school teacher

[gdowns]

Hello,

I live in the United States (Kansas City, Missouri), and we are planning a move to Finland. I have been a physical education teacher for 14 years, and hope to continue my career in Finland. I am certified to teach physical education/health at the elementary level through high school.

I have been married to a FIN for eleven years, and have spent time in Finland for the past 12 summers.

At this point, I am just trying to get pointed in the right direction on steps I need to take to find a teaching job. Any information that would be helpful in searching for a teaching position would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Gregg

[Upphew]

Hello,

I live in the United States (Kansas City, Missouri), and we are planning a move to Finland. I have been a physical education teacher for 14 years, and hope to continue my career in Finland. I am certified to teach physical education/health at the elementary level through high school.

I have been married to a FIN for eleven years, and have spent time in Finland for the past 12 summers.

At this point, I am just trying to get pointed in the right direction on steps I need to take to find a teaching job. Any information that would be helpful in searching for a teaching position would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Gregg

http://www.oph.fi/english/education/teachers
http://www.oph.fi/koulutus_ja_tutkinnot ... kelpoisuus
How is your Finnish?

[Flossy1978]

And you needs a Masters Degree to be a teacher in the school system here.

[catfish78]

And you needs a Masters Degree to be a teacher in the school system here.

That is not correct. I personally know several teachers with permanent contracts that do no have a master degree, one is my wife.

To the OP,
It is going to depend on where you move to here in Finland. There are several International schools in the Uusimaa area that teach in English. The more rural you get the harder it will be to find work teaching without Finnish.

[Upphew]

And you needs a Masters Degree to be a teacher in the school system here.

That is not correct. I personally know several teachers with permanent contracts that do no have a master degree, one is my wife.

To the OP,
It is going to depend on where you move to here in Finland. There are several International schools in the Uusimaa area that teach in English. The more rural you get the harder it will be to find work teaching without Finnish.

PE teacher that doesn't need the higher studies... I do believe that there might those, but surely they are the exceptions that make the rule?

[catfish78]

PE teacher that doesn't need the higher studies... I do believe that there might those, but surely they are the exceptions that make the rule?

?????

[Flossy1978]

What kind of a teacher doesn't need a masters degree?

I'm interested to know.

Because my knowledge has always been you must have a masters degree to be a teacher here. It's a part of the reason Finland is at the top of the world for education.

[catfish78]

What kind of a teacher doesn't need a masters degree?

I'm interested to know.

Because my knowledge has always been you must have a masters degree to be a teacher here. It's a part of the reason Finland is at the top of the world for education.

Currently my wife is teaching 1st grade.


Update: The missus just informed me that if you go to school in Finland to be a teacher you do not get your teaching degree without a master's degree. So the difference is where you went to school. I also know that teachers who's teaching degree comes from outside Finland, go through a vetting process that confirms they know what they are doing.

[Flossy1978]

Ah ok, so Finns do have to have a Masters. It's in their schooling.

But a foreigner can prove they can teach, without the Masters.

I still believe Finland has very high standards expected from any teacher, so a foreigner would probably really have to prove themselves they are up to standard with how Finnish teachers are.

[timotim]

Hey! I'm from Kansas City too! I just moved to Helsinki about a month ago. I'm still looking for a job myself and sadly can't give any good advice, but I'd like to say welcome and good luck.