea.

Overall. I have to start my life over. I might as well make an adventure of it. I love diversity so over seas looks like a very interesting option.

Germany and Switzerland both are very appealing but I am certainly not limited to just those. I love the old world art and culture.

Thank you all for your continued input. I value it very much.

First of all, I would make real sincere efforts to reduce that amount of debt as a responsible and good faith move. Start working on a foreign language, and I mean dig into it. . If you pick German and are doing that at the Goethe Institute (if one is located in your city) or at a community college, evening division, look at it this way...getting an A still is not good enough. It has to be more, all the more so if you're starting from scratch, or build on the foreign language you took (presumably) in secondary ed. or college.

There numerous international schools in Germany both in the western and eastern part,...two I know off hand...in Düsseldorf and one near Potsdam in Kleinmachnow. If you are lucky enough to get into an international school in Germany that offers the IB program, all the better, financially, marketability and prestige wise. The problem is they are really tough to get in. What your teaching area is also plays a role in your marketability, as stated in your credential and university degrees. Some teaching areas are always in demand. Even if a particular school states that a foreign language is not necessary, which person are they likely to hire, a monolingual teacher or one with a certain workable knowledge level in a foreign language?

WMK1986, I couldn't agree with you more about the destruction of public education and creative thinking. It's happening on the university level too, at least at the big state schools where legislators stick their noses. Good luck. I'd head out where I'd make the most for a couple of years (if you can stand the repression in those countries) and then circle back where you really want to go once you are financially stable. The beauty of it all is that you'll be able to see your own country from a new perspective.

Have you considered the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program? The only reason I mention it is you are much more likely to find a teaching position in English if you go to where there is a shortage of English teachers. More info here: http://www.tofugu.com/2015/05/08/25-reasons-to-join-the-jet-program-and-8-reasons-not-to/

DJ

wmk, I did mean politics in education.

The only concern might be a credit check that shows a large debt. I will be buried with my checkbook and a pen, so I can continue paying off my student loans, so I understand your financial position. Good luck and consider all avenues, even if your next move is only for a couple of years. Experience teaching in one foreign country can help your CV when you look for a second position later.

"The fact is, the u.s. doesn't value education or intelligence or respect teachers. I spend most of my time doing paper work demanded by the government and clueless legislators who have no business putting in their two sense; when i should be able to invest that time with students and teaching. But I know with my overall research is that education is of great importance in many European countries and the profession is respected as much as doctors."

It's not that we don't value the notion of education. The US spends more per pupil than any other country. But as you point out, its efforts are misguided and its leadership largely incompetent. People don't respect the system because the system fails to work for so many.

Anyway, best wishes on your adventure.

First of all the statement above about teachers overseas earning 20 - 25,000 a year is completely wrong! Reputable international or American schools overseas pay a salary and benefits package that is comparable to those here in the U.S. They also will give you credit for any years that you have put in as a credentialed teacher. Teaching English overseas...that's another story. Those jobs often pay terribly...maybe that's what the previous poster was thinking of.
As an educator myself I have several friends who currently work at overseas schools or who have in the past. The best organization to get in touch with about looking for a [job overseas is ISS][1] They work mainly with the better class of overseas schools where you would want to work. At first you won't likely be able to secure a job at one of the better schools in the most desirable locations (TASIS or the American School in London or Paris) but if you're willing to move to a less desirable or popular location you can get your foot in the door and move up, especially in the American School system.
The good thing about teaching overseas is that you may end up in a country where the cost of living is relatively low, such as southeast Asia or eastern Europe. Often the pay is quite good and, in light of your debt, this may actually be a great option for you.
I have no idea if your work visa would be more difficult to get in light of your bills but it's worth looking into. Each country is going to be different. Once you have secured a job at a school then your visa process begins - that's where you'll know for sure how your debt will be viewed.
I encourage you to contact ISS - they run job fairs all over the world. They just had one in Seattle a few days ago and there are two more in Atlanta later in the new year. There are also a couple overseas coming up.
I wish you luck and let us know how it turns out!

I have two friends who have taught in private international schools and it was a tremendous experience for both of them. One, a young friend, did one year in Vietnam and one year in China. She would have stayed longer but her husband, a pharmacist, couldn't get a job there. She got placed through direct recruitment at the university where she completed her master's teaching program.

An older friend retired from the local public high school system and then got a job at Frankfurt International School teaching IB science, where his every wish for classroom lab equipment was fulfilled. He worked for another 8 years there. He and his wife traveled at least once/month and just had a great time. He got his job by attending a job fair as described above. They both told me there is significant recruitment for International School teachers every year. There is a lot of turnover since most people do it for short term experiences, as both my friends did. My young friend said that once you're in the system, and a known performer, it's really easy to transfer to different schools every few years for new adventures.

Finally, both of them said the pay and benefits were quite decent, given their relative age and experience. I didn't ask for specifics, but I know my older friend is getting a decent pension from Germany as well, since he stayed more than five years.

So - just reach out and make it happen!

Job fairs for International Schools are the way to go. You will interview for several schools all in one day and (hopefully) receive multiple offers. Several of my relatives have used this process with great success.

It is discouraging to be a teacher in the United States. I get it. Last year our legislature gave themselves an 11% raise and generously increased the allotment for health insurance coverage for themselves. Teachers were grudgingly given 3% (first raise in 7 years) and a $12 increase in allotment for health insurance costs( first increase in 7 years). Teachers are often characterized as incompetent by politicians who really have no basis for such claims. The vast majority of American teachers are hard working public servants who care about students and the future of our country. Education is the key to an effective democracy.

I wanted to add that if you work in a high poverty area in the U.S., there are programs in place that will provide for the forgiveness of your student loan debt. That might be another consideration. Also, think about Alaska.

Hi,

If you are committed and determined to get out of your present situation, take the steps to make that possible. What contributes to increasing your marketability is if you have a certificate to teach English. If you're willing to teach English, as opposed to sticking to your own specialty, you're chances at jobs are increased especially in Asia and eastern Europe. Native Teachers of English are always in demand, all the better if you the certificate,

It all depends on how flexible you are , whether you want to take a position only in Europe or would you consider Dubai, Mongolia, Burma, the Philippines, Latvia, Albania, Singapore, Japan, Turkey, the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, or somewhere in China, but away away from the well known places like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, but say Manchuria or other provinces off the North American tourist radar. International schools are located in Asia as well which also have the IB program. If you have that training already, all the better on marketability. Learn the foreign language, and hit it, be it German, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin (which is always impressive)

Alaska is no longer at the top of the list in teachers' salaries; that spot goes to New York. Alaska is 10th.

http://www.nea.org/home/38465.htm

And the cost of living in Alaska is very high.

I doubt that the student loan debt is the most significant component of the problem, but there are a number of state and federal programs that provide student loan forgiveness for qualified teachers.

https://www.credible.com/blog/student-loan-forgiveness-programs-for-teachers/

I'm retired from education with experience in three different American schools (in Latin America). There are basically three different groups of American schools overseas--the DOD or military schools, those affiliated with the US State Department, and faith-related schools usually set up for missionary kids. There are, of course, others that don't necessarily fit into these categories like certain international baccalaureate schools. As mentioned above, International Schools Services is a prime recruiter for schools that are under the auspices of the State Department, and some others. Look at their recruiting fairs. For reasons unknown to me, the University of Northern Iowa is big in recruiting for overseas schools. See uni.edu and go from there. You are not going to get rich in overseas schools, but the teaching environment and the travel opportunities compensate for that for many folks. So as suggested above, working in a location where the cost of living is relatively low might be helpful. Good luck.