A little about me...
BA - English
EC- 6 Generalist Certification
TESOL Certificate
1 year - Magnet School in USA (Math and Science)
1 year ESL in South Korea
.5 year Student teaching IB School
Single with no dependents
Have a couple years of experience as an aide, assistant teacher, after school enrichment teacher/tutor, and substitute, but I know it doesn't count for much.
I plan on entering the international school circuit in the year of 2016-2017, but I want to get prepared now! I came back to do my 2 years, because I didn't want to start at the bottom of the barrel schools. In my final year, what things should I consider doing for/at my school to help increase my chances of securing a better position?
---We have a great after school program with tons of activities that I could get involved in. Other than that, I'm not sure what else I could do to add to my resume.
---Teachers are also required to coordinate with their own class a final year musical (Dance, costumes, lights) the whole package. My partner teacher and I coordinated one this year and will again next year, which I believe would look good on a resume?
I should also state that my school is a math and science magnet. It's departmentalized and I am the math teacher. I will also be teaching math again next year. So I'll have virtually no reading teaching experience apart from some summer school teaching I did for a month a year prior. I know this will probably hurt my resume. :(
Region of interest:
Asia - Top countries would be: Japan, Singapore, Thailand, or Hong Kong. I might be shooting pretty high with those choices, but they are of interest to me. Also, I've very involved in my church and would also be interested teaching in Christian schools.
Thank you in advance.
Next Steps...final year in USA.
Response
To start this is what a recruiter sees in your resume:
B.A., Elementary certified, 1 year math primary experience, some IB exposure, thats it. You are an intern class IT, by 2016 with another year of teaching you will be an entry level class IT.
Your TESOL certificate, and ESOL experience in SK are worth nothing. As are your aid, assistant teacher, substitute, tutor experience.
The best part of your resume is the IB student teaching but its student teaching and its only half a year. A recruiter is going to interpret that as youve "seen" what an IB classroom looks like, as opposed to doing it.
Magnet schools mean nothing, its either a regulated school (public) or an independent school (private). Independent school experience is more valuable then regulated school experience.
Everyone does ASPs in IE, its just an excepted practice, unless an IS has a real need for something it doesnt have much utility, and it would be difficult to predict what an IS is going to need.
The class production is nice, but unless it won some regional or national award it probably isnt any different than what most primary ITs do. If you have video of it, and not just the show but the process leading up to it, that would be a nice center piece for your portfolio.
Two years experience is what you need to start at the bottom of the barrel. You are shooting pretty high, all those regions with the exception of Thailand are "Little Tigers" they are the most popular destinations in Asia, especially Japan, everyone wants to go there. With your resume the only way your going to Japan is teaching at an English Kindergarten/Nursery and you will be teaching English more than anything. Even Thailand has a pretty long line of people unless you want to teach at one of the Bilingual schools that pay 30K BT, but like Japan your essentially an ESOL teacher.
You need to consider expanding your regional preferences in Asia, mainly you need to include China, and really everywhere else in Asia as an entry class IT. If you focus on just those 4 regions your very likely not going to have any interest.
You should consider changing positions or change schools. Primary teachers are saturated in the IE market, and your a handicapped primary IT because youve only taught math. While there are some departmentalized primary ISs the majority of them are HRTs. You need that experience since literacy is half your workload and you need to demonstrate confidence to recruiter that you can teach reading and literacy.
Further, if your going to work the IB position you need experience teaching as the teacher of record in a PYP classroom and thats going to mean being an HRT.
Consider looking for a teacher spouse you have time to get married and present yourself as a teaching couple.
Beyond those three items your resume is essentially empty so ANYTHING you do will improve your marketability. Your issue is you need to have something that is going to get you noticed:
1) Add certifications in fine/performing arts and LS/SEN. Primary ISs usually have specialist teachers for host/foreign language, art, music, and P.E. If you cant be a generalist as a HRT than expanding your repertoire as a specialist teacher is a better option than nothing.
2) Complete a Masters, you can do this in a year and you have time.
3) Did you get trained at your IB school where you did student teaching? No amount of training is worth any amount of IB experience, but you have some experience, a workshop (MTPYPH) with your half a year would give you some utility if you over emphasized and really spun that experience.
4) For ASPs do something off the wall, something really exotic. There are plenty of ITs with vanilla ASP experience if you did something exotic, and a recruiter was interested, it could facilitate an interview, and serve as a locust during the interview.
5) Networking, get to know people. Find out what admins are interested in and where they publish (such as TIE) and then contact them that your doing research for a Masters, and start a conversation. Contact a math teacher or science teacher at a IS your interested in and do some video conferencing, maybe do a math bowl once a month. When people know you its much easier to hire you when there is a vacancy.
6) How do you look? Are you happy with your appearance? When your young and single, pretty people tend to be more successful in IE. It would be far from the first time an admin hired someone because they thought they had a chance and were flirted with. A lot of recruiters and leadership have really big egos and they love having them stroked by a potential protege.
7) Consider re-framing some of your experience. That year of ESOL in SK could easily be a year as an HRT in a bilingual IS. The time you spent as an assistant teacher or aid, could be presented as a "co-teacher". Your tutoring could be "home school/virtual school support teacher".
B.A., Elementary certified, 1 year math primary experience, some IB exposure, thats it. You are an intern class IT, by 2016 with another year of teaching you will be an entry level class IT.
Your TESOL certificate, and ESOL experience in SK are worth nothing. As are your aid, assistant teacher, substitute, tutor experience.
The best part of your resume is the IB student teaching but its student teaching and its only half a year. A recruiter is going to interpret that as youve "seen" what an IB classroom looks like, as opposed to doing it.
