Search found 51 matches

by pikefish
Wed May 18, 2016 4:49 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Reconnecting with the IRS
Replies: 8
Views: 11802

Re: Reconnecting with the IRS

Be sure the person qualifies as a bona fide resident of another country for each tax year as it is possible to teach overseas and not pass the test. I had a friend who spent all of her December, April, and summer breaks in the US. Based on how much time she spent at home the IRS decided her foreign income could not be excluded. Her tax bill was brutal.
by pikefish
Fri Dec 04, 2015 6:40 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Passive Aggressiveness in IS
Replies: 17
Views: 34651

Re: Passive Aggressiveness in IS

Do what you want, Senator. Just know that in your valiant effort to save us from ourselves, you bring nothing to this board. Hell, you even come across exactly like than the ITs you despise so much: arrogant, childish, self-important, and full of himself.

Let it go. Move on. I'm going to do the same. Later.
by pikefish
Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Passive Aggressiveness in IS
Replies: 17
Views: 34651

Re: Passive Aggressiveness in IS

senator wrote:
> You are absolutely right.
>
> One of the reasons I left IE. Little children in adult suits.

Senator:

Seeing how you left international teaching years ago, I have no idea why you spend so much time on here running your mouth at every IT, school, and institution every chance you get. Some might find that pretty childish, too. Let it go. Move on.
by pikefish
Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:17 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Which School???
Replies: 12
Views: 21596

Re: Which School???

Great attitude. Either school will be lucky to have you. :(
by pikefish
Fri Feb 28, 2014 2:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Venezuela vs. Kazakhstan
Replies: 18
Views: 20499

Re: Venezuela vs. Kazakhstan

Without any hesitation I would choose neither.
by pikefish
Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:52 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: School tiers
Replies: 7
Views: 10518

Where is PsyGuy? Seems he has vanished.
by pikefish
Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Help with Skype
Replies: 11
Views: 12553

Some friendly advice...

Try to find a friend and make sure you have a good grip on Skype before the interview. It is kinda one of the basic core tools in the international teaching world- especially at 1:1 schools. If the interviewer has questions to figure out where you are technology and sees you struggling with Skype...well...it aint gonna help.

To test your Skype camera on your Mac to to Skype Preferences and click the Audio/Video tab. Im guess you are running your FaceTime built in camera so make sure that is selected. You should see yourself. You can also check your mic status too.

Remember you will have to turn on your camera when you answer the call.Click the little camera icon. it will turn green (I think). When you are video sky ping you will see who you are speaking with and a little picture-in-picture image of you.
by pikefish
Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:35 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bottom Schools
Replies: 14
Views: 16606

[quote="newchapter"]...or is it safe to say that most schools represented by Search are fairly on the up and up...not necessarily the best places to work but not entirely dreadful?[/quote]

Absolutely not. It is up to you to do your due diligence to research, question, and explore about a school AND where it is located to see if it is a good fit for you. Most recruiters will be very much on the up-and-up, but some will not. All will be positive about their school no matter how good or bad they are. That is their job. Unless the school is absolutely despicable, Search is glad to cash their checks and have them at their fairs.

Also keep in mind that there are MANY wonderful schools in cities that are very, very challenging for some people due to pollution, politics, religion, traffic, sanitation, crime, weather, whatever… Don't go somewhere you will be miserable just because the school looks ok. Life is too short and no one wants to be around a miserable, unhappy person.
by pikefish
Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:24 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cracking a first tier school - how did you do it?
Replies: 5
Views: 9300

I think it is safe to say that, at least for the "common" teaching positions such as elementary or high school history, we get more than fifty applications from great teachers with proper experience, training, credentials, etc... Any of these teachers would probably do a great job in the classroom. Consequently, experience in an IB classroom is a very small factor in my director's decision to interview someone.

Every teacher we hire has done something else extraordinary in their lives in addition to being a great teacher. It could be athletics, in service to others, art, music, the business world, etc... In other words they bring something else to the table that makes them special, leaders, and exciting to have in our community. This "something else" may not even translate to the classroom or after school activities, but simply shows a person who embraces some creative or demanding aspect of life.

Oh, and having a current faculty member advocating for you is of great help too.
by pikefish
Thu Aug 01, 2013 7:16 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Top 5 schools in Istanbul ? High or low pollution ?
Replies: 9
Views: 18298

[quote="Manumanu"]Just curious. What do you mean "look at the pay side of this site". I can't seem to find anywhere that described pay scale for countries and school.
Thanks[/quote]

He means spend the money and log in to pay side of ISR and you can see the reviews left by other teachers.
by pikefish
Fri Jul 05, 2013 6:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Advice for a future Teacher.
Replies: 16
Views: 20203

[quote="CaliPro"]
So I will not be working in Florida and I will have to take University classes to renew after 5 years?[/quote]

Correct. Since you wont be in Florida for DOE approved in-services, you will need 6 hours from a real university every 5 years. Unlike some other states, Florida is dead serious about following the letter of the law when it comes to renewing. They require original transcripts with no exceptions. Do not bother to try submitting "continuing education units" or any other PD offers that come through school emails and the like. It really has to be university courses from "real" schools.
by pikefish
Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:16 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Dealing with U.S. mail while teaching internationally
Replies: 5
Views: 8281

1. Change every bill you can to paperless. Most companies do that now.
2. Use a bank with great internet banking/online bill pay.
3. Get permission and change your address to a parent, brother, sister, best friend, etc... and have mail sent there. It is free.

Honestly I am unsure why the US mail even exists. I have been gone a little over four years and, for the most part, my paper mail has all but ended. When I come State-side every summer my small pile of mail is 99% junk. Whenever something shows up that looks important my brother sends me a an email and we open it together over Skype....but it usually turns out to be junk too.

Hope that helps.