The Role of Working Abroad as a Teacher on Professional Development

Abstract

International experience has been considered as a good opportunity for teachers to develop their professional development. Teachers while working abroad experience new teaching styles, curriculum, lesson plans, and lesson materials. Upon return home they implement them into their circumstances. This study investigates the role of overseas experience in professional development of teachers. 55 teachers who had at least a five-year international experience had a questionnaire and it was found that overseas experience deeply influences professional development of teachers. Introduction Working abroad as a teacher has been considered as an opportunity for professional development because teachers bring their experiences into their classrooms and use new-found knowledge. Teachers acquire new educational experiences and skills in that they incorporate new information into existing courses, learn how to integrate technology into teaching, promote student-centered teaching, develop new methods and techniques, create effective lesson plans, exchange curriculum ideas and prepare materials to use in the classroom.