ITP - 131: International Teachers Teaching in the US (What No One Tells You)

Greg: Welcome to another episode of the International Teacher Podcast. This is Greg the Single Guy with JP, my co-host here. Hi, JP.

JP Mint: Hello. Good morning—early, early morning in Mexico.

Greg: Yeah, and I think it’s even earlier in Washington, so Kent probably will not be here. And our elusive family guy is somewhere—I don’t know. He said he knows about this, but he might be doing some family things right now, so Darian won’t be with us.

Greg: But we have two special guests this time—not just one. We have two ladies with us. What’s great about this is that they are international teachers, but they are in the US teaching as international teachers.

Greg: I want to introduce Subhadra and Coreen. Did I say your names correctly?

Coreen Anderson: Yes, correct.

Subhadra Dearaju: Yes.

Greg: All right. Say hello, Subhadra.

Subhadra Dearaju: Hello from Virginia. It’s 9 a.m. here.

Greg: All right. And say hello, Coreen.

Coreen Anderson: Hello from North Carolina. It is 9 a.m. here. Greg, great to meet you. JP, excited to meet you. I’ve listened to you go on and on in different episodes. It’s great to be on this platform.

JP Mint: We have a fan.

Greg: I love having you two on. It is 4 p.m. here in the Middle East, and JP is just waking up. But let’s start our show the way we usually do and have a quick rundown—

JP Mint: Wait, wait—I want to ask something first because we were chatting for 15 minutes before we joined. I want to know: how do you two know each other? Then we can get into the individual journeys.

Greg: Yes, before we get into your educational journey, tell us how you met each other and all that good stuff. Come on, ladies.

Subhadra Dearaju: Okay, so we did not actually meet physically yet, but we did get a chance to video chat right before this for 15 minutes. The reason we “met” was through Coreen’s book. She compiled the book by interviewing a lot of international teachers, and I was one of the people she interviewed.

Subhadra Dearaju: After I bought the book, I gave my input because she wrote a beautiful book with guidelines for budding teachers, especially international teachers. When I gave my input, I shared a couple of topics I wanted included, and she graciously said, “Let’s team together and write the second book.” From then on we’ve been in touch and we are collaborators. Coreen, do you want to add something?

Coreen Anderson: Yep, absolutely accurate. What’s interesting is that we’ve never met face to face. This is the first time I’m seeing her face, except on LinkedIn or Facebook. When we logged in earlier to test the platform, we were both like, “My gosh, it’s so good to see you,” and we just kept going on and on.

JP Mint: All right, I’m excited to hear your journeys. Greg said you’re international teachers in the States. Coreen, can you tell us what that means?

Coreen Anderson: Sure. I’m originally from Jamaica. I was teaching in Jamaica for about ten years and got a little bit bored—for want of a better word—like, there’s got to be something else out there.

Coreen Anderson: So I started doing research and came across an organization that was sponsoring teachers. Coincidentally, I ran into a friend and she said her sister was teaching in the US. The organization she named was the same one I had been researching.

Coreen Anderson: She said they only take elementary teachers. I said no—they take secondary too. She asked if I wanted to apply, and I said yes. This is going to sound ancient, but I’m going to share it anyway: I didn’t even have an email address at the time.

Greg: Carrier pigeon.

Coreen Anderson: Right. So I went through the process, was selected to be interviewed, and after the interview they asked if I cared where in the US I went. I said I didn’t—I just needed a different scenery. They placed me in North Carolina, and I was thrilled about the entire journey. And then, here I am.

JP Mint: Are you saying you’ve only been in the States for two years?

Coreen Anderson: No, I’m just trying not to date myself. But Greg is right—it’s been 20 years.

Greg: You don’t look like you’ve been teaching that long. Audience: nope, she’s young.

Coreen Anderson: Thank you. I appreciate it.

JP Mint: Subhadra, can you tell us a little bit about your journey and where you came from and where you are now?

Subhadra Dearaju: Sure. Around the same time—about 20 years ago—in India, we moved from a smaller town to a city because my husband was transferred. We moved to a suburb of Delhi. That’s where people were talking about teachers coming to the US and the UK.

Subhadra Dearaju: I’m curious and adventurous, and I wanted to know how teaching would be different. One of my friends showed me a newspaper ad that a group from the US had come to interview in Delhi. I took a cab and went to the interview. I was laughing the whole day, made new friends, and I wasn’t even thinking seriously about coming. I just wanted to see how far it would go.

Subhadra Dearaju: It took almost a year for processing and documentation, so you forget about it. But after a year, I got a chance to come—believe it or not—to North Carolina. Teaching here, there are a lot of resources. I got glued to all that. It helped me understand better.

Subhadra Dearaju: I realized I was able to give back to the students and share my culture. I got so much love, and I thought, let’s see how far I can contribute. Coreen and I always say that even after so many years, we’re still passionate about teaching. When we get bored of the same old, we add something new—like this book and now this podcast.

Greg: Welcome to the family. That’s what we do here—we’re trying to give back and help other people do what we love doing: teaching in another country besides your home country.

Greg: I love having authors, especially international teachers who have become authors, on the show. It’s special to have you both on because you are international teachers in my country, and I’m in a different country as a guest.

JP Mint: India, yes. Jamaica, no. I’ve been to Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai through a sports association when I was at an American school in the Middle East. It gave me a glimpse of India.

JP Mint: What I’d like to know from both of you—I’m hearing about this book. What’s the title, Coreen?

