same here chemteacher, but won't start worrying until April or so…have been through the recruitment journey twice now. First time, had job by January, second time, didn't get a position until April. From what I gather, schools are still waiting for resignations/renewals, so jobs not being posted for many schools. Here's hoping we both get interview offers before the end of term!

Also looking for information about AS Dubai. The SA salary for MA+8 seems low. ASDubai website a little better, but still pretty low. Is cost of living low?

Hi All,

a question for the Fair veterans. I have an invitation to the BKK Fair at the moment, but the schools I'm interested in either don't have my area or are not attending the Fair. Is it still worth going, as some of the schools I want to go after will be there? Do jobs ever appear AT the fair, before being put onto the Search database?

Thanks for any advice.

Hi All,

I see that Prague gives a housing allowance (which is strange for a European IS), but again, with a family of four, do we have a chance of surviving in Europe?
Also, there is the question about the school itself. We have a 5 and 13 year old, so especially worried about the older one (going into HS).

Any thoughts?

Any chance of survival for a family of four, single teacher?

As an American who has ONLY worked in the British system (15 years now) I believe it comes down to the individual school AND the subject you teach. I'm in a "non-core" subject and my Senior School (7-13) dept. last year had a Brit, an Irish teacher, an Aussie, a Malaysian and me. The Primary teachers were mostly British, though. There ARE two Americans, though.

In my last school, it was 3 Brits and I was the first American to break into the dept. In the end, I think it comes down to your experience and how you present yourself at the interview in terms of teaching the curriculum the school is asking of you. Even if you don't teach it now, what will you bring to the school in terms of teaching what they do.

Hi National,

what IF there are no positions posted yet and you just want to get your name in there first (with the understanding that there may not even be a job available)? Do you think this might turn a school off or that the e-mail would simply be put on the back burner until positions become available?

Hi Cheery,
yes, it's me who wants to transition to the American system. I'm American, but have been in the British/Int'l system for a LONG time...tried (unsuccessfully) to break into one of the "big" schools last time around. Missed out because "you have a lot of outstanding experience, but have never taught choir in the classroom and we have someone who has." I think it had to do with my dependents (3 of them) as well.
Would LOVE to get into ISB as I lived in Thailand for 4 years and worked really well with the music people at ISB...will probably contact them as well.

Did you find it???

It's that time of year again, and though I have enjoyed the teaching at my current school in Beijing, my family hasn't been able to acclimate to China and it's pollution as we had hoped.

And so, we're considering another move. My question is one that I've probably asked before, but I'd like to try again.

I would REALLY like to move into the American system (Music teacher here, if the name didn't give it away!), but I have been in the British system for the past 15 years. What can I do to convince an administrator that I am worth the risk?

My experience: 10 years as a Head of Dept, 4 years as a Director of Choral. 3 PD choral conducting workshops over the past 6 years; a LOT of choral experience (Festivals, extracurricular groups, school musicals), and i'm Guest Conducting this year at an international festival this year.

BUT

No "Choir class" experience (other than student teaching MANY years ago).

So do I have an "in" for a Choral Music job at an American school? What should I self-promote? Thanks for any suggestions!

Hi Teachermom,

I'd agree with you on TAS, but the one school that comes a distant second has one advantage I can think of over TAS and that's the IB program. Taipei European School has an excellent IB reputation and if that was what I wanted above all else, I would suggest heading to TES. Still, TAS is miles ahead in just about every other way to TAS as far as I can tell (though I have never worked at TAS, so take this with a grain of salt).

Hi All,

as I start thinking about making a return to the States for various reasons, I'm trying to find out anything and everything about international schools back home. One that I'm interested in is Awty Int'l School in Houston. Does ANYONE have any information on this school?

Also, do schools in the States provide "international packages" or is it just salary? If they DO, would I qualify as an "international hire" because I've been out of the country for so long?

Thanks for any info on any of those topics.

Sorry for hijacking, but also have a question about SA...

I may be applying for the BKK fair in January and will be re-activating with my Associate. He has asked if my wife will be re-activating as well. Problem we have is that my wife has teaching experience but no certificate. Is it worth it for her to re-activate or should I simply mention her experience in any correspondence/interview I may receive?

I have experience (14 years/ with 10 IB) and 2 school-age children. I'm sure my wife would be an asset, but not sure how recruiters would look at a "non-qualified" teacher. (Her only qualification is from her home country and is (in my mind) the equivalent of a CELTA for Mandarin).

I know this is probably madness, but I'm replying to PsyGuy here....

the question of what the value of an onsite interview vs. a SkyPE interview is one I can actually vouchsafe for. I can't say whether more value is placed on these by the school itself, but for me, it was exactly what sold me on a previous school where I taught. My 5 hours onsite made all the difference in the world, as it re-assured me that the school was a place I wanted to be. Was it because the school put on a "dog and pony show" for me? I don't think so (though it confirmed what I thought I already knew about the place). During a SkyPE interview for my last recruiting season, I actually turned down an offer (for various reasons), but what's to say that an onsite interview wouldn't have changed my mind?

I guess I'm saying that if you're willing (and able) to make a trip to a school with which you are seriously interested, it helps YOU, and I don't think anyone would have you over if they weren't serious about considering you.

OR, administrators, am I being naive here? Would you interview a "long-shot" just because they happened to say they were willing to come to you?

I've heard of everything from providing training in the end year of a contract with the understanding you will need to pay it back if you leave at the end of the year; waiting until a new contract is signed before agreeing to pay for training (new contract being either 1 or 2 years); or just paying for the training no matter where you are in a contract.

I think the "waiting for resignation date" is the most common, but the problem with this is that if the date is in January, much of the training budget may already be used.