From Chile to England: How NITE’s iPGCE with iQTS Launched an International Teaching Career

How NITE helped Himanshu achieve his teaching ambitions

Himanshu completed the iPGCE with iQTS in schools in Chile, specialising in Physical Education (PE). Having qualified, he moved to the UK and is now teaching at an international school in England. Here he shares his experience.

What was your background before training to teach with NITE? What led you to want to be a teacher?

I was a swim coach at an international school for three years in Singapore. While working in Singapore as swim coach, I decided to try to become a teacher and then I secured a 2-year teaching internship at an International school in Chile.

It was through this that I learned that I love to work with kids, and my passion for teaching started from there.

Why did you want to do an iPGCE with iQTS?

I decided to do an iPGCE with iQTS because I wanted to get the international qualified teacher status so that I could teach in any part of the world. I knew I wanted to travel. I was also doing a two-year internship at an international school in Santiago, Chile and they were willing to support me.

Why did you choose NITE?

I looked at other universities, but NITE was the one that was quickest with the responses to my questions and had all the details of programme up front. This made me confident to start my iQTS with NITE.

Do you think your experience in Chile helped when it came to applying for teaching jobs in England?

I think because I had the experience of training in Chile I had an advantage of teaching in a different context, culture and teaching technique. However, through the iPGCE course I learned so many new teaching tools which made me confident to be ready for England. I definitely knew the English teaching culture through my iQTS because it was with an English university.

Do you feel the course prepared you well for teaching in different countries?

The course prepared me well; it made me focus more on the growth mindset. For example, observing other teachers and having my mentor observe me, pushed me to the next level. I believe it made me flexible in my teaching and I can move to any country and learn and teach.

What were the highlights of the iPGCE with iQTS course?

I felt really well supported, I had a great mentor in Patrick. The subject specialist content was also very good, we had great P.E web seminars. I also enjoyed the academic elements. The assignments I did made me dive deeper in the education world.

Any advice for people wanting to train to teach outside England?

I would recommend tapping into a network of teachers who have done it. You will also need to be flexible and have a growth mindset.

I would also say you need to give yourself more than one year to settle down in a new country and school. Be kind and have patience.