Search found 27 matches

by Nexttrip
Sat Mar 13, 2021 11:48 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Applying to Dubai
Replies: 7
Views: 7995

Re: Applying to Dubai

chuck wrote:
> I think there is a huge difference in GEMS schools. I worked at one 10
> years ago in Dubai. I still have friends working in Dubai.
> GEMS is known for bean-counting as a for profit institution. That bothers a
> lot of teachers. I dealt with it well, as I like to teach my classes,
> coach, and go and enjoy where I am living without investing into the admin
> drama. If you strongly believe that decisions in education should be made
> with regards to money considerations, then don't work at GEMS. You will be
> frustrated. Also some of the GEMS schools were making people work a lot of
> hours, like GWA. At DAA, people typically left just after the kids
> did...big difference.

Chuck- The DAA you knew 10 years ago doesn't exist and is a currently completely the opposite of what you describe.
by Nexttrip
Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Getting a teaching license - my personal experience
Replies: 9
Views: 9802

Re: Getting a teaching license - my personal experience

chemteacher101 wrote:
> Every now and then people seem to ask the same questions (myself included).
> I would like to share my personal experience with several of the processes
> that have been suggested here before while trying to get a teaching
> license. I learned a lot in the process, so I will share as much as
> possible so that this might be helpful for others in the future. If I make
> any glaring mistakes, please do correct me. This is all based on my
> personal experience from about 2 years ago. I don't think things have
> changed much, and I have kept up with how this works simply because I find
> it fascinating.

Thank you so much, Chemteacher, for breaking this down! Thats going to help a lot of people. Particularly interesting to hear that all NACES approved evaluators aren't the same. I asked my friend and she had credentials evaluated through International Education Evaluations, Inc. and they (luckily) specifically noted that "The program qualified the graduate to teach the subjects of Spanish, English, and French in (her native country)." So IEE is another one to consider.

She's going to apply for the providential teacher certificate in Hawaii as she hasn't worked full time for 3 of the last 5 years as a teacher yet (which is a requirement for the standard Hawaii teaching certificate). Thanks again!
by Nexttrip
Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:56 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Parking a HI license for a non American
Replies: 5
Views: 6046

Re: Parking a HI license for a non American

chemteacher101 wrote:
>
>
> 3. I actually did not do Teach Now. I did not train as a teacher in the US,
> nor in EU. I did a NACES evaluation of my home degree which came out to
> meet the requirements for HI license as it states that it allows me to
> teach in my home country. That's how I got the HI license.

Hi Chemteacher101,

I'd be interested in hearing about the process you went through to get your Hawaii license, given you were trained outside the U.S. I have a friend who would like to do it, also.
by Nexttrip
Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:46 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Making decisions on schools based on Covid?
Replies: 9
Views: 11701

Re: Making decisions on schools based on Covid?

Heliotrope wrote:
>
>But if a specific school did handle Covid horribly, where they unnecessarily
> endangered teachers' lives like a certain International School in Manilla did, it
> would influence my decision and I would pass on that school, even though it used to
> be on my shortlist.

Yes, total shame about that certain school in Manila and how they are handling COVID. They're off my short list as well since any school that handles teachers as they have is not a tier 1 in my book. Just pure arrogance and irresponsibility.
by Nexttrip
Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Your top 3/5/10 of favorite cities/countries to live
Replies: 15
Views: 15234

Re: Your top 3/5/10 of favorite cities/countries to live

Medellin, Colombia
Barcelona, Spain
Lisbon, Portugal
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Athens, Greece
Prague, Czech Republic
by Nexttrip
Sat Jun 06, 2020 3:09 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: My post is gone?
Replies: 8
Views: 9533

Re: My post is gone?

[quote=jmods post_id=59132 time=1591417627 user_id=119106]
Thanks for the replies!

Yes, it was annoying that someone hijacked it to talk about agreeing to go on several contracts - definitely not me!

I checked my email and there was a message from admins saying it had been taken down because of a troll, shame as there were some good replies.

Thanks
[/quote]

Yeah, definitely a case of "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."
by Nexttrip
Fri Jun 05, 2020 1:28 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: My post is gone?
Replies: 8
Views: 9533

Re: My post is gone?

Heliotrope wrote:
> I noticed at least one more topic has been deleted.
> Maybe @admin disapproved of some of the things said in these two topics?

If that's true, wouldn't good forum etiquette dictate that that the moderators should provide a brief explanation of why a thread was deleted? I have a feeling, though, at most, we'll get the ominous and vague "thread breached forum rules" message.
by Nexttrip
Sat May 16, 2020 1:11 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Seems like schools hold all the cards at this point...
Replies: 8
Views: 11415

Re: Seems like schools hold all the cards at this point...

Wow, tough crowd. Seems like you have it all worked out. Sorry for the strange and pointless thread. Carry on then...
by Nexttrip
Sat May 16, 2020 5:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Seems like schools hold all the cards at this point...
Replies: 8
Views: 11415

Seems like schools hold all the cards at this point...