Magnet schools mean nothing, its either a regulated school (public) or an independent school (private). Independent school experience is more valuable then regulated school experience.
Everyone does ASPs in IE, its just an excepted practice, unless an IS has a real need for something it doesnt have much utility, and it would be difficult to predict what an IS is going to need.
The class production is nice, but unless it won some regional or national award it probably isnt any different than what most primary ITs do. If you have video of it, and not just the show but the process leading up to it, that would be a nice center piece for your portfolio.
Two years experience is what you need to start at the bottom of the barrel. You are shooting pretty high, all those regions with the exception of Thailand are "Little Tigers" they are the most popular destinations in Asia, especially Japan, everyone wants to go there. With your resume the only way your going to Japan is teaching at an English Kindergarten/Nursery and you will be teaching English more than anything. Even Thailand has a pretty long line of people unless you want to teach at one of the Bilingual schools that pay 30K BT, but like Japan your essentially an ESOL teacher.
You need to consider expanding your regional preferences in Asia, mainly you need to include China, and really everywhere else in Asia as an entry class IT. If you focus on just those 4 regions your very likely not going to have any interest.
You should consider changing positions or change schools. Primary teachers are saturated in the IE market, and your a handicapped primary IT because youve only taught math. While there are some departmentalized primary ISs the majority of them are HRTs. You need that experience since literacy is half your workload and you need to demonstrate confidence to recruiter that you can teach reading and literacy.
Further, if your going to work the IB position you need experience teaching as the teacher of record in a PYP classroom and thats going to mean being an HRT.
Consider looking for a teacher spouse you have time to get married and present yourself as a teaching couple.
Beyond those three items your resume is essentially empty so ANYTHING you do will improve your marketability. Your issue is you need to have something that is going to get you noticed:
1) Add certifications in fine/performing arts and LS/SEN. Primary ISs usually have specialist teachers for host/foreign language, art, music, and P.E. If you cant be a generalist as a HRT than expanding your repertoire as a specialist teacher is a better option than nothing.
2) Complete a Masters, you can do this in a year and you have time.
3) Did you get trained at your IB school where you did student teaching? No amount of training is worth any amount of IB experience, but you have some experience, a workshop (MTPYPH) with your half a year would give you some utility if you over emphasized and really spun that experience.
4) For ASPs do something off the wall, something really exotic. There are plenty of ITs with vanilla ASP experience if you did something exotic, and a recruiter was interested, it could facilitate an interview, and serve as a locust during the interview.
5) Networking, get to know people. Find out what admins are interested in and where they publish (such as TIE) and then contact them that your doing research for a Masters, and start a conversation. Contact a math teacher or science teacher at a IS your interested in and do some video conferencing, maybe do a math bowl once a month. When people know you its much easier to hire you when there is a vacancy.
6) How do you look? Are you happy with your appearance? When your young and single, pretty people tend to be more successful in IE. It would be far from the first time an admin hired someone because they thought they had a chance and were flirted with. A lot of recruiters and leadership have really big egos and they love having them stroked by a potential protege.
7) Consider re-framing some of your experience. That year of ESOL in SK could easily be a year as an HRT in a bilingual IS. The time you spent as an assistant teacher or aid, could be presented as a "co-teacher". Your tutoring could be "home school/virtual school support teacher".
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migratingbird
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:47 am
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
I wouldn't say the ESL experience counts for nothing. It goes to show you can handle living and working abroad, which is a massive bonus in your favour. I did a similar route to yourself, and got in at a Tier 2 school on my first jump into ISs. I'd consider adding Malaysia to your list - it's growing massively in the IS market, and whilst you probably won't get in at the top straight away, you could get a job at one of the newer schools, do a bit of networking and work your way up. In terms of beefing up your CV, get some IT credentials. Become Google Educator certified if you can. Attend the Google Education summit. Become familiar with different educational apps, and consider how you could use different websites. A lot of schools are getting heavily tech-ed up! Good luck!
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
Thank you both for your responses!
Psyguy,
I unfortunately only have a video of the production. It definitely didn't win any regional awards. It's strictly an in-school musical. Next year I can add video of us practicing and "getting prepared".
Those regions were the top of my list and I knew were a long shot, but I'd definitely be interested in opening it up in other regions in East and SE Asia. I'm also interested in central/south America, but I know it doesn't pay too well. Europe is ideal, I know difficult without the right documentation. I'm also not interested in living or working in the ME or Africa. I'm back and forth with China. I need to be able to save as well.
I was also wondering if it is just as difficult to get into a Christian International School in those "Little Tiger" countries or just in general? From the research I've done on this site, a lot of people tend to avoid them, because they don't share the same background or belief. I've heard of a couple of organizations such as the Network of International Christian Schools (NICS) or Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). I'm just not sure how they rank up there with the Tier 2 or 3 schools.
It would be impossible to change positions at this point. Namely, because I have already signed my contract and I'm not in the position to deal with the ramifications for breaking it. There is a reading teacher on my grade level that quit, so I could ask my principal if I could have her position. She tends to want to keep new teachers in the same position for the 1st two years. She told me in my 3rd year, she would move me to a literacy position, but by then I'd be gone.
I can definitely work the IB experience I gained in that position since it is a good playing card.
Getting married would be out.
1. I could definitely add a k-12 fine art certification. I took several classes in the university and am a self study artist. I also taught it for a semester in an after school program. I've been wanting to add this one anyway. I may also add an ELL Cert.
2. Still paying most of my debt from my undergrad, plus I'm very unsure of what I'd get a masters in. I want to wait a few more years on that one.
