Why Go On An Teaching
Exchange?
This answer varies as
much as each individual. As one exchange teacher wrote, "to go on
an exchange was to live a dream, to travel to and live in another
country . As a teacher I get very little chance to write off expenses
like other professionals. As an exchange teacher, not only did I get
paid by my home school district for living and teaching in another
country, with all my benefits, but I also wrote off all my travel
expenses as tax deductions. So whether your dream is to live on a
tropical south seas island, experience the charm of Europe and the UK,
visit Disneyland, shop in New York, scuba-dive around the Great Barrier
Reef or enjoy the awesomeness of Canada, then consider fulfilling your
dreams by going on a teaching exchange."
Who Shouldn't
Consider a Teaching Exchange?
Teacher exchanges can
cause stress; re: moving, changes in climate, perhaps language,
friendships etc. When you add this to any of the following stressful
circumstances, the results can be a real challenge, so think twice about
going on an exchange if you have a major illness or someone close
(perhaps an older family member) has a major illness, you are currently
having or just went through a relationship break-up such as a divorce,
are having major financial difficulties, are house proud, you don't want
to give up your possessions or don't adapt easily to change, or if you
are trying to get away from a difficult situation. (Perhaps it is an
annoying parent or student difficulties or difficulties with staff
members or your principal.) Chances are that their doubles or worse will
be in the school you are going to.
WHERE DO I START?
One of the first
questions to ask is when would you like to go? Some teachers like to
plan years ahead, while others are open to an exchange either this or
next year. There are four main paths you can take. Through a government
exchange authority in your country, state or province (usually the cost
is free), or through a private exchange that you set-up yourself or
through paying an agency to find a suitable exchange partner. Private
school teachers can also arrange exchanges through their associations.
Other types of exchanges that are offered by a few school jurisdictions
include short term administrator exchanges, specific exchanges between
your home school district and one city or area in another country. A few
school jurisdictions offer vacation teacher exchanges for a few weeks.
HOW DOES A TEACHER
ARRANGE A TEACHING EXCHANGE?
There should not be a
cost to apply for or in accepting an exchange. Usually plan about a year
to 16 months from the time you decide to go on an exchange to when you
actually leave. We applied in October 1993 and received our first offer
of an exchange in March 1994 to Washington State. This proposal was not
accepted on the American side. We received another proposal to Colorado
in May 1994. Our exchange partner from Fort Collins had already made
other plans so did not accept. We than received a proposal to Perth
Australia in early June 1994, this was accepted in early July and we
finally were on the plane to Australia January 3 1995. It probably is
unrealistic to think that you can apply for an exchange in June and be
in another part of the country or world by September of the same year.
IDEAS ON HOW TO GET A
TEACHER EXCHANGE
The first step to a
teaching exchange is your application, references and resume. You want
to sell yourself to a potential exchange school and you want to sell
your community, home and school to your potential exchange partner. You
obtain these through your school district or department of education.
The same application
you fill out at home gets seen by education authorities,
superintendents, principals, vice-principals, department heads and
finally by the your potential exchange partner. An impressive
application is to your benefit.
Some teachers try
arranging exchanges independently. Although some of these
independently arranged exchanges have been successful, most fall through
because of visa difficulties. The challenge with any
teaching exchange is that it needs approval from your school
administrator, your school superintendent and school board, then must
meet the approval of your education department so that a temporary
teacher license can be issued. Then you will need to be approved by your
exchange partners school, school district and board. Once you
clear these steps you need a visa to work as a teacher in another
country. All countries require a sponsorship to issue a visa.
The process of trying to find an independent exchange is long and
frustrating. If you work through your department of education,
they will do all the arranging for you.
Once your application
is sent in you wait, and you wait until a match can be found, some
teachers hear in a few weeks while others wait for months. Every year
there are teachers that simply don't get matches. Don't get discouraged
if you're one of those that doesn't get a match in your first try (some
have applied 4 years in a row without a successful match.) Keep trying,
you might have to be more flexible for a location and for your subject
area. A number of exchange teachers have a plan B in the event that a
match doesn't occur. Many teachers choose a home exchange option as it
provides a great deal more affordability and flexibility. Please see Global
Home Exchange for details.
Our first teacher
exchange was planned to be in the USA, no successful matches were found
for us, so we took a risk and redirected our application to Australia.
