Working at a primary school or preschool abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working at a primary school or preschool abroad like?

• Working at a primary school or preschool abroad means guiding young children in their learning and development and setting them up for life!
• This time not at home, but in a different cultural, linguistic, and organizational context than you are used to.
• The work can be paid work, an internship or volunteer work, and takes place at local schools, international schools, or are NGO educational projects.
• Responsibilities:
  • Teaching or providing classroom support.
  • Supervising play, learning, and creative activities.
  • Assisting with reading, writing, math, or motor development.
  • Supporting daily routines such as breaks and tidying up.
  • Collaborating with local teachers or project coordinators.
  • Preschools often emphasize play, structure, and social development; primary schools focus more on lesson content and skills.
• Employment conditions:
  • Contract types vary from voluntary to paid.
  • Salaries are often local and relatively low.
  • Sometimes, room and board are included.
  • Work is usually full-time, with peak periods.
  • Certificate requirements vary greatly by country and type of school.
• You often work with limited resources and have to improvise a lot, while the responsibility for children remains high.

What are the reasons for working at a primary school or preschool abroad?

• To develop engagement: you work with children daily and quickly build strong bonds, which increases your sense of purpose.
• To be helpful: you directly contribute to education and opportunities for children, which for many people is a strong form of meaning.
• To develop flexibility: teaching abroad requires dealing with unexpected situations, different rules, and cultural differences.
• To develop creativity: you learn to teach and supervise with limited materials and often have to devise solutions on the spot.
• To gain self-awareness: working with children in a different culture quickly reveals your strengths and areas for improvement.

What skills and motivations do you need to work at a primary school or preschool abroad?

• Empathy: being able to navigate cultural differences in upbringing and education.
• Communication skills: being able to explain clearly, even without perfect language skills.
• Flexibility: being able to adapt when schedules, rules, or circumstances change.
• Patience: accepting that learning and development take time.
• Independence: functioning in a new environment with limited supervision.
• Sense of responsibility: being mindful of the safety and well-being of children.

What are the best countries and locations to work at a primary school or preschool abroad?

• Countries with a high level of volunteer work and internships: Nepal, Cambodia, Ghana, Guatemala, India.
• Countries with paid positions in education: Aruba, Bonaire, Suriname, China, South Korea, Middle East.
• International private schools: Spain, Italy, France, Thailand.

What are the risks of working at a primary school or preschool abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working at a primary school or preschool abroad?
  • You often face health risks: childhood illnesses, poor hygiene, heat, dehydration, or food-related complaints.
  • Medical care is often expensive or limited, especially in countries with limited infrastructure or private healthcare systems.
  • It is common to experience physical strain: long days, frequent standing, lifting, and constant vigilance.
  • It is common to experience emotional strain: due to poverty, illness, or difficult home situations for children.
  • It is common to face liability: working with children entails additional responsibility and risks.
• Are you insured while working at a primary school or preschool abroad?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you're doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.