3. I never got trained, but I could take a training course on it if it'll help!
4. I'd really have to think what I could do in the after school program that would be completely different from others. Definitely something to consider!
5. I love those ideas for networking! I'm currently researching schools I'd be interested in now and finally signed up for this website so I can read the reviews.
6. Yes, I'm happy with my appearance.
7. I'm pretty good with writing and words. I like how those titles you wrote are presented!
migrantingbird,
That's great to hear you got into a Tier 2 school! I hope the same for me. I'll definitely add Malaysia to my list. It sounds really promising! I like the idea of Education Apps and Websites. It just so happens that I recently went to an awesome training that dealt exactly with this! So many resources and forward thinking websites that could do wonders for a classroom. I'll be adding that to my resume as well!
Psyguy,
I unfortunately only have a video of the production. It definitely didn't win any regional awards. It's strictly an in-school musical. Next year I can add video of us practicing and "getting prepared".
Those regions were the top of my list and I knew were a long shot, but I'd definitely be interested in opening it up in other regions in East and SE Asia. I'm also interested in central/south America, but I know it doesn't pay too well. Europe is ideal, I know difficult without the right documentation. I'm also not interested in living or working in the ME or Africa. I'm back and forth with China. I need to be able to save as well.
I was also wondering if it is just as difficult to get into a Christian International School in those "Little Tiger" countries or just in general? From the research I've done on this site, a lot of people tend to avoid them, because they don't share the same background or belief. I've heard of a couple of organizations such as the Network of International Christian Schools (NICS) or Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). I'm just not sure how they rank up there with the Tier 2 or 3 schools.
It would be impossible to change positions at this point. Namely, because I have already signed my contract and I'm not in the position to deal with the ramifications for breaking it. There is a reading teacher on my grade level that quit, so I could ask my principal if I could have her position. She tends to want to keep new teachers in the same position for the 1st two years. She told me in my 3rd year, she would move me to a literacy position, but by then I'd be gone.
I can definitely work the IB experience I gained in that position since it is a good playing card.
Getting married would be out.
1. I could definitely add a k-12 fine art certification. I took several classes in the university and am a self study artist. I also taught it for a semester in an after school program. I've been wanting to add this one anyway. I may also add an ELL Cert.
2. Still paying most of my debt from my undergrad, plus I'm very unsure of what I'd get a masters in. I want to wait a few more years on that one.
3. I never got trained, but I could take a training course on it if it'll help!
4. I'd really have to think what I could do in the after school program that would be completely different from others. Definitely something to consider!
5. I love those ideas for networking! I'm currently researching schools I'd be interested in now and finally signed up for this website so I can read the reviews.
6. Yes, I'm happy with my appearance.
7. I'm pretty good with writing and words. I like how those titles you wrote are presented!
migrantingbird,
That's great to hear you got into a Tier 2 school! I hope the same for me. I'll definitely add Malaysia to my list. It sounds really promising! I like the idea of Education Apps and Websites. It just so happens that I recently went to an awesome training that dealt exactly with this! So many resources and forward thinking websites that could do wonders for a classroom. I'll be adding that to my resume as well!
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
In my opinion, you should widen your net:
1) You are shooting yourself in the foot by excluding both the UAE and China when searching for your first posting. These two countries have the most international schools. This makes them comparatively easier to get your foot in the door.
2) Especially for your first posting, you will enjoy it no matter where you are simply because of the novelty. When the novelty of being abroad has worn off, you are forced to be choosier. I probably would have enjoyed Kazakhstan if it was my first posting, but I don't think I would enjoy it nearly as much now.
3) At this point, it is more important for you to build up your resume than it is to find that ticket to paradise. If I were you, my number one criteria for trying to find a school would be getting a PYP classroom. This would trump location, because it is significantly easier to move upwards than it is to get started.
Hope that helps.
1) You are shooting yourself in the foot by excluding both the UAE and China when searching for your first posting. These two countries have the most international schools. This makes them comparatively easier to get your foot in the door.
2) Especially for your first posting, you will enjoy it no matter where you are simply because of the novelty. When the novelty of being abroad has worn off, you are forced to be choosier. I probably would have enjoyed Kazakhstan if it was my first posting, but I don't think I would enjoy it nearly as much now.
3) At this point, it is more important for you to build up your resume than it is to find that ticket to paradise. If I were you, my number one criteria for trying to find a school would be getting a PYP classroom. This would trump location, because it is significantly easier to move upwards than it is to get started.
Hope that helps.
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
Thank you sitka!
I've travelled to both the UAE and China. I also have friends working in both countries and they love it. If I had to choose one out of the two, it would be China so I'll be putting it on the list!
I think that would be true for me if I hadn't already lived in South Korea and travelled extensively since then. I was completely blown away at the "idea" of living an experiencing a different culture that practically nothing bothered me. Since the novelty of being a first timer abroad has worn off, I'm definitely not in the mindset to go just anywhere. Safety is a major concern.
Resume building is important and getting into PYP will be a top priority.
Thank you for your advice.
I've travelled to both the UAE and China. I also have friends working in both countries and they love it. If I had to choose one out of the two, it would be China so I'll be putting it on the list!
I think that would be true for me if I hadn't already lived in South Korea and travelled extensively since then. I was completely blown away at the "idea" of living an experiencing a different culture that practically nothing bothered me. Since the novelty of being a first timer abroad has worn off, I'm definitely not in the mindset to go just anywhere. Safety is a major concern.
Resume building is important and getting into PYP will be a top priority.
Thank you for your advice.
