ESL cert in addition to whatever your subject matter is, certainly helps too! I also think the more your certification covers (math/sci versus just sci or grades PreK-12 versus just elementary) helps a ton, too-- it lets employers know that you are able to fit into a number of different positions they may have...

Good luck!
BL

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Hi,

Did you try looking at the reviews of Mexico City schools on the ISR school reviews page? I was just looking at them the other day and I think I saw many of the schools on your list reviewed there.

Good luck!
BL
Lots of brand new FREE stuff just posted on our website @ www.bilinguallearner.com/ !! You can find out about our latest promotions, free stuff, or our counseling/ESL adventures by liking/following us on our brand new Facebook Page @ www.facebook.com/bilinguallearn or Twitter Page @ www.twitter.com/bilinguallearn

I would say that it doesn't matter much. My experience was that I signed up at the last minute for one of the smaller fairs that was held in Atlanta in December and I got several job offers , one even starting right away! I think there's always a need for teachers if you're a bit flexible in where you will go. That being said, the early bird does get the worm, so the sooner you go, the better off you'll probably be.

Hope this helps,
Steph

Check out our European travelogue with posts from an international teaching perspective at www.bilinguallearner.com or on our Bilingual Learner Facebook page...we are in France right now!

I, also, have never heard of 120K being paid to a teacher in the US and I've taught in many different places. So it seems that this amount is a very rare salary to find. But , in my convos with many American teachers overseas, the reasons they aren't in the US aren't about money...most state that quality of life- less high stakes testing/discipline problems/paperwork/crime/commutes/etc. is their reason for teaching outside the USA. Most of us who leave just want out of the rat race.

Steph
Check out our European travelogue with posts from an educational perspective at www.bilinguallearner.com or on our Bilingual Learner Facebook page...we are in France this week!

Hi Lastname,

I'd also recommend that if you have any chance to add an ESL/TEFL cert to your resume (if you don't already have one), that can be very helpful. In some cases, this is easy- for example, here in Texas, teachers only have to pass the ESL state test to get the certification added to their teaching certificate... whereas in Maryland, you actually have to have the ESL masters degree to get the certification. Maybe the Canadian states offer as much diversity in teacher certs??

If you do have some sort of ESL certification, talk that up in the interview, since many, if not most, of your students will probably be second language learners to English. This was a big part of what landed me four job offers at the first international school fair I went to.
Good luck!
Stephanie
Check out the educational and counseling website @ www.bilinguallearner.com!

In response to question about American Institute of Monterrey...I taught in Bolivia with someone who had taught there (AIMonterrey) back in the 2002-2005, I think. They had positive things to say. My current principal had a sister school at one of the IB schools in Monterrey when she was a principal in Dallas a few years ago...she said Monterrey Internat'l schools were excellent- very mod and best practice. I don't know if things have changed now with the recent drug violence, though. You might check out the school reviews in the ISR school reviews site to see what people are saying there about Monterrey. Hope this helps!

Good luck!
Steph
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Well, I personally don't believe in sticking with a job that makes you unhappy- we spend too many hours at our jobs and life is too short. Esp if you've already been there a year and know you don't like it! I think as long as you've fulfilled your commitments and wrapped up your work there with your students, move on. Nothing, even the IB experience, is worth a job you don't like for 3 years.

Just my two cents....

Stephanie

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Hi Andy,
Yes, I would definitely say there is a demand for counselors abroad, but I don't know how much mental health counseling you'd be doing. I also belong to another forum, ASCA Groupshare, which is powered by the American School Counselors Assoc and there has been a lot of posts there on this topic and many international school counselors have weighed in. Check out the Groupshare forum if you haven't yet- it's awesome! When I taught abroad, we had a VERY busy school counselor.

Good luck in your search!
Stephanie

Check out the new post with super links to diversity guidance lessons at www.bilinguallearner.com/-blog!

Hello.
So sorry for your loss and so glad you put family first and have peace of mind now with that. Anyway, I agree with the posters above- anyone reasonable will totally understand your former situation and won't hold it against you. I'd go ahead and get that director's recommendation too- it'll show that he/she supported you through your tough time. I had a situation where I had to leave a contract early bc the board was giving us foreign hires the run-around about renewing visas so I up and left. The others who stayed got chased out a back door/fence as police stormed the school looking for expired visas- it was all very dramatic and made me glad I did the right thing and scrammed from that place! Since then, I've had letters of recom from my former director and offers of jobs in other places, so it's all good!

Best of Luck!
Stephanie

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I think I just read a post about this school (or at least one in the same city) on the What is it Really Like in to Live in Africa thread http://www.internationalschoolsreviewdi ... -in-africa

Check it out and hope you find what you're looking for!

Good luck!
Stephanie
Check out the latest post on a fellow Gen X'er surviving the Mozambican Civil War and an unexpected visit with her @ www.bilinguallearner.com/-blog

Take a look at the International Schools in Bolivia- I taught at one a few years ago and had a blast. I think most of them are hiring and I found my job at the AASSA fair.

Good luck!

Check out my latest post on a fellow Gen X'er surviving the Mozambican Civil War and my unexpected visit with her @ www.bilinguallearner.com