Coreen Anderson: Before I answer, JP and Greg, you’ve not lived until you’ve visited Jamaica.

Greg: It’s on my list. The food—jerk chicken.

Coreen Anderson: Yes. The book is Reaching Beyond Borders. This is our second edition. The first edition I did solo, and then Subhadra and I teamed up for a better edition.

Subhadra Dearaju: She needed some spice from me.

Greg: When you shared it with Subhadra, did she send you 50 WhatsApp screenshots of corrections?

Coreen Anderson: She did not. She purchased it and gave thoughtful feedback and said mentoring was important. I asked her to write a chapter on mentoring, and we went back and forth.

Coreen Anderson: Feedback overall has been very positive. One teacher told me that although it was written for international teachers, teachers in general could benefit because it includes strategies and assessments. Assessment in the US is different from what I was used to in Jamaica.

JP Mint: So Coreen, what inspired you to write the first edition?

Coreen Anderson: There wasn’t a similar book. I kept hearing that great teachers were coming into the US through recruiting organizations, and then those teachers were struggling. That broke my heart because I knew they were strong educators.

Coreen Anderson: I thought if we could prepare them for a different culture, it could reduce shock and help them function. Teaching philosophies can look different across cultures. For example, in Jamaica, rote learning was common, while in the US there is more emphasis on critical thinking and collaboration.

Coreen Anderson: Another example is assessment. In Jamaica, if you get 60%, that’s your grade. In the US, you often get chances to revise and retest, which I like because in real life you can correct mistakes. I wanted to help teachers anticipate these differences.

Coreen Anderson: I knew of at least one teacher who was sent home mid-contract for performance issues. It felt like such a shame because with the right supports, they could excel. I also supported another teacher who struggled deeply and later became new teacher of the year.

JP Mint: Can you tell us a few of the countries those teachers came from?

Coreen Anderson: India, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, and others.

JP Mint: What kind of English do they need to come to the US?

Coreen Anderson: They must be proficient in English and there are tests, depending on the organization. In Jamaica, English is the official language, so I didn’t need testing. Often the challenge isn’t language but accent.

JP Mint: Subhadra, what did the book mean to you?

Subhadra Dearaju: I was one of the interviewees. I was curious to see what Coreen wrote because I know she’s trying to help.

Subhadra Dearaju: When I came to North Carolina, we had about 20 teachers from all over the world. They provided a local advisor in the first year who helped new teachers settle. Later, I became a local advisor myself.

Subhadra Dearaju: I came as an experienced teacher, but in the US I felt like a new teacher. A student once told me I didn’t know how to teach, and it hurt. But I reflected and realized some of my communication didn’t land the same culturally.

Subhadra Dearaju: By my third year, I was successful. Mentorship mattered, and that’s why I suggested a mentoring chapter. Later, I earned district-wide Teacher of the Year in 2022, which opened more opportunities.

Greg: Even with years of experience, if you go to a new country, you’re a new teacher.

Subhadra Dearaju: Yes. At the Delhi interview, I was bubbly and confident. But in my first year in the US, I lost confidence because I was learning everything new and trying to prove myself. You have to let go of ego and build relationships.

JP Mint: That’s survival mode.

Greg: Tell us about the driving test story.

Subhadra Dearaju: In India we drive on the left. When I arrived, they put us in cars on the second day and had us drive. I didn’t realize it was a test. Later I found out I had failed and had to stay back.

Subhadra Dearaju: I called my husband and cried. He told me to make an action plan. A sponsor helped me over the weekend, and on Monday I took a lesson and was allowed to go to my district. I’m grateful they took a chance on me.

JP Mint: Coreen, what struggles do international teachers face?

Coreen Anderson: Differentiation and inclusion can be new, especially supporting diverse learners. Also, some teachers hesitate to ask for help because they think it shows weakness. In the US, asking for help is essential.

Coreen Anderson: I mentor teachers now because I remember those first years. Using available resources is crucial.

Greg: I’m going to quote your book: an international teacher is ideally positioned to help prepare students for the world. Can you comment?

Coreen Anderson: The world is no longer siloed. Students need to understand different cultures and respect differences. International teachers bring authentic perspectives and help correct misconceptions.

JP Mint: You become an unofficial ambassador.

Coreen Anderson: Exactly.

JP Mint: Police story time. Subhadra?

Subhadra Dearaju: In my first month, I was driving slowly and a police officer stopped me and said I was too slow. He laughed and welcomed me to the country.

JP Mint: Coreen?

Coreen Anderson: I was pulled over on the way to a conference. I learned that when passing a stopped police car, you must move over or slow down. I didn’t know that.

Greg: What are three things you brought with you?

Coreen Anderson: A recipe book, a flag, and currency to share with students.

Subhadra Dearaju: Cultural items, spices, lentils, and a pressure cooker. The first time I used it, it scared my roommate.

Greg: Those first hours in a new country are unforgettable.

JP Mint: Final thoughts?

Coreen Anderson: For teachers seeking new experiences, this pathway offers growth. Bring your culture and share it. You are an unofficial ambassador.

Subhadra Dearaju: Teachers can reach out for support. Mentorship and networks matter. Let’s help each other.

Greg: I hope you come back for book three.

JP Mint: Thank you to our guests and listeners. We’ll see you next time.

Greg: Well done, JP. Ladies, don’t go away—we’ll chat a bit more.

JP Mint: That was my first outro.