Ive benn in Switzerland for about a year now and currently work as a part time basketball coach in a international school. I played basketball professionally and now I play in the second league in Switzerland. The income i generate from both the school and basketball is not enough in the long run so I really would like a fixed position with the international school. The thing is I dont know the requirements here in Switzerland to work as a teacher or in administration. i have a Masters degree in Management, im hoping that can give me an advantage if anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it! Thanks.
Hello,
there's been quite a lot written about this, have you searched the forums?
If you already work part-time in an international school, why not ask them what you need? Maybe they can even help you get started or sponsor you.
By the time I go to practice all of the teachers are gone. The athletiic director is always busy, never time to sit and talk. Ill try again to have a sit down with him.
Another hint,
maybe speak to your HR dept about qualifications. Develop a road map for yourself and plow ahead.
You are already one step ahead by being part of the school in a great way. I am sure within your network you can do something.
Although its hard, thinking out of the box can help, but dont go too far, people start looking at you weird
Edit: You ever hang out with the ''decision makers'', i.e. at parties or drinks?
Migros or Coop might be able to use you to stack the top shelves
Here are a few threads that might help. I know there was another one recently but I can't seem to find it. The questions might not be exactly the same as yours, but I think are similar enough that you might get some useful information. Good luck.
If you're already working as a basketball coach and it's an international school. you might not need anything to teach PE full time, ask them.
A state school you'd need a degree and a teaching qualification, but International schools can do what they like I think.
Was that suppose to be some kind of insult Mr Assassin? My grandmother is more creative....two dumbs down!
Thanks, ill take a look
I think you missed the obvious joke there
Do you really want a job, if you really do one makes time and effort
Alright if that was a joke then you can do better
If it was a insult .... You can go kick rocks!
It was a joke... Basketballer player... Tall.... top shelves!
Most good international schools require you to have a teaching degree or certificate and degree. Most schools also want you to have teaching experience. And no, you can't just walk into a PE job just because you can play or coach. It is totally different. Where do you live? It might be a good idea to ask the Director of the school you coach at. The Athletic Director doesn't always teach at schools.
You can also compile your c.v. and send off to schools around the country. I am a qualified PE teacher and have been teaching for 18 years. I work in a big international school here in Switzerland and have a few contacts. If you message me and give me a copy of your c.v. I might be able to help?
Some interesting and informative posts here.
Switzerland is quite a desirable destination on the international teaching circuit. If you wish to obtain a teaching position here, my advice would be to proceed as follows:
It is unlikely that you will obtain a tenured position as a coach without a teaching qualification. Schools make a distinction between someone who is a coach and someone who is a teacher (I am not going to comment on whether this is right or wrong - it is just the way it is). So what do you do?
1. Decide what it is that you really wish to do - teach or coach (by teaching I, of course, include PE teachers).
2. If you wish to coach, then gain some coaching qualifications and be prepared to move around to coach in 2 or 3 schools a week.
3. If you wish to teach, then try an get another string to your bow. You have a masters level qualification in Management, so would you be able to teach Business and Management at the IB Level? If so, then start looking at offering this at your current establishment.
4. Look into studying for the iPGCE (or local equivalent). This will give you the pedagogical qualifications that are required to teach at most of the better International Schools.
If you do not fancy going down the pedagogical route then give teaching a miss.
Good luck.
Tuborg, teaching and coaching are very different.
You need a degree to teach and you don't really need anything to coach in schools, just experience and enthusiasm. I don't think just experience and enthusiasm will be enough in a school as a PE teacher.
Teaching and coaching are very different. If you teach PE you really need to know all the sports in some detail, not just one. You need to know all the theory. You may need to teach dance and gymnastics. You may need to teach health. You might have to do marking. You may be involved in curriculum such as the IB and have to teach Sports Science or mark personal projects or extended essays.
So Kingjrob, if you want to be taken seriously as a teacher I would try to get the qualification (PGCE) or equivalent.
Perhaps what I wrote did not come out as I intended it to.
What I meant to say is that there is a difference between being a teacher and a coach. A member of the PE staff in a school is a teacher - no different from a maths teacher or a history teacher, for example. Therefore it is very unlikely that a coach will get hired as a PE teacher without any pedagogical training.
Thanks! I would gladly send you my CV.