EXCHANGE TEACHER QUESTIONS
Click on the links below to learn more about each topic.
Do I qualify?
How do I become an applicant?
Where in the US will I be placed? What type of school will it be?
How does the assignment process work?
How will I know if I am hired at a US school?
What happens after I am invited?
How does the teaching licensure/certification system work in the US?
What will my responsibilities be in a US school?
How will I find housing? Who will pay for it?
What if I accept an invitation, but can not come?
What are my financial responsibilities?
What should I know about US Schools?
How long will I be able to work at a US school as an Exchange Teacher?
Can I stay for more than three years?
Can my spouse and children come with me to the US?
Do I qualify? (back to top)
To qualify as an Amity Exchange Teacher, candidates must meet all of the requirements below.1. BA/BS degree in the subject you will teach and/or 30 university level credits in that subject
Exchange Teachers must have a BA/BS equivalent degree in the subject they will teach. Their degree must be subject specific. For example, a teacher with a BA in Education whose major is English is not qualified to teach Spanish in the US, UNLESS he/she has at least 30 university level credits in the Spanish language or teaching Spanish as a second or foreign language. A degree as a translator is not sufficient to qualify as a Spanish teacher. These are critical qualifications and without the 30 university credits there is little chance of placement.2. Teaching License in Native Country
In addition to their BA/BS degree, teachers should hold a teaching license from their home country. This is often different than the BA/BS degree. US public schools require that teachers have a teaching license/certification from their home country. This license /certification should be in the subject they want to teach and the appropriate grade level. So if a teacher wants to teach Spanish in the US, his/her license must be in Foreign Languages, Modern Languages, Spanish as a Foreign Language, and/or Languages English - Spanish. They will not qualify if their license/certification is not in the subject they will teach, UNLESS they have at least 30 university level credits in that subject.3. Three Years Teaching Experience
All Exchange Teacher applicants must have at least three academic years of classroom teaching experience. This is a visa requirement.4. English Fluency
All Exchange Teacher candidates must have a high level of English fluency in order to function at a US school. The teachers must be able to pass a rigorous phone interview with a US school. If hired, they also must be able to manage student disciplinary problems and communicate with parents, staff and administrators.How do I become an applicant? (back to top)
- Read the Amity Exchange Teacher Bulletin and Frequently Asked Questions.
- Complete an initial information form.
- Interview with an Amity Screening Officer or Amity representative.
- Complete Amity application, submit to Amity for review and document evaluation.
Where in the US will I be placed? What type of school will it be? (back to top)
Exchange Teachers are placed throughout the US in rural, suburban or urban areas. Participating schools include public, private and charter schools, as well as religious and foreign language immersion schools. Exchange Teachers can only work at a primary or secondary level. There are no college or university positions for Exchange Teachers.How does the assignment process work? (back to top)
After you have been accepted to the program, your dossier will be activated in our applicant pool. Amity submits dossiers to schools requesting an international teacher. The school reviews the dossier and decides whether or not they will interview the candidate. The school contacts the applicant directly to set up a phone interview. The candidate interviews with the US school.How will I know if I am hired at a US school? (back to top)
After the interview process, the school contacts the candidate with its decision. If hired, they ask the teacher to sign a contract which they fax or mail to him/her. Contracts are legally binding documents. It is important to read and understand the entire contract.What happens after I am invited? (back to top)
An Amity Program Counselor will be assigned to you. The Program Counselor provides information, guidance, support, encouragement and assistance with any issues or challenges from the beginning until the end of the assignment. Program Counselors are available via email or phone to assist you with any questions or concerns.Your Program Counselor will send you an Assignment package including visa sponsorship documents, insurance information and other important documents concerning the Amity program.
How does the teaching licensure/certification system work in the US? (back to top)
US schools often have a mandatory system of licensure or certification to make sure their teachers are fully qualified. For teachers to become licensed or certified, they are expected to do individual development work in addition to their classes and other school duties.If they receive an assignment, Exchange Teachers will have to comply with the teacher certification process in the state they are placed. Teachers may be asked to take a basic skills test where math aptitude, reading comprehension, and analytical ability will be tested. They also may have to take additional classes in teaching methodology, psychology, basic skills or a variety of other subjects.
All states have different procedures to certify their teachers. During the school interview, applicants should ask what will be expected concerning licensing and certification.
What will my responsibilities be in a US school? (back to top)
- Teach as full time faculty member at a primary or secondary school.
- Share language, culture and knowledge with students, colleagues and community.
- Fulfill all state licensure/certification requirements including classes, tests and/or additional assessment measures.
