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Why move and work internationally?
The saying in Dubai goes, ‘I’ll just go for two years and then I’ll go home.’ However, the reality of this is that many people don’t return home after the initial two years. It would seem that the quality of life here rivals that of the UK. After only two months of living here, I can already see why many people choose not to return home. Although my world has been turned upside down, most of it has been for the better. Yes, I have made sacrifices and yes not everything is perfect, but there are many advantages to being an expatriate in Dubai. So, you may be wondering why I chose to embark upon an international move. Well, I strongly feel that once you’ve lived abroad and travelled, it’s really very difficult to adopt a mindset that wherever you are in the world is your final destination. I have previously lived in Bangkok and I had the most incredible experiences both professionally and personally. I embarked upon adventures which really were dreams come true. I’ve driven across Borneo and watched orangutans in their natural habitat, sailed on a boat through Ha Long Bay and snorkelled around the Phi Phi Islands. The travel adventures have made memories for a lifetime and once you’ve started exploring the world, I think it’s really hard to let that go. Don’t get me wrong, I had a lovely home in the heart of the countryside in the UK. I had the coast on my doorstep and it’s truly beautiful, but it wasn’t enough to keep me there. I knew the world of opportunity which awaited me and my family, and that was my driving force. I wanted new opportunities professionally and personally, but I also knew it was going to be a big adjustment, especially given that this time round, I’m significantly older, have a young child to consider, my husband will be potentially taking a different career path and I still have the dog to think about! However, here I am! You too may be thinking that you want to explore the notion of emigrating, so you may want to consider the points below.
What do you need to be mindful of when relocating to a different country and culture?
I think it’s important to note, that when you work in education, I don’t believe there’s anywhere in the world where you’d be working any less than you do in the UK. It’s well known that being an educator is a highly demanding role. It takes passion, resilience and dedication amongst dozens of other attributes! It is also fair to say that working internationally is different and it does have its perks. However, I also say that ‘what you give with one hand, you take with another.’ So, what are the challenges? Well, firstly, you’ll be adjusting to a new school day. In many countries, school starts earlier than at home. This is often because of the heat and/or cultural reasons. Here, in Dubai, students are on campus by 7:30am with lessons starting at 8am. The day finishes earlier for children in FS1 (nursery) and FS2 (reception), but for students in the junior phase, their day finishes at 3pm. Students then have a plethora of ECA’s (extra-curricular activities) on offer across the week. The days are long but they’re counter-balanced by a 12pm finish on a Friday. This is golden! Our weekend starts at lunchtime on a Friday and as a working parent this gives me the head start to the weekend that I really need.
Secondly, one must remember that as an expatriate, I am a visitor in Dubai and as such I need to be respectful and adhere to cultural expectations. In school, this means a variety of things. For example, ensuring attire is modest and culturally appropriate. It’s also important that I quickly learn the UAE cultural values and how this translates into school practice. There are some aspects of the British curriculum which we’re unable to teach and we have to be mindful of the resources we use in school. We can’t have anything which is deemed offensive to the UAE values. Furthermore, we have to ensure that these rules and expectations are adhered to because we have frequent spot checks and yearly inspections. The authorities can arrive, unannounced and do random spot checks, to ensure that we are compliant. If we are breaching any of the regulations, the school is fined significant sums of money. You’ll have also just picked up on the fact that I’ve said that schools have yearly inspections (we compare this to inspections in England on the podcast episode). Funnily enough, this year it was announced that the inspectorate, KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority), are not conducting inspections this year. However, normally, schools have an inspection every year. I am yet to experience the inspection process, but I feel we will be well prepared for it. Despite not having a formal inspection, our schools, as part of the Cognita Group, all carry out quality assurance visits on one another. I am lucky enough to be going to Repton Abu Dhabi in a few weeks, to form part of the inspection team for their quality assurance visit, and ours is also just weeks away. We are always preparing and ready to celebrate our school and the achievements of our students.
