TEACHER
EXCHANGE - HOME
EXCHANGE
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
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