Teachers' stories

Every year we place hundreds of teachers in great international schools. On these pages you can read their stories. These are completely unbiased and unedited accounts from teachers who have already taken the plunge into international teaching.

Jemma Elson - Teaching abroad has led me to some amazing places!

Where are you from? Did you move to an international school alone, with a partner or family? I am from Hertford but trained at the University of Roehampton in Primary... Read more...

Luke Blackburn - I’m moving my family to Malaysia for a better quality of life

Luke Blackburn is a Humanities teacher from the UK who is getting ready to move, with his young family, to Malaysia. Luke will be starting his first ever teaching job... Read more...

Eman Sukker - Abu Dhabi: I’m discovering my passions, learning new skills, and exploring the world!

Eman Sukker is a teacher from Jordan. She is now living and working in the UAE, where she teaches at the award-winning Cranleigh School, a British international school in Abu... Read more...

Sarah Morris - Why teaching internationally is a dream lifestyle

Sarah Morris is from Leicester, UK and has been teaching internationally for many years. Last year TIC helped Sarah to get her first ever teaching role in Cuba, at the... Read more...

Susan Eby - I’m teaching in Bermuda right now. Next stop, Egypt

Susan Eby is from the USA and has been teaching overseas for over 20 year, developing her skills as a teacher of the and experiencing new countries and cultures. Susan is... Read more...

Leah Blackman - I love teaching in Thailand!

Leah Blackman is a teacher from Manchester, UK. She has been teaching internationally in Thailand for the past seven years. She has worked in a range of international schools based... Read more...

Dubai - Rachel Reynolds

I moved overseas to develop my skills and teach a progressive curriculum Rachel Reynolds is a recently qualified History teacher from Ireland. In 2016, she moved to Dubai to teach at... Read more...

Bermuda - Mhairi Flood

Bermuda - Mhairi Flood Language Teacher Swaps UK for Sunny Bermuda Mhairi Flood-McCaw is a language teacher from the UK. She is currently in her second year of teaching at... Read more...

China - Barbara Albury

Beijing - Barbara Albury Librarian Barbara Albury discusses working in the brand new Keystone Academy, Beijing Many new international schools are opening each year. Some are brand new schools. Others... Read more...

China - Ian Robertson

China - Ian Robertson Ian Robertson is a Mathematics teacher from Glasgow, Scotland. He has just started his second year of teaching at Harrow International School in Beijing. Here Ian... Read more...

Egypt - Tamara Thorpe

Tamara Thorpe, from New Zealand, teaching in El Gouna, Egypt. Which School did you previously teach at and in which town/country was it? Welbourn Primary School, New Plymouth, New... Read more...

Egypt - Loredana Illiescu

Loredana Illiescu, from Romania, teaching in El Gouna, Egypt. Which School did you previously teach at and in which town/country was it? I was a teacher in Bucharest, Romania.... Read more...

Egypt - Amit Damani Patel

Amit Damani Patel, from the UK, teaching in El Gouna, Egypt. Which School did you previously teach at and in which town/country was it? I started my teaching career... Read more...

Egypt - Suzie King

Suzie King, from the Netherlands, teaching in Doha, Qatar. If you were giving advice to another teacher moving overseas to work, what would you say are the five ‘must... Read more...

Hong Kong - Brian Murphy

Hong Kong - Brian Murphy Teaching abroad means excitement and spontaneity Brian Murphy is a teacher from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has taught in Chile and is now teaching in... Read more...

Hungary and Thailand - Dulcie Copeland

Dulcie Copeland, from the UK, taught in Hungary and Thailand An experienced Early Years teacher, Dulcie had taught at a primary school in Kent for many years before looking further... Read more...

Jordan - John Hrycak

John Hrycak, from the UK, teaching in Amman, Jordan. Which School did you previously teach at and in which town/country was it? I taught at a school called Brockholes... Read more...

Jordan - Florian Baciu

Florian Baciu, from the USA, teaching in Amman, Jordan. Enjoying a slower pace of life and running from the Dead to the Red Sea are two highlights from the past... Read more...