Little did we know that an Australian teacher that same year applied for
the UK, and as no successful matches were found for him took a risk and
redirected his request to Canada. Neither of us even considered applying
for an exchange to the country that we received a match. The exchanges
for both families were very positive.
If you should get a
proposal, you know that it has gone through all the authorities and that
it has been approved at your end. Now you may need to wait until your
application is approved at the other end. You only have a proposal until
all parties accept.
The offer of a
proposal can take months from the time you first apply. Rarely do both
exchange partners hear about the exchange proposal at the same time,
even if they are both from the same country . The person receiving the
exchange proposal first may wait from 2 to 9 weeks for their exchange
partner to hear.
SO WHAT DO I DO ONCE
I RECEIVE A TEACHING EXCHANGE PROPOSAL?
After the excitement
of receiving an exchange proposal comes the reality of actually having
to commit yourself to a year away from home. The first step is gathering
information about the area of the proposed exchange, the school and the
country. Exchanges are not perfect. You may be getting a better school
situation then you have at home but have to give up a lot on
accommodation. Count on the experience being different than home.
The proposal usually
states that it isn't appropriate to contact your exchange partner until
after they accept the exchange.
Over a set period of
time, about a week, you make a decision to accept or reject the offer.
This can be a difficult process as the proposed exchange area may not be
what you had hoped for.
Please keep in mind
that your proposed exchange partner is going through a similar decision
making process.
Once both parties
accept, you have an exchange.
WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU
HAVE A CONFIRMED TEACHER EXCHANGE
Here are several
ideas.
Photos and videos are
an important part of any teaching exchange. Put film and photo albums on
your Christmas wish list.
Have a friend or
family member be a "power of attorney", to look after any
financial affairs you may have while away and that can check your
accommodation in the event of an emergency
Find a sponsor that
will be in close contact with your exchange partner, answering
questions, picking them up at the airport, providing an orientation to
your home community. Your exchange partner will do the same for you.
Communicate, openly,
honestly and often with your exchange partner. Be honest, have integrity
and character.
Talk to others from
your country that have been on exchange to your exchange partners
location. Previous exchanges teachers will have some excellent insights
into what to bring with you, what to wear, the cost of living, what to
expect for weather etc, that your exchange partner may not be able to
relate.
Have fun planning
your trip. Check around for travel bargains, put film on your Christmas
wish list and know your budget.
IDEAS TO HELP MAKE
A TEACHING EXCHANGE A BETTER EXPERIENCE
Arrange for a number
of friends and staff members to contact your exchange partners for their
first month or so in your community. This may be the loneliest time for
your both yourself (away from home) and your partners and will make both
transitions easier.. Loneliness and homesickness can be a challenge.
Teachers have reported that their first months long distance telephone
bills have been over $500, because of loneliness. This is why it is so
important for both partners to arrange several friends and family to
keep in touch with not only themselves, but also their exchange
partners. As an exchange teacher in a new community, get involved with
the community, other teachers and especially the exchange club.
Arrange to leave your
partner enough provisions to get them through the first few days. Things
like toilet paper, facial tissue, a few food items, some tea or coffee
bread and juice are practical
If you have any
doubts about your health, get a medical clearance.
Have your passports
and visas in order and you will need to get a police record search done
before you are allowed to work in another country
Know your own
teaching abilities and when you make initial contact with your new
school principal, share any concerns you may have about areas you may be
required to teach . I know of a grade 7 teacher that went on an exchange
to a grade 3 classroom and even though she didn't have experience at
this level, she loved it, and on the flip side two teachers, one grade 3
and the other grade 2 got exchanges to grade 7 and 8 classrooms. They
where not prepared for the challenges of this level and had an awful
year teaching. If you don't think you would be comfortable teaching the
grade or subject area you are given on your exchange, be honest and say
so, because the trade-off for not sharing this information can result in
a terrible exchange for you and your family. Most school principals will
be accommodating to your needs.
Most teachers go on
exchange because they are looking for something different. The weather
will be different, so will the housing, shopping, friends you make, the
school, and even your lifestyle. That is why you need to be flexible.
You are going to experience an exciting year of change, you will travel,
overcome challenges and be a better person for it and you will spend
more money then you might normally spend. Enjoy your experience with a
positive attitude and a sense of humor.
Teacher
Home Exchange
Home
Exchange listings
home exchange listing preview with photos from around the world.
Advanced
Search
Long
Term / Sabbatical Home Exchange
|