Reply
@migratingbird
The ESOL experience counts for nothing. Its perceived value not actual value.
@sitka
The UAE is not the second largest region for IT vacancies.
@Cherrypop
Where I do agree with Sitka, is that you need to take your list, fold it into a nice pretty square, lovingly lay it in the dust bin, and then say some tender words of farewell, with some background music. You dont have a list. You need and should be applying for any and every vacancy you can, then when you see what interest you have then be selective.
Christian ISs arent really any more difficult than other ISs in their tier. What they lack in general IT interest they make up for in dedicated ITs who profess their faith and agree with their doctrinal statement. There arent an HOSs of Christian ISs pulling their hair out because they cant recruit. There are very very few upper tier Christian ISs, many of them are lower tier ISs.
For Christian ISs its very important to have a well thought out statement of faith and formation. Its also important to have at least one reference letter from your minister/ pastor/priest and preferably an additional letter from your Elder/Bishop. In addition ministerial duties and activities are strong bonuses to an application. Lastly, many of the parochial and christian based education systems have their own certification program. These are typically weekend long workshops, which you may wish to pursue.
If the reading position is a viable option you should strongly consider pursuing it. I can understand the difficulty of changing schools and positions. I would emphasis that continuing along the path you are your two years of experience will be unmarketable. You are not a primary teacher, you are a primary level specialist in a specialty that has little demand. Youve heard the expression about bringing a knife to a gun fight, well your bringing just the bullets to a gun fight. You have two issues: 1) Any HRT can teach math in primary, but literacy is half your day as a HRT and you have no experience in that. 2) Being an HRT is less about content mastery than it is managing the same group of children day after day in a continuous classroom environment, which is not what being a departmentalized teacher prepares you for. It would be a different scenario if there was a shortage of primary ITs or you had a6 years experience 4 as an HRT and 2 as a primary maths specialist, but there arent and the vast majority of applicants are going to have HRT experience you dont, and why would a recruiter hire you over them? If you want to move into PYP your going to have to have HRT experience first, the sooner that happens the better.
If you cant switch jobs or schools, you should consider in setting aside primary altogether. You just arent a primary teacher with the resume you have. Your marketability is stronger as:
1) English Lit Teacher: You have no experience but your degree is in English Lit and with a certification, and some classroom experience (that reading position would help) you are as marketable as any entry level IT.
2) Math certification: You have math experience and while not marketable at ELC/SLQ there are year 1-8 and other primary lower secondary ISs where a departmentalized math IT is more marketable, but you would need to demonstrate your qualifications and ability to teach up to Algebra to be marketable to those ISs and positions. Math is hard enough to recruit for that a full K-12 math certification and your primary maths experience you may a lower tier secondary maths appointment.
You generally find 4 types of specialist elective positions in primary: Fine Arts, FL, PE and ICT. The other type of primary specialists are ESOL/SEN/LS, which would increase your general marketability as well.
In IE Masters degrees are very generalized. The only real specialization is the M.Ed in Ed. Ld. for administrators. An M.Ed in C&I is typical for secondary teachers, and a MAT for primary, those arent rigid rules though. Other options include a Masters in SPED which would allow you to skip to upper tier ISs or a Masters in library science or school counseling if you wanted to specialize into those career tracks.
In your case training would help your marketability marginally, only because you have some IB exposure/experience. Online training starts at $600 and goes up to thousands when you include travel, and accommodations for F2F training.
A lot of ISs run on Google apps.
The ESOL experience counts for nothing. Its perceived value not actual value.
@sitka
The UAE is not the second largest region for IT vacancies.
@Cherrypop
Where I do agree with Sitka, is that you need to take your list, fold it into a nice pretty square, lovingly lay it in the dust bin, and then say some tender words of farewell, with some background music. You dont have a list. You need and should be applying for any and every vacancy you can, then when you see what interest you have then be selective.
Christian ISs arent really any more difficult than other ISs in their tier. What they lack in general IT interest they make up for in dedicated ITs who profess their faith and agree with their doctrinal statement. There arent an HOSs of Christian ISs pulling their hair out because they cant recruit. There are very very few upper tier Christian ISs, many of them are lower tier ISs.
For Christian ISs its very important to have a well thought out statement of faith and formation. Its also important to have at least one reference letter from your minister/ pastor/priest and preferably an additional letter from your Elder/Bishop. In addition ministerial duties and activities are strong bonuses to an application. Lastly, many of the parochial and christian based education systems have their own certification program. These are typically weekend long workshops, which you may wish to pursue.
If the reading position is a viable option you should strongly consider pursuing it. I can understand the difficulty of changing schools and positions. I would emphasis that continuing along the path you are your two years of experience will be unmarketable. You are not a primary teacher, you are a primary level specialist in a specialty that has little demand. Youve heard the expression about bringing a knife to a gun fight, well your bringing just the bullets to a gun fight. You have two issues: 1) Any HRT can teach math in primary, but literacy is half your day as a HRT and you have no experience in that. 2) Being an HRT is less about content mastery than it is managing the same group of children day after day in a continuous classroom environment, which is not what being a departmentalized teacher prepares you for. It would be a different scenario if there was a shortage of primary ITs or you had a6 years experience 4 as an HRT and 2 as a primary maths specialist, but there arent and the vast majority of applicants are going to have HRT experience you dont, and why would a recruiter hire you over them? If you want to move into PYP your going to have to have HRT experience first, the sooner that happens the better.
If you cant switch jobs or schools, you should consider in setting aside primary altogether. You just arent a primary teacher with the resume you have. Your marketability is stronger as:
1) English Lit Teacher: You have no experience but your degree is in English Lit and with a certification, and some classroom experience (that reading position would help) you are as marketable as any entry level IT.