Kazakhstan - Ian Shotter and Corey Johnson

Ian Shotter and Corey Johnson, from the UK and the USA, teaching in Kazakhstan. Expat Teachers Support Education Reform in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan may not spring to mind as an obvious... Read more...

Mauritius - Bruce Ashton

Maritius - Bruce Ashton A Headteacher talks about his experiences of living and working in one of the most beautiful places in the world... New Zealander, Bruce Ashton recently moved... Read more...

The Netherlands - Ian Wigley

Ian Wigley, from the UK, teaching in The Hague, the Netherlands. Where did you teach before moving into international education? I’d been teaching around Doncaster for 11 years, including... Read more...

Qatar - BJ Jumnadass

Qatar - BJ Jumnadass Teacher BJ Jumnadass talks about his new life teaching in the Middle East BJ Jumnadass is a teacher from Toronto, Canada who left home to teach... Read more...

Qatar - Janet Berg

Qatar - Janet Berg Experienced international teacher talks about life in the Qatari capital Doha Janet Berg is a teacher from the UK. She is an 'empty nester', in her... Read more...

Qatar - Lawrence Diver

Lawrence Diver, from Scotland, teaching in Doha, Qatar. Lawrence made the move to an international school because the teaching opportunities were not good in the UK, particularly in Scotland. He... Read more...

Qatar - Fiona Patterson

Fiona Patterson, from New Zealand, moving to Doha, Qatar. What school are you presently teaching at and what subject(s) are you teaching to and to what age range? Our... Read more...

Qatar - Pilar Fernandez

Pilar Fernandez, from the USA, teaching in Doha, Qatar. If you were giving advice to another teacher moving overseas to work, what would you say are the five ‘must... Read more...

Qatar and Jordan - Nicole Brand

Nicole Brand, from South Africa, taught in Amman, Jordan. Currently in Doha, Qatar. Nicole Brand taught at the Bryanston Parallel Medium School in Bryanston, South Africa. She began her international... Read more...

Saudi Arabia - Anna Coquelin

Anna Coquelin, from Scotland, teaching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Anna Coquelin made the move from Scotland to teach in an international school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During her time out... Read more...

Sri Lanka - Michael Wainwright

Michael Wainwright, from Australia, teaching in Sri Lanka. Michael Wainwright is a primary teacher from Queensland. He left Australia in August 2005 to teach primary music and drama to 3 to 11 year... Read more...

Thailand - Richard Downs

Thailand - Richard Downs House Master and Economics teacher Richard Downs discusses life at Harrow International School Bangkok Richard Downs is from Norwich, UK. He recently moved to Thailand with... Read more...

Thailand - Molly Stones

Thailand - Molly Stones Teacher Molly Stones explains how teaching abroad has given her a zest for life... TIC is always on the lookout for teachers with enthusiasm, drive and... Read more...

United Arab Emirates and Qatar - Sarah Brown

United Arab Emirates and Qatar - Sarah Brown Teaching Internationally Renewed my Passion for Education Sarah Brown is a secondary school maths teacher from Nottingham, UK. She's an 'empty... Read more...

Qatar - Claire Woodhouse

Qatar - Claire Woodhouse New country, new job, new curriculum Claire Woodhouse is a teacher from Buckinghamshire, England. She is currently teaching English and Drama at ACS Doha International School... Read more...

Vietnam - Ronald Saw and Ursula Inta

Vietnam - Ronald Saw and Ursula Inta Great food, cheap travel and an abundance of culture – why teaching in Vietnam is unbeatable! Ronald and Ursula are teachers from New... Read more...

Vietnam - Sarah Curran

Vietnam - Sarah Curran Teacher from the Welsh valleys shares the first weeks of her new life teaching and living in Ho Chi Minh City Sarah Curran is a primary... Read more...

Worldwide - Janice Ireland

Janice Ireland, from the UK, taught worldwide. Janice Ireland is an Early Years specialist originally from Swansea, Wales who was a teacher and a leader in international schools in Kuwait,... Read more...

Worldwide - Conal Atkins

Conal Atkins, from New Zealand, Headteacher in Germany, Luxembourg, Italy and Vietnam. Can you briefly explain your international teaching experience – countries/schools/subjects/dates? During my married life I... Read more...