A wide range of nationalities and a different demographic to the UK
When teaching in Dubai, you will also learn that the demographic is more than likely very different to that of your cohort in your home country. For example, at Repton Dubai, we have 101 nationalities. A significant proportion of those students are Emirati, but we essentially have children and families from all over the world. Dubai is a very transient city and as such, students and families come and go. With this, we also have parents of very high calibre, some of who are VVIPs. The diversity of living and working in such a city is something I thrive off. I love meeting new people, learning new things and experiencing what the world has to offer. There is something special about large international settings, a real buzz and energy that is like nowhere I’ve experienced in the UK. If you’ve experienced it, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I recall my first visit to Repton Dubai. I flew out, prior to my contract starting, to meet my new team. I had one of those moments, when it was the end of the day, the students were all filing out, the sun was shining, and I felt at home. I knew this was where I wanted to be. We are 2,600 students strong and when the school comes alive I love being in the middle of all that. I lead a team of 15 classes and I’m proud to be the Head of Early Years. We are giving our students the best possible start in life and along the way, they are learning to be global citizens. This is something I really want for my own daughter. I want her to experience the world through many viewpoints and experiences and be as open minded as possible.
Understanding the history, context and culture of the setting
Finally, when embarking upon a new leadership role, I think it’s very important to be aware of the context of the school and learn to reflect upon the current practice and that of your own leadership values and visions. We must remember that there will have been leaders before us, all with their own agenda and a new leader can easily de-rail previous initiatives, hard work and the morale of the team. I consider it important to take the time to really understand the history, context and culture of the setting, before ‘steam rolling’ in with new directives and ideas. Naturally, there are often some things which need actioning immediately, but I also believe in the power of consultation and collaboration. I ensure my team feel valued, listened to and have a voice when we’re identifying areas of practice we’d like to evaluate and improve. At present, in order to do this, I work very closely with the heads of years and we’re developing working parties on specific areas of practice which we want to tweak. Teachers are able to join a working party if they have a specific interest or skillset. I think this is important to give teachers the autonomy in decision making, and to trial initiatives and then discuss the pros and cons. This enables us to work on our vision and journey as a whole team. I believe this develops a strong sense of vision, ownership, collegiality and enthusiam in the development of our practice.
This is just a snapshot of the aspects to consider when working in an international setting. In many respects, schools are schools, but each country and each school will have their own unique attributes and considerations. I am learning something new about Dubai and indeed our school, almost on a daily basis. I love learning and of course, ‘every day is a school day!’
If you’d like to hear more about my experiences, please do listen to the podcast where we touch upon a variety of subjects linked to international teaching and how this translates into practice in different countries.
Key takeaways
- Think about why you want to move. What is it you want to gain? Be clear of your reasons and hold onto that, especially when you have a wobble!
- Don’t be naive and think that teaching will be easier abroad. Somethings may be, but teaching is a very demanding profession, wherever you are in the world. There will certainly be new and different challenges to work with.
- Ensure your move balances your career aspirations as well as that of your personal goals.
- If you’re considering an international move, do your research on the pros and cons of living in that country. Learn about the culture and expectations and make sure you’re not going to be shocked by things upon arrival.
- Research the schooling system and ensure it aligns with your own values and expectations.
Critical considerations
- If you do move, be prepared to be exhausted, overwhelmed and confused at times. It’s a huge adjustment and it all takes time. Remember that you’re doing some of the biggest life changes all in one go; new home, country, culture and just the small matter of a new job! There is no doubt that at times you will be stressed!
- Embrace your new school and learn why and how they do things their way before comparing and contrasting with what you’re used to.
- I once read a very helpful piece of advice which really struck me, it was – focus on what you do have and not what you don’t. It’s so easy to compare and contrast our new country with our home country, but in many ways, they may be non-comparable. Focus on the positives!
References
Machine, D., and Whitehead, S., 2020. International School: The Teacher’s Guide: A Companion To Your International Adventure. PEDAGOGUE Publishing
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