In this article, we look at how to become a Geography teacher in Ireland. A geography teacher is one who teaches geography to secondary and post-secondary school students. Teaching Geography is among the career opportunities for graduates of Geography.
If you have been curious to know how you can become a Geography teacher in Ireland, then read this article to the end as it contains the necessary information you may need.
Teaching in Ireland is cool. It’s one of the destinations for most aspiring teachers who want to teach online and offline.
Some of the minimum requirements you need to secure a job quickly and easily in Ireland include:
- You must have a college/university degree as well as a TEFL certificate or its equivalent.
- You should have prior teaching experience in geography, at least 1 year of teaching experience.
- Teaching license
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Geography Teacher In Ireland?
Here’s what you should know to be employed as a geography teacher in Ireland:
- You’re expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in education in areas related to geography education.
- You should be able to demonstrate a strong academic background in the discipline of Geography.
- You should have a minimum of one year’s experience as a geography or subject teacher.
- Applicants must possess strong verbal or communication skills.
University Teacher Jobs
A applicant must meet the following requirements in order to teach Geography at a university:
- Applicants must have a postgraduate education qualification in a field related to geography education.
- Applicants must have a solid academic background in the field of geography.
- Candidates should have a minimum of three years’ experience as a school teacher, as well as some experience at primary level.
- For a job as an assistant professor, experience in teacher education is highly needed and you must have a track record of research publications.
- You should be able to demonstrate the capacity to integrate technology and the use of the outdoors into the teaching of geography.
- You should be able to work as part of a team.
Geography Teacher License In Ireland
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body in Ireland for teaching and regulating the teaching profession. The Teaching Council produces a code of professional conduct for teachers, which covers standards of teaching, skill, knowledge and competence. The council also maintains a register of teachers.
According to the Teaching Council, geography teachers and other post-primary teachers are normally required to teach at least one subject which they have studied to degree level. It’s not mandatory to have a qualification in the Irish language unless you are employed by a Gaeltacht school or in schools where Irish is the medium of instruction.
However, qualification is usually achieved by gaining a primary degree from a recognised third-level tertiary institution. And the degree must include at least one subject from the post-primary schools’ curriculum for the Leaving Certificate Programme.
The Teaching Council, which is the professional standards body for teaching, promotes and regulates the teaching profession.
The Council is the Irish statutory body that sets the standards of academic achievement and professional training required of teachers.
If you are a geography teacher who is qualified outside Ireland and you wish to teach in a recognised Irish school, you must apply for recognition of your qualifications prior to registration. It is critical to understand that the Teaching Council in Ireland processes applications and regulates admissions to the teaching profession.
Academic qualifications obtained outside of Ireland must be acceptable to the Council. Once your qualifications have been recognized, you can then proceed to apply for registration.
This scheme also allows for language assistants from Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, and Belgium/Wallonia-Brussels to be assigned to post-primary schools and colleges in the country. Their fluency can help learners understand and speak a foreign language fluently, giving them a better understanding of the way of life and customs of other countries.
Becoming a Geography Teacher in Ireland
According to Practical Adult Insights, in order to succeed as a geography teacher, you will need to have an in-depth knowledge of world, regional, and local geography as well as possess superior map-reading skills. Most geography classes cover related areas such as current events and history.
Also, you should be aware that Student-teaching experience and state certification are also required of anyone who wants to work as a geography teacher in Ireland. It’s important to know this..
The first step in becoming a geography teacher is to fulfill the teaching requirements in Ireland in which you are looking for employment. Typically, an undergraduate degree is required to be considered for a teaching position, as earlier stated.
The best degrees to have are in teaching, geography, or a combination of the two, although it is possible to become a geography teacher with other degrees. If you don’t have an educational background in geography or history, it is advisable to take some classes before applying for a teaching position.
Once you have met all of the academic qualifications and you have all your credentials in the bag to become a geography teacher in Ireland, you can proceed to look for positions in local classified ads or in teaching publications that have such job advertisements. Some schools have placement offices that might be able to help you find open positions. You should also inquire with local school boards about openings.
Someone interested in becoming a teacher may start out as a substitute or assistant. When being interviewed for a geography teaching job, it’s also important to promote both your geography and teaching skills.
Geography Teacher Salary In Ireland
According to Go Overseas, the average salary for teaching is from Ireland is $1,500 to $4,000 per month.
Lastly, there are certain qualities you must possess as a Geography teacher. You can check them out here.