- Coordinate extracurricular student activities (sports, student clubs, newspaper, festivals).
- Assist students with additional academic needs (tutoring, discussion groups).
How will I find housing? Who will pay for it? (back to top)
The Exchange Teacher and school work together to coordinate suitable housing. Many times, Exchange Teachers stay temporarily with a Host Faculty Roommate for the first few weeks after arrival. Host Faculty Roommates offer room and board in exchange for a small stipend. The Exchange Teacher is responsible for paying for his/her own housing.What if I accept an invitation, but can not come? (back to top)
Please notify Amity and the school immediately. If you have already signed a contract, make sure you understand the consequences of breaking the agreement. If you are unable to accept an assignment due to extenuating circumstances, your application may be dropped, deferred or considered for future assignments depending upon the circumstances.What are my financial responsibilities? (back to top)
- $50 application fee Document evaluation fee
- Travel expenses to and from the United States
- SEVIS Fee – Participants must enter their information into SEVIS database before applying for visa
- Visa application costs (varies by country)
- Health Insurance and Evacuation/Repatriation costs
- Personal expense money for the initial costs upon arriving to the US, prior to receiving your first paycheck
- Certification or licensure costs at US school
- Some applicants are required to pay the Amity Administrative fee or share the fee with the Host School. The Administrative fee is broken down into monthly payments, due after the teacher has entered the US and has begun working. Administrative fee structures can be found in the ET Bulletin.
What should I know about US Schools? (back to top)
US schools are generally divided into the following age groups:- Elementary - 6-12 years of age
- Middle/Jr. High - 13-15 years of age
- Senior High - 15-18 years of age
US schools are geared to prepare students for participation in American society. In doing this, they adhere to several general principals.
Preparation for citizenship in a democracy is the most significant goal of education in the US.
Students are encouraged to think and act independently at a young age. By graduation they are expected to be autonomous adults, ready to play a role in political and economic life in the US. Political activity (i.e. voting) is the autonomous right of every US citizen. Student government, volunteering in the community, supporting charitable organizations, and aiding social causes are encouraged forms of community involvement.US students come from a broad range of cultures and socioeconomic groups.
The United States is a large country with diverse groups of people who hold different values. Images of Americans you have seen in newspapers, magazines or popular culture do not necessarily reflect the many different regional cultures, subgroups and varying ethnicities found in the US.American educators believe that a student learns most effectively by doing.
US students can be vocal and outgoing. They expect to play an active role in the classroom. Initially, students may seem difficult to control or even rude. It is important to try to find a balance between an active, productive classroom and negative, undisciplined chaos.University and vocational preparation usually takes place in the same school.
In most schools, fairly flexible sets of courses are available with certain courses recommended for university preparation and others for vocational training. Some courses are required of all students, while others are optional. It is the responsibility of each student, with the aid of counselors, to determine the set of courses most suited to his or her needs and abilities.Free primary and secondary education is made available to everyone.
Generally, there are twelve years of standard schooling, divided into elementary (6-12 years of age), Middle/Jr. High (13-15 years of age) and Senior High (15-18 years of age).Few American schools require uniforms.
Most private schools and public schools will have some sort of clothing regulations or dress code. But dress codes can vary depending on the philosophy and standards of the school.Each school is led by a principal.
The principal is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the school, such as providing instructional leadership, hiring and evaluating personnel, allocating budget funds, and insuring that the school building is maintained appropriately. Accountability and student achievement are important issues for schools across the country and are administered in each school by the principal.Parents often play a significant role in students’ day-to-day education in US schools.
It is essential that teachers maintain positive, cooperative relationships with parents because such collaboration creates a more productive environment and a better chance of student success. At the beginning of the school year, US schools schedule “parent-teacher conferences” in which teachers have formal meetings with parents of their students. These meetings give the teachers a chance to meet parents, to identify avenues of communication with them, and to establish expectations for the upcoming year.Local control of public education is another unique feature of American school systems.
School systems are generally run by an autonomous, elected board of local citizens, commonly called a “Board of Education”. State governments make laws regarding teacher certification and may set guidelines for course offerings, textbooks, etc. The federal government usually makes broad recommendations and delegates special funds, but it is the local community that controls and is financially responsible for its schools.Subsidized university education is made available to a wide range of people.
It is generally believed that providing higher education to as many people as possible benefits American society, so there are many routes and opportunities for students to pursue a college/university degree.How long will I be able to work at a US school as an Exchange Teacher? (back to top)
Amity teachers can be placed from one to three years at a US school. Generally, schools issue one year renewable contracts and annually assess a teacher’s professional performance.No assignment can exceed three calendar years.