People have told me that Quito is just a big, busy city, but they all love Cuenca. I'm going there this June to check out the town as a possible retirement home. I retired from teaching in the US. My last day will be the end of this school year. I am going to look for some part-time hours teaching English in Cuenca. Gosh, it's great to approach retirement.

Isn't that the school that is built on top of a toxic waste site? You could just call them and ask what your status is. You have nothing to lose at this point.

Isn't that the school that is built on top of a toxic waste site? You could just call them and ask what your status is. You have nothing to lose at this point.

I go for the PM, too.

I teach in the United States. Our principal doesn't hand out the "intent to return" sheets for us to sign until February. Our actual contracts don't come out until about three weeks before the end of the school year. Don't be discouraged. Many of the overseas schools may not know how many of their teachers will be leaving until a few months from now.

Cricket, thank you for the information. I certainly will contact them. I would love to teach in Ecuador, buy a little land, and retire there.

Roundtrip

Just realize that after the age of 60, it will become more difficult to find a job, so plan accordingly.

Psyguy, you must be a young guy to have such an impression of what 60 year olds are like. I have twice the energy of my students. I hike and bike and am still "hit on" by men twenty years younger. I've never seen teachers in their 60's "hanging over the tables asleep in the cafeteria collapsing from coronaries". What I have seen is new teachers in their twenties going berzerk during a mental melt down, ripping curtains off the walls, shrieking, throwing the contents of their desk drawers at the students, and having to be taken off the premises by security. I have actually been witness to three of these break downs. Of course, I don't even need to start on the stories of the young teachers in some of my schools who were sleeping with their students, drinking and drugging on the job. This year alone, six of our young teachers got pregnant and left for three months. This required the expense of substitutes and kids learned nothing for three months. Gee, I don't know. If I were a director, I'd put my money on the teachers who had a proven track record of responsibility, endurance, and sound judgement. You mentioned that I had a positive attitude about my mortality. I do...my mom is 92 and still gardens, walks around the block every day, and rode a 4-wheeler this Thanksgiving. My dad, who was 5 years younger than my mom, died this summer. By the way, I'm not bashing young teachers. The universities are producing some excellent educators. I'm just saying, age is only a number.

Thanks Heyteach! I'll look into them.

I want to teach in Ecuador, maybe Cuenca or Quito. Can anyone offer input or recommendation for the best schools to aim for? Thanks

OUCH Psyguy! I feel like I might as well make my funeral arrangements. I appreciate your honest input though (I think). Maybe I should just move to Ecuador and live off my retirement. There are advantages in being "matured."

Sid, thank you for your candid input on the subject of what administrators are looking for. Could you please give me the straight up on how administrators feel about hiring people who are in their 60's? (62 in my case) I can retire in America at the end of this school year and would like to return overseas to teach. Although I am highly qualified and have great references, no one seems interested in my candidacy. I think it's my age. How do you feel about the issue?

I completed an application with QSI, but have never received any correspondence from them. I am highly qualified in eight subjects, have excellent recommendations, 16 years experience and have prior overseas experience. I think it all boils down to the fact that I am 61. Have any of you heard of anyone in their 60's being hired by QSI? My advice to all of you considering teaching overseas and retiring there....you'd better get hired before you hit your 50's. I have felt invisible for the past 10 years. Should I try to contact QSI to discuss any openings they may have? I apply to openings through TIE constantly, but never even get emails of interest through their site. I can retire at the end of this year in Georgia, but I want to teach overseas again.

I was a member of ISS on two different occasions and never found a teaching position. A friend of mine was a member of Search. Once ISS got my money, they never did another thing for me. My friend, however, got personal emails from Search and personalized information and contacts. He and I both searched for overseas jobs at the same time, so I can definitely make a comparison between the two companies. I would definitely go with Search the next time around. You should know though before you dish out the money for these companies and attend the hiring fairs, if you are 60 years old or older, you are probably wasting your money. These companies won't tell you that or even bring it up when you register with them.

That's wonderful to hear. Could you share with me a few names of schools that hire older teachers? Did you get your jobs at a fair or on your own? I just don't have the money to go to a fair. Thank you.