Teaching different international curriculums is one of the great benefits of teaching abroad as a qualified teacher. Though that doesn’t mean you’ll have to. One of the big questions you need to consider when moving abroad is what kind of curriculum you want to teach. You have so many more options than you think.
One of the huge reasons I became an international teacher was because I got to do a placement at an International School in Sydney which taught the International Baccalaureate. If you’ve been around here for long enough, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of inquiry learning, and the firm foundation the IB places on it. Getting training in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) was one of the deciding factors on which university I chose to do my Masters of International Education and Bilingualism at. But the IB isn’t the only international curriculum taught in international schools. In fact, international curriculums aren’t even the only kind of curriculum taught in international schools overseas.
Are you interested in starting your teaching abroad journey and experiencing different international curriculums? Get everything you need to get started with the Beginner’s Guide to Teaching Abroad.
International curriculum and the differences between international curriculum is one of the top questions I get asked about Teaching Abroad. What are the differences? Do I need training? Do I need experience? How hard it is to teach a new curriculum? If these are questions your find yourself asking, then keep scrolling…
There are two main types of curriculum you’ll see in international schools across the world: National Curriculums and International Curriculum. All international schools teach to some kind of curriculum, but not always an international curriculum. It is not uncommon for schools to teach both, or at least offer both. So let’s dive deep into what you are most likely to come across.
Here are 5 Amazing International Curriculums You Need to Know About if You Want to Teach Internationally:
National curriculums are probably what you are most familiar with. They are the curriculum offered by a state or country and is taught in public schools of that nation. Some examples are the Australian curriculum, The English Curriculum, American, Canadian, French or even the Swedish National Curriculum.
I have mentioned these ones specifically as they are the ones most commonly found in the international schools that use a National Curriculum, particularly the British and American Curriculum. With the world becoming more global is there more expats abroad who would like an education for their children similar to what it would be at home, especially if their family are only going international for a couple of years. There is also a growing population of students who use a different national curriculum as a gateway to higher education abroad.
1. National Curriculums taught abroad: English Curriculum
One of the most common is the English Curriculum. All over the world, there are British International Schools that teach the British Curriculum or a mix of the British Curriculum and an International Curriculum. Starting with the Early Years Curriculum to the Secondary College, with major exams at Yr 6, Yr 11 and Yr 13. As far as I am aware, teaching in a British International School is pretty similar curriculum wise, without the pressures of OFSTED (though many British International School still partake in some kind of external monitoring similar to OFSTED). Teaching the English Curriculum abroad is great for British teachers who want to teach abroad, but don’t want to teach a different curriculum. It is also similar to the Australian and Canadian Curriculum in parts.
2. National Curriculums taught abroad: US Curriculum
The other major one is The US Curriculum or specific state curriculum within US Schools. All over the world, more and more schools are choosing to implement a form of the American curriculum, such as AP (advanced placement). This is great for American teachers that are familiar with the curriculum but want to begin teaching abroad. This curriculum also works for non-Americans, as many schools will provide training prior to the start of the school year.
3. National Curriculums taught abroad: Other less common National Curriculums
The English and US Curriculum aren’t the only national curriculum taught abroad. In fact, there are hundreds. I’ve seen Swedish, French, Korean, Canadian and many more, but they are less common.
There are about just over 10 Australian International Schools in the world, most in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly Asia, say Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, but a couple in the UAE. Many teach the Australian curriculum, but I know of a couple that teach the New South Wales or the Victorian Syabullus.
I have also seen Canadian Schools, French Schools, Swedish Schools and so on and so forth. They are less common, but definitely out there. If that is something you’re interested in, It’s definitely worth looking into.
Teaching a National Curriculum overseas is great for teachers who want to teach abroad, but not necessarily a new curriculum.
So we are going to move onto international curriculums. A disclaimer, this isn’t all of them, this is just what you are most likely to see or hear about.
