https://community.tes.com/

The TES is British but there's a lot of subject discussion there.

> All of the schools in Malaysia have reduced salaries and allowances.

The Malaysian Ringgit currently has the worst exchange rate it's had for many years and it's still falling. The schools still pay the same salary, they are just worth significantly fewer dollars now.

Is there any more up to date information about the school? The most recent review is a bit old now and states that the school is on the verge of collapse unless things change.

I have a line for dependents (SO and daughter) in with my age, nationality etc on my cv and I also make reference to them both in my cover letter. The age of children is relevant because the school needs to know which year, if any, they would be going in to in the school and this may affect their decision.

I would recommend doing some research before you apply:

1. what are the import laws for dogs to the country? Depending on where you are coming from, some places will let you straight in, others will have a varying period of quarantine (some are very long and expensive), some won't let you in at all.
2. does the school provide housing? If so, drop them an email to ask if dogs/pets are allowed. If not, how easy will it be to find the right sort of accommodation, which you can afford, in the right area, where you can have a pet?
3. Are there places to walk your dog? Access to vets? A google search for "dog walk ***" is normally enough to get an idea of how easy it will be.

18 lbs is fairly small, I've got an 85 lb dog and it's not been a problem so far although our choice of destination has been limited by where she will be happy too.

Whether your dog has to fly in the hold or can go in the cabin with you is dependent on size rather than weight. There are lots of companies which will do all the paperwork for you. It's more expensive than doing it yourself but also a lot more simple.

I'm slightly jealous. No jobs have come up in my subject in a country I want to work in yet.

I thought it sounded low too, the figures on Search are probably much rougher ballparks than you would hope.

You know more about the pay-scales than I do then Auniesocial, I'm going by their Search profiles and own websites. According to them, someone with 4 years experience could expect:

ISKL $60,000
IGB $54,000
Nexus $52,000
Mont Kiara $37,000

I'm also looking to move on at the end of this year and have been keeping an eye on the listings. I've not seen anything for my subject in a country I'm interested in but I'm also signed up for the BKK jobs fair and hoping to be able to cancel because I already have something. I've been surprised by how early the resignation date for some schools is but the few jobs I have looked at so far have all been in expanding schools. It does make me slightly suspicious when schools are advertising this early though!

Malaysia

Best schools, by which I mean most well established and best packages are probably ISKL followed by Garden International.

There are a bunch of other good schools but that generally don't pay quite as well: Nexus, Alice Smith, AISM, Mont Kiara.

IGB has only just opened, looks to pay well but I have no idea what it's like.

A lot of the other schools are technically international but are have a largely local staff and student body and I