2) Math certification: You have math experience and while not marketable at ELC/SLQ there are year 1-8 and other primary lower secondary ISs where a departmentalized math IT is more marketable, but you would need to demonstrate your qualifications and ability to teach up to Algebra to be marketable to those ISs and positions. Math is hard enough to recruit for that a full K-12 math certification and your primary maths experience you may a lower tier secondary maths appointment.
You generally find 4 types of specialist elective positions in primary: Fine Arts, FL, PE and ICT. The other type of primary specialists are ESOL/SEN/LS, which would increase your general marketability as well.
In IE Masters degrees are very generalized. The only real specialization is the M.Ed in Ed. Ld. for administrators. An M.Ed in C&I is typical for secondary teachers, and a MAT for primary, those arent rigid rules though. Other options include a Masters in SPED which would allow you to skip to upper tier ISs or a Masters in library science or school counseling if you wanted to specialize into those career tracks.
In your case training would help your marketability marginally, only because you have some IB exposure/experience. Online training starts at $600 and goes up to thousands when you include travel, and accommodations for F2F training.
A lot of ISs run on Google apps.
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tommypizza
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:35 am
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
sign up for the Iowa fair. Great for 1st timers...and take psyguy's words with a grain of salt. Some of it seems like good advice but don't trust his negative blabber. He will always tell you something is not possible...glass half empty kind of guy.
Just make sure all of your ducks are in a row and go for it. As long as you are organized and present yourself well, you will get a job. Unfortunately, your experience is limited and you will have to take what you can get...but I've seen beginning teachers get their 1st job in some good international schools. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Just make sure all of your ducks are in a row and go for it. As long as you are organized and present yourself well, you will get a job. Unfortunately, your experience is limited and you will have to take what you can get...but I've seen beginning teachers get their 1st job in some good international schools. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
Agree with TommyPizza. Iowa's UNI fair is great, whether you are new or not. There are a number of excellent schools there, and they seem more interested in hiring than simply collecting resumes. It's smaller and more collegiate; sharing a shuttle with a bunch of admin from the airport, they were giving me all sorts of good advice. I met a number of experienced international teachers there, who actually prefer the UNI fair over the cattle-call Search ones.
I would say, instead of listing the countries/cities you think you want, list the ones you definitely would not go to, and then any other deal breakers (for me: Mongolia, sharing an apartment, living in a dorm with students). If you're paying off debt, you need to consider cost of living vs. your pay as well.
Do not settle for a city or school you don't really want to teach at. And never mind the silly "tiers" some people insist on labeling schools with.
I would say, instead of listing the countries/cities you think you want, list the ones you definitely would not go to, and then any other deal breakers (for me: Mongolia, sharing an apartment, living in a dorm with students). If you're paying off debt, you need to consider cost of living vs. your pay as well.
Do not settle for a city or school you don't really want to teach at. And never mind the silly "tiers" some people insist on labeling schools with.
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
psyguy,
The whole point on coming back to the USA to teach for two years was to better my chances. From the sound of that, I should have just went abroad as soon as I got my certification since apparently it's not counting for anything.
My classroom management skills are rather good actually. I'm quite capable of managing the same class all day long.
A few of those certifications you mentioned I wouldn't be interested in. My title actually is primary teacher and that's what is on the resume, not specialist.
I also teach Social Studies. Many times this previous year, the reading teacher and I integrated the social studies and language lessons. When they learned about Native American tribes or famous inventors through history, they had reading lessons on the same topic. I could spin my social studies block to include a lot more reading (use of inferencing skills, drawing conclusions, predictions...) and writing (writing process). I'll save my lessons, student work samples, and keep it in a portfolio. Hopefully, when asked about my lack of reading teaching experience, I can dive into how students received "reading/writing" instruction from me nearly everyday during social studies and spin it that way. Maybe that'll work?
As I said before, I'll try to gain the reading position, if not I'll try the above. Along with my complete confidence in the ability to teach it. It is what it is.
I really appreciate your advice.
Thank you tommypizza and heyteach!
I hadn't heard of the Iowa fair before. That sounds like a good option. I'm definitely trying to have my ducks in a row and prepare for the fall to do it right! Summer vacation started this week and I'm already planning for next year to make sure I make the best out of my last year. I like the idea of making a list of places I definitely wouldn't go to or things I couldn't live with.
I definitely won't accept just anything! Thanks again for the advice!
The whole point on coming back to the USA to teach for two years was to better my chances. From the sound of that, I should have just went abroad as soon as I got my certification since apparently it's not counting for anything.
My classroom management skills are rather good actually. I'm quite capable of managing the same class all day long.
A few of those certifications you mentioned I wouldn't be interested in. My title actually is primary teacher and that's what is on the resume, not specialist.
I also teach Social Studies. Many times this previous year, the reading teacher and I integrated the social studies and language lessons. When they learned about Native American tribes or famous inventors through history, they had reading lessons on the same topic. I could spin my social studies block to include a lot more reading (use of inferencing skills, drawing conclusions, predictions...) and writing (writing process). I'll save my lessons, student work samples, and keep it in a portfolio. Hopefully, when asked about my lack of reading teaching experience, I can dive into how students received "reading/writing" instruction from me nearly everyday during social studies and spin it that way. Maybe that'll work?
As I said before, I'll try to gain the reading position, if not I'll try the above. Along with my complete confidence in the ability to teach it. It is what it is.
I really appreciate your advice.
Thank you tommypizza and heyteach!