1. International Curriculums: IB
So first, we are going to talk about my favourite, The International Baccalaureate. Or most commonly called the IB. The IB is a concept based curriculum. It has a Primary Year Program (or PYP), a Middle Years Program, A Diploma Program and Careers Related Program. I’m going to talk more about the PYP as I am a primary teacher and I did my IB qualifications in the PYP.
I have mentioned the transdisciplinary nature of the IB briefly in this episode of the Teaching Abroad Podcast. But that is not how the MYP and the DP or CP are structured. I have some links at the end of this blog post if you would like to dive deeper into the structure of the IB.
All the IB curriculum support and encourage children to take responsibility for their learning and think independently. Students are taught not just content, but the connections between content. The IB learner profile underpins everything that goes on in the classroom, which helps students to have positive, open-minded attitudes, to be reflective, inquisitive and much more.
The IB uses an inquiry-led approach with allows students to be active learners through asking questions, exploring ideas, and sharing knowledge with their peers.
But the IB isn’t the only inquiry-based International Curriculum
2. International Curriculums: International Primary Curriculum
This leads us to the IPC International Primary Curriculum by Fieldworks. IPC was designed and created by some of the big thinkers who worked and developed the IB’s PYP. The IPC also uses an inquiry approach, however, it isn’t a concept-based curriculum. It is a thematic curriculum. It is based on the English National Curriculum with reference to the UK Key Stages 1 and 2.
In comparison to the English Curriculum, the IPC was designed to be used in international contexts and embraces international-mindedness through its curriculum. In this way, it is very similar to the IB’s PYP. Fieldworks, alongside IPC, have an Early Years Curriculum and a Middle Years Curriculum.
3. International Curriculums: Camrbidge International Education
The last international curriculum you need to know is the Cambridge International Education (The CIE). The CIE is very discipline-based, much more similar in that sense to the traditional English curriculum. One of the key differences between IB/IPC and CIE is that the IB/IPC lays down a curriculum that needs to be followed by its schools in order to graduate, whereas the CIE simply administers tests that need to be passed. Although it has, of course, developed an extensive curriculum, it is up to individual schools how strictly they follow it.
Similar to the IB, the CIE provides professional development for their teachers in order to be qualified and competent in teaching their curriculum. Most often this will be provided by schools, but you can also do this independently.
Do you need training in an international curriculum to teach it?
This is one of the most common questions around international curriculums. Do you need training in an international curriculum to teach internationally? And if so, what kind of training do you need to teach an international curriculum?
It’s always easier if you have training in an international curriculum to get a job in a school that teaches that curriculum. But don’t let not having it hold you back. It is very common to get a job at a school without any prior training (besides your teaching degree of course!). Often schools, especially IB schools will provide in house professional development. However in saying that, having experience in the curriculum or a qualification in it is always helpful. One of the most important things is to be able to be adaptable. If you can demonstrate that you’re adaptable, and at least know about the curriculum and how it works, it’s not going to be the reason you don’t get the job,
If you are interested in teaching abroad in the future in an international curriculum, it’s never too early to start prepping. While it’s not required, doing some of your own learning about it can show that you are serious and committed.
Well, there you have it. This is a bit of a beginner’s guide to international curriculums. International curriculums is one of the big questions you need to consider when looking to teach abroad, but it’s not the only one. There are so many different factors you need to consider when planning to teach abroad. If you are a podcast listener, you can check out this episode of the teaching abroad podcast which talks about the first and most important question you need to figure out: your why!
Want to know more? Check out these resources available on my website:
10 of the Best Reasons You Should Teach Abroad
The Teaching Abroad Podcast: Beginner’s Guide to International Curriculum
5 Honest Reasons Why I Became an International Primary Teacher Abroad
5 Hard Truths that Bust these Common Teaching Abroad Myths
Further Reading:
International curriculums: IB
International Baccalaureate Programs
Sevenoaks School: The IB explained
The International Baccalaureate explained by The Week UK
International curriculums: International Primary Curriculum by Fieldworks
Its Education Asia Article – COMPARISON OF IPC AND PY
