American teacher wants to teach in ireland?

Question

i am a teacher certified in kindergarten - 5th grade and special education... i am wondering what i would have to do to be able to teach in ireland. i am thinking about moving there in the near future and would like to know what i would have to do to be able to get a job as a teacher there. also, where should i begin to look for jobs there?

Answer 1

if you want to teach in a primary school (children aging from 4 -12) then you need to be able to speak Irish...

Irish is a subject that is thought in school right up to when you leave school at 18. therefore if you want to teach you would have to be able to speak Irish.

Here help start you off:

Conas ata tu?    meaning      How are You?

If  you say that at the start of the interview you might be able to fluke your way through the rest!

Answer 2

I am American (and a teacher) and lived in Ireland for a while (my husband is Irish).  It's true what everyone has said about needing to be able to speak Irish Gaelic.  

However, I did teach there.  I taught in a school for foreign students (like a TOEFL thing).  It was okay.  There are quite a few schools that teach English as a foreign language to foreign nationals.  For whatever reason, there were a pretty considerable number of Chinese students studying English while I was living there.  Food for thought.  It did pay pretty well.  I did not like the schools money mill approach to its students however.

Also, have you sorted out a work visa?  Good luck!

Answer 3

You have to speak gaeilge to teach here. If you have not participated in an Irish language course or literate then you may not have the necessary qualifications.

The Irish language is compulsory in primary schools here for that age group and you need to be able to read/write/speak/ spell the language.

I suggest all the information can be sourced from the below website:

Answer 4

To teach in a special needs school you would need a primary degree and a higher diploma in primary education or equivalent, you do not need irish for a special needs school, you do for a mainstream school.

Teaching in ireland is a hard job to get into, with an unfair interview procedure that is not open and transparent.

People get jobs for people they know or are related to I have seen this as I am an ex teacher secondary, and my wife is a primary special needs teacher.

The education system in ireland is backward(as in staffing procedures and protocall) and highly nepotised, thats why i quit.

The teachers unions are too strong and have too much leverage over the government.

Some(not all) of the laziest people I have ever seen are teachers and if they worked in the private sector they would be sacked. but if your a permanent teacher here you cant be sacked