I hadn't heard of the Iowa fair before. That sounds like a good option. I'm definitely trying to have my ducks in a row and prepare for the fall to do it right! Summer vacation started this week and I'm already planning for next year to make sure I make the best out of my last year. I like the idea of making a list of places I definitely wouldn't go to or things I couldn't live with.
I definitely won't accept just anything! Thanks again for the advice!
Re: Reply
@sitka
The UAE is not the second largest region for IT vacancies.
@Psyguy
From the International Consultant for Education and Fairs
"Nearly 30% of all international schools today are bilingual with English as the primary language of learning usually combined with the local language. This represents an increasingly popular overarching international school ethos that blends local culture and language with an English-medium global learning approach.
Recent market growth has, in the large part, been focused in Asia; 21 countries now have over 100 international schools, 11 of which are in Asia (ISC includes the Middle East in Western Asia). The lead country continues to be the United Arab Emirates with 428 international schools followed closely by China which now has 417 schools. Pakistan and India both have over 350 schools and Japan has more than 200. Other countries with over 100 international schools are Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, and Nigeria."
UAE and China seem to be the obvious number 1 and number 2 in terms of quantity (although obviously not quality) of schools.
The UAE is not the second largest region for IT vacancies.
@Psyguy
From the International Consultant for Education and Fairs
"Nearly 30% of all international schools today are bilingual with English as the primary language of learning usually combined with the local language. This represents an increasingly popular overarching international school ethos that blends local culture and language with an English-medium global learning approach.
Recent market growth has, in the large part, been focused in Asia; 21 countries now have over 100 international schools, 11 of which are in Asia (ISC includes the Middle East in Western Asia). The lead country continues to be the United Arab Emirates with 428 international schools followed closely by China which now has 417 schools. Pakistan and India both have over 350 schools and Japan has more than 200. Other countries with over 100 international schools are Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, and Nigeria."
UAE and China seem to be the obvious number 1 and number 2 in terms of quantity (although obviously not quality) of schools.
Reply
@Cherrypop
Everyone says that, recruiters dont put much weight in claims they want to see evidence. They want to see evidence you can manage an HR.
This is good though, drop the "math specialist" from your resume and you spin your current experience not as a maths specialist but as a HRT just like everyone else. You can easily talk about maths, you can use your play to highlight your literacy, and your collaborative teaching for social studies. Then you can borrow your science teachers experience and you would present as a very marketable entry level HRT with some IB exposure. Study up on literacy approaches and the mastery component of any interview should go well. Just drop math specialist from the vocabulary and replace it with HRT
Plan into your next year of instruction how to capture video for a digital portfolio, especially if you can borrow another subject classroom, or do so as an ASP.
I cant endorse the Iowa fair. Its expensive for a single fair and its small. The majority of the ISs are lower tier and you can readily interview with them at a better fair, or through a virtual interview. Yes there is a sprinkling of upper tier ISs but if thats your target you will find more of them at a more competitive fair. The rule is always go to the best fair you can get an invite too. The UNI fair is really the fair for last minute ITs who cant get an invite to BKK, LON, or BOS. The only benefit the UNI fair has is that if you break contract in your selection process there really are no consequences.
Really consider setting aside the lists, you can make lists of advantages and disadvantages when you have offers and a better understanding of your interests. Too often new ITs dont broaden their vacancy search until it is too late or they have missed opportunities.
@sitka
You source is bile. Its nothing more than advertising and marketing dressed up to look like research or journalism.
First, no one knows how many ISs there are, as a profession we cant even agree on the definition of an IS. At best your source counted how many ISs were represented at a fair. This means nothing.
Second, there are more than to 417 ISs in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou alone, and thats not counting HK. There are 90 IB ISs in China and another 55 in HK, for 145 IB ISs alone, the UAE in comparison has 36. There are more IB ISs in HK (an island) then there are in the UAE. Thats just IB programs, and doesnt even touch the American, British and Euro ISs, or the hybrid local curriculum ISs.
Third, There are more than 200 ISs in the Tokyo Metropolis. MEXT recently just authorized 200 new independent IB programs and I can find 400 ISs in LOS and probably BKK.
Fourth, ICEF (your source) is a recruiting agency for ME language and bilingual schools. They are a trade group with their own marketing agenda. There is nothing credible about their publications that is any different then any of the recruiting agencies youd find on Daves, etc.
Fifth, we have differing definitions of "obvious".
Everyone says that, recruiters dont put much weight in claims they want to see evidence. They want to see evidence you can manage an HR.
This is good though, drop the "math specialist" from your resume and you spin your current experience not as a maths specialist but as a HRT just like everyone else. You can easily talk about maths, you can use your play to highlight your literacy, and your collaborative teaching for social studies. Then you can borrow your science teachers experience and you would present as a very marketable entry level HRT with some IB exposure. Study up on literacy approaches and the mastery component of any interview should go well. Just drop math specialist from the vocabulary and replace it with HRT
Plan into your next year of instruction how to capture video for a digital portfolio, especially if you can borrow another subject classroom, or do so as an ASP.
I cant endorse the Iowa fair. Its expensive for a single fair and its small. The majority of the ISs are lower tier and you can readily interview with them at a better fair, or through a virtual interview. Yes there is a sprinkling of upper tier ISs but if thats your target you will find more of them at a more competitive fair. The rule is always go to the best fair you can get an invite too. The UNI fair is really the fair for last minute ITs who cant get an invite to BKK, LON, or BOS. The only benefit the UNI fair has is that if you break contract in your selection process there really are no consequences.
Really consider setting aside the lists, you can make lists of advantages and disadvantages when you have offers and a better understanding of your interests. Too often new ITs dont broaden their vacancy search until it is too late or they have missed opportunities.
@sitka
You source is bile. Its nothing more than advertising and marketing dressed up to look like research or journalism.
First, no one knows how many ISs there are, as a profession we cant even agree on the definition of an IS. At best your source counted how many ISs were represented at a fair. This means nothing.
Second, there are more than to 417 ISs in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou alone, and thats not counting HK. There are 90 IB ISs in China and another 55 in HK, for 145 IB ISs alone, the UAE in comparison has 36. There are more IB ISs in HK (an island) then there are in the UAE. Thats just IB programs, and doesnt even touch the American, British and Euro ISs, or the hybrid local curriculum ISs.
Third, There are more than 200 ISs in the Tokyo Metropolis. MEXT recently just authorized 200 new independent IB programs and I can find 400 ISs in LOS and probably BKK.
Fourth, ICEF (your source) is a recruiting agency for ME language and bilingual schools. They are a trade group with their own marketing agenda. There is nothing credible about their publications that is any different then any of the recruiting agencies youd find on Daves, etc.
Fifth, we have differing definitions of "obvious".
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
PsyGuy,
What do you mean borrow the science teacher's experience?
Also, do you mean capture video of me teaching various lessons throughout the year? How many videos would I need for a good portfolio? One of each subject?
I forgot to mention that I also teach Science "Reinforcement". The children have a separate science teacher that they go to twice a week to do their hands on experiments. Once a week or so, I review power points or chapters with the students in their textbooks and have them complete assignments.
All of the Pre-K - 2nd grade teachers are required to complete a Science Fair project with their class. It must include pictures of the experiment, hypotheses, predictions, conclusions, resources....I could take a video of my class completing this science project as well.
What do you mean borrow the science teacher's experience?
Also, do you mean capture video of me teaching various lessons throughout the year? How many videos would I need for a good portfolio? One of each subject?
I forgot to mention that I also teach Science "Reinforcement". The children have a separate science teacher that they go to twice a week to do their hands on experiments. Once a week or so, I review power points or chapters with the students in their textbooks and have them complete assignments.
All of the Pre-K - 2nd grade teachers are required to complete a Science Fair project with their class. It must include pictures of the experiment, hypotheses, predictions, conclusions, resources....I could take a video of my class completing this science project as well.
Re: Reply
PsyGuy wrote:
> @sitka
>
> You source is bile. Its nothing more than advertising and marketing dressed
> up to look like research or journalism.
>
> First, no one knows how many ISs there are, as a profession we cant even
> agree on the definition of an IS. At best your source counted how many ISs
> were represented at a fair. This means nothing.
>
> Second, there are more than to 417 ISs in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
> alone, and thats not counting HK. There are 90 IB ISs in China and another
> 55 in HK, for 145 IB ISs alone, the UAE in comparison has 36. There are
> more IB ISs in HK (an island) then there are in the UAE. Thats just IB
> programs, and doesnt even touch the American, British and Euro ISs, or the
> hybrid local curriculum ISs.
>
> Third, There are more than 200 ISs in the Tokyo Metropolis. MEXT recently
> just authorized 200 new independent IB programs and I can find 400 ISs in
> LOS and probably BKK.
>
> Fourth, ICEF (your source) is a recruiting agency for ME language and
> bilingual schools. They are a trade group with their own marketing agenda.
> There is nothing credible about their publications that is any different
> then any of the recruiting agencies youd find on Daves, etc.
>
> Fifth, we have differing definitions of "obvious".
Ok. From the TIE Newspaper:
“There are now 22 countries in the world with over 100 English-medium international schools… The UAE leads the world with 507 international schools teaching over 455,000 students; 245 schools in the UAE are located in Dubai alone… China has 480 international schools.”
And while I can bet you won't accept this source either, I've taught in both countries and it doesn't seem far-fetched to me.
If your argument is that China has more schools running a foreign curriculum - IB, IGCSE, CC, or Canadian - then I will concede the point. The IBO shows 67 private, English-language schools in China and only 35 in the UAE. If you look at ICGSE-curriculum schools, there are 120 in China and only 66 in the UAE. There are also 159 IB schools in the USA - but nobody is arguing that the United States has more international schools than China because the vast majority of the students at these American schools are American. The vast majority of IB schools in China cater almost exclusively to Chinese students, making them (in my opinion), not international schools.
Since you've made IB the measuring stick of international schools, let's look at little closer at the May 2014 Statistical Bulletin. 2,912 students wrote the DP exams in China, while only 1,066 did in the UAE. More students are writing the IB exams in China. But most of those students are Chinese - 2,677 Chinese nationals wrote the IB-exams. Only 65 Emiratis did. Meaning that over 90 percent of students writing the diploma exams were international students in the UAE - in China, I would estimate that only a third were (and that is being generous).
And while China seems so much bigger, in terms of expat demographics it isn't. China has roughly 1,000,000 expats. Of that million, 40% are from Taiwan/Macau/Hongkong. The UAE has about 8 million, with about 500,000 being "western" and probably another 500,000 being high-wage earners from other countries. Meaning there is a roughly equivalent population of expats for international schools to draw from. For reference's sake, the 2011 census shows approximately 55,000 "white" residents in Hong Kong.
TLDR; China has more schools running foreign-curricula consisting of national students; they probably have a roughly equivalent number of schools catering towards international students.
> @sitka
>
> You source is bile. Its nothing more than advertising and marketing dressed
> up to look like research or journalism.
