Banks for You!

Calling all accompanying partners and trailing spouses – have you ever thought about turning your skills and experience into a career opportunity? Teaching abroad in an international school, if only on a short-term contract, could prove fulfilling on many levels.

We hate the term ‘trailing spouse’ at Shelter Offshore – it conjures up an image of a reluctant partner who drags along behind their dynamic spouse, weighing them down and burdening them in some way.  The truth is actually so far from this perceived persona – so we have renamed the traditional trailing spouse role to that of accompanying partner!

Jane Denby is an accompanying partner: “I go where my husband’s job takes me,” she says.  So far, that’s been to Oman, Brunei, Dubai, Holland – and the Denbys are now in Russia thanks to husband Patrick’s work as a reservoir engineer with Shell. 

Several years ago, knowing that her job would never be permanent for long, Jane trained as an EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher: “to open up opportunities for me, wherever we’re living,” she explains.  As we will now show you, thanks to Jane’s example and experience, teaching abroad can be the perfect job opportunity for accompanying partners who travel with their spouse’s work overseas.

Learning to become a teacher of English was a decision Jane doesn’t regret for a moment.  “I absolutely fell in love with teaching English as an additional language.  Personally I hated learning languages as a child because of the teaching methods at the time.  When I began learning the new methods of language teaching for my qualification purposes, all of a sudden, I realised ‘wow’ people can learn a language easily and properly nowadays.”

Jane was an EAL teacher for eleven years before studying for her Masters in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages), which she completed through Newcastle University while living in Dubai.  “I was so lucky,” she says. “The British Council organised for the top researchers from Newcastle to come out to Dubai which was excellent.”  Jane is now an EAL specialist trainer and travels to international schools all over the world supporting them with their Professional Development learning.

Jane is just one example of the many accompanying partners (aka trailing spouses) who find that teaching jobs in international schools provide a really positive career opportunity for them, even with the need to relocate as their partner’s job dictates. “Most international schools will agree two, or even one year contracts for teachers,” says Andrew Wigford, Director of Teachers International Consultancy, an organisation that specialises in international school recruitment.

“Short-term contracts to cover sickness and maternity leave also come up frequently,” he says.  “So, if you’re a qualified English-speaking teacher, then there are many, many opportunities that work for trailing spouses,” Andrew explains.

Now is the perfect time to do something about it if you’re interested in work opportunities for September.  “Most international schools are recruiting now for the next academic year,” says Andrew.  This recruitment drive will continue through May, June and into July.

There are currently almost 6,000 international schools in 236 different countries globally – and they employ a staggering 261,000 teachers (according to figures published by ISC Research, the organisation that analyses developments in the international schools market).  All these international schools teach using English as the medium for learning, so that’s why there are so many opportunities for English-speaking, qualified teachers.

There is strong and continued growth anticipated in the international schools marketplace –ISC Research predicts that the number of international schools will reach 8,000 within five years.  This growth is due to the fact that international schools have gained global respect for the quality of teaching they provide.  “However, this creates a real problem,” says Andrew Wigford of TIC.  “Finding enough experienced, passionate, capable, English-speaking teachers who want to work overseas, in order to keep filling the jobs available is very difficult – hence the drive to try and attract accompanying spouses to the profession.”

Opportunities are great for accompanying spouses who are already on the international circuit – even if they can only commit to relatively short-term contracts.  Jane Denby grabbed the opportunity and embraced it; Nancy Appelbe is another teacher and accompanying spouse who did the same.

Nancy and her husband Ian relocated to France for Ian’s job with a telecommunications company – and so primary school teacher Nancy found a job at the International School Sophia Antipolis.  “I worked there for ten years and thoroughly enjoyed it,” says Nancy.  She is now teaching at the British School of Beijing in China and describes her experience as follows: “We have a wide range of multi-cultural teachers and students.  It’s very common in our school to see pupils and teachers move on after two or three years as work contracts end,” she says. 

Nancy likes the pace of life in China.  “The teaching here is very relaxed,” she says.  “I can’t really explain it because we do all the requirements for the English National Curriculum with the inspections, planning, recording, tracking, just like the UK, but it feels more relaxed and it allows me to teach better.  It is probably due to the children who are very willing to learn, and the environment that feels more relaxed and less stressful.  The enjoyment is in teaching such a multi-cultural, lively class.”

Nancy offers advice for other expats considering teaching in an international school: “Take the plunge and just do it.  You can always get short-term contracts that last a year or two.  When you’re travelling with family, it can often be difficult to find jobs where you’re living so make sure you’re open-minded and this, in turn, will create more job opportunities.” 

Nancy found her job with Teachers International Consultancy who helped her with her job search, the interview, the contract and supported her with general advice throughout the process.  “In some areas there are a host of international schools to consider,” says TIC Director, Andrew Wigford.  “For example, there are over 70 international schools alone in Beijing.  So having support in finding the right school for your experience, personality and family needs is hugely beneficial,” he says.

Andrew offers advice for accompanying spouses looking for teaching jobs: “Make sure the school knows you are already located in the region and state clearly how long you intend to be living there.  The school may be able to help towards schooling costs if you have children too, so make sure you provide exact details of your family circumstances.  Keep your resume updated and identify the different curricula you have worked with, especially highlighting any international curricula you’ve taught.  International teaching is exciting, vibrant and opportunity-rich – with the chance to work with talented teachers from all over the world.  It is a flexible yet fulfilling career for anyone travelling the world with a partner.

“For anyone considering job opportunities for the next academic year, now is the time to apply.”

TIC offers a free specialist recruitment and support service for teachers to help them find the best possible international teaching job to suit their experience, skills and destination preference.  For more information about teaching in international schools go to or call TIC at +44(0)2920-212-083

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