Just trying to imagine what all the newly-hired teachers beginning work at new schools in July/August 2020 are going through at the moment. We've already confirmed that schools are reneging on contracts months after hiring teachers this recruiting season with no compensation or severance offered. At least those teachers were not informed at the last possible moment so they have a chance of finding another job. However, there are newly-hired teachers who haven't been officially "laid off" yet and many have NOT been given assurances by their new schools that there will be jobs for them. Those that have received assurances/guarantees are ok. But the ones that haven't have to be really struggling now. For these teachers, their new schools still expect them to report IF they are needed at the school (meaning enrollment doesn't dip too much) and the borders are open. And at the same time, they very well could be laid off at the last moment.

So for the teachers who are- 1. "hired" at a new school to start in July/August, 2. haven't been laid off (yet), but 3. at the same time haven't been guaranteed that the school will honor the contract signed, what are they to do?

We've heard "have a backup plan" often enough, however, other than "Oh, if I do get laid off, I would immediately start looking for another international job through Search, TIE, etc." or "If I get sacked, I will go back to my home country to teach." But shouldn't these teachers be looking RIGHT NOW for another (secure) job, again assuming this new school won't guarantee their jobs? Why do schools get to have the kind of power that says "You signed a contract with us and as of now, and you need to be available to start with us, just in case we need you. But we won't guarantee that will be the case or offer any kind of severance in July/August if we lay you off due to enrollment issues, border closings, etc." Isn't it only fair that these teachers should be able to OPENLY apply and interview for other jobs, instead of having to wait to be laid off (which it looks like will happen to many)? And if they do find a suitable replacement position, shouldn't they be able to resign from the first school, without any malice, stain on their reputation, or problems from recruitment agencies like Search or ISS?

I think we can all empathize with these teachers since they are really stuck in limbo and some (not all) schools have shown that they are cut-throat and only think about what's best for their school.
by Nexttrip
Sat May 16, 2020 5:20 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Admin role
Replies: 35
Views: 44092

Re: Admin role

“Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.”

― Ricky Gervais
by Nexttrip
Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Taxes/Stimulus Checks/David Wisdom
Replies: 3
Views: 5799

Re: Taxes/Stimulus Checks/David Wisdom

Psychometrika wrote:
> I filed 2019 two weeks ago and used my mail forwarding address in the US.
> The site previously said there was an error but now says it will mail my
> check on May 1st. It did not give me an option to add my bank information
> sadly, so I hope I will be able to remotely deposit the check with my US
> banking app.

My situation is exactly like psychometrika. My check is due to be mailed out to my U.S. address on May 1st. Filed 3 weeks ago... I live abroad but use a relative's address as my U.S. address.
by Nexttrip
Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:40 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: UAE implements online learning for the rest of the year
Replies: 1
Views: 4386

UAE implements online learning for the rest of the year

https://gulfnews.com/uae/coronavirus-al ... 5574203861

There's a lot of speculation that the for-profit schools here will start trimming payroll by cutting salaries, benefits, and/or laying off staff and teachers now that it is official. A lot of parents are complaining that they deserve discounts and even full refunds because schools have moved to online classes and many are refusing to pay the last trimester tuition and fees. Might get even more ugly...
by Nexttrip
Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:21 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Using Housing Allowance to Purchase Property
Replies: 9
Views: 18721

Re: Using Housing Allowance to Purchase Property

I know a guy who moved around international schools in various countries and would purchase apts. in each location. After living in each for a few years, he would move on and rent out each place (sometimes to other teachers). He would always find out upfront in the interview process if this was allowed. He done well for himself as a result.
by Nexttrip
Fri Jan 10, 2020 2:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Feeling very stressed in my new city - Advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 51237

Re: Feeling very stressed in my new city - Advice?

Heliotrope wrote:

> My principal eats dinner in their office 4 days a week, sees their kids only just
> before they go to sleep on those days, and works most of their weekend as well.
> Also working during holiday breaks while we teachers are scuba diving. That's not
> watching cat videos, that's working hard. They do get paid handsomely for it, but
> let's not discount the hours of hard work they put in.

This has been my experience as well with the majority of the admin with whom I have worked (although I've worked in a lot of Tier 1 schools). My admins, in general, have been super workaholics and were/are often the first in, last to leave, rarely eat lunch type of workers. Most of the time, I wish they would get more of a work/life balance to take a bit of the pressure off the rest of us who, although we are good at what we do, aspire to have a work/life balance.
by Nexttrip
Tue Dec 31, 2019 4:13 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Long term disability: It's very important.
Replies: 6
Views: 11109

Re: Long term disability: It's very important.

Can't help you with an example of someone actually receiving long-term disability benefits, however, I know of one Tier 1 Asian school that provides this benefit for all teachers from an international insurance company. It's written like this in their benefits information:

"Long Term Disability Insurance 67% of salary paid until recovery, death or attainment of retirement age, 90 days waiting time."

I agree with you that this benefit is incredibly important and another reason why a solid benefits package is crucial.