>
> First, no one knows how many ISs there are, as a profession we cant even
> agree on the definition of an IS. At best your source counted how many ISs
> were represented at a fair. This means nothing.
>
> Second, there are more than to 417 ISs in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
> alone, and thats not counting HK. There are 90 IB ISs in China and another
> 55 in HK, for 145 IB ISs alone, the UAE in comparison has 36. There are
> more IB ISs in HK (an island) then there are in the UAE. Thats just IB
> programs, and doesnt even touch the American, British and Euro ISs, or the
> hybrid local curriculum ISs.
>
> Third, There are more than 200 ISs in the Tokyo Metropolis. MEXT recently
> just authorized 200 new independent IB programs and I can find 400 ISs in
> LOS and probably BKK.
>
> Fourth, ICEF (your source) is a recruiting agency for ME language and
> bilingual schools. They are a trade group with their own marketing agenda.
> There is nothing credible about their publications that is any different
> then any of the recruiting agencies youd find on Daves, etc.
>
> Fifth, we have differing definitions of "obvious".
Ok. From the TIE Newspaper:
“There are now 22 countries in the world with over 100 English-medium international schools… The UAE leads the world with 507 international schools teaching over 455,000 students; 245 schools in the UAE are located in Dubai alone… China has 480 international schools.”
And while I can bet you won't accept this source either, I've taught in both countries and it doesn't seem far-fetched to me.
If your argument is that China has more schools running a foreign curriculum - IB, IGCSE, CC, or Canadian - then I will concede the point. The IBO shows 67 private, English-language schools in China and only 35 in the UAE. If you look at ICGSE-curriculum schools, there are 120 in China and only 66 in the UAE. There are also 159 IB schools in the USA - but nobody is arguing that the United States has more international schools than China because the vast majority of the students at these American schools are American. The vast majority of IB schools in China cater almost exclusively to Chinese students, making them (in my opinion), not international schools.
Since you've made IB the measuring stick of international schools, let's look at little closer at the May 2014 Statistical Bulletin. 2,912 students wrote the DP exams in China, while only 1,066 did in the UAE. More students are writing the IB exams in China. But most of those students are Chinese - 2,677 Chinese nationals wrote the IB-exams. Only 65 Emiratis did. Meaning that over 90 percent of students writing the diploma exams were international students in the UAE - in China, I would estimate that only a third were (and that is being generous).
And while China seems so much bigger, in terms of expat demographics it isn't. China has roughly 1,000,000 expats. Of that million, 40% are from Taiwan/Macau/Hongkong. The UAE has about 8 million, with about 500,000 being "western" and probably another 500,000 being high-wage earners from other countries. Meaning there is a roughly equivalent population of expats for international schools to draw from. For reference's sake, the 2011 census shows approximately 55,000 "white" residents in Hong Kong.
TLDR; China has more schools running foreign-curricula consisting of national students; they probably have a roughly equivalent number of schools catering towards international students.
Re: Next Steps...final year in USA.
@cherrypop
For recording lessons I would suggest large and small group opportunities. In this case a whole group math lesson that also shows student participation and their transition to independent work. If you can capture small group/intervention as well that's great! Of course you'll need parent/school permission to film kids. On another note it's fantastic to watch yourself. If you can have colleagues watch it with you. Pick your best segments and post.
If you're close to Iowa I'd suggest attending it. I chose not to as the airfare and timing (winter storms) were too much of a risk
Coming from the west coast with limited time off. I attended the ISS fair in SF, but had offers leading up to it. Because SF was at the end of the fair season I knew options would be limited. I had my portfolio done by Aug, references and letters of rec uploaded by mid September (the more you can gather the better) and my portfolio was live by the end of Sept. I started applying right away and had interviews lined up in Dec. My goal was a contract before the fair and I did just that.
You did not make a mistake coming home for the two years, but you may find some IS schools skipping over you for this recruiting cycle. Set up your resume, teaching philosophy and cover letters to meet the needs of the schools you want to work for. Research them and be sure to hit specifics. I landed an interview with a top school (never even thought I'd get a response) because of my cover letter (confirmed by the director). I didn't get an offer (my main experience didn't match her opening), but I got an hour long interview to connect and who knows maybe next time I'm looking I'll be a fit.
If you have opportunities this next year to pick up experience mentioned above comments then go for it.
For recording lessons I would suggest large and small group opportunities. In this case a whole group math lesson that also shows student participation and their transition to independent work. If you can capture small group/intervention as well that's great! Of course you'll need parent/school permission to film kids. On another note it's fantastic to watch yourself. If you can have colleagues watch it with you. Pick your best segments and post.
If you're close to Iowa I'd suggest attending it. I chose not to as the airfare and timing (winter storms) were too much of a risk
Coming from the west coast with limited time off. I attended the ISS fair in SF, but had offers leading up to it. Because SF was at the end of the fair season I knew options would be limited. I had my portfolio done by Aug, references and letters of rec uploaded by mid September (the more you can gather the better) and my portfolio was live by the end of Sept. I started applying right away and had interviews lined up in Dec. My goal was a contract before the fair and I did just that.
You did not make a mistake coming home for the two years, but you may find some IS schools skipping over you for this recruiting cycle. Set up your resume, teaching philosophy and cover letters to meet the needs of the schools you want to work for. Research them and be sure to hit specifics. I landed an interview with a top school (never even thought I'd get a response) because of my cover letter (confirmed by the director). I didn't get an offer (my main experience didn't match her opening), but I got an hour long interview to connect and who knows maybe next time I'm looking I'll be a fit.
If you have opportunities this next year to pick up experience mentioned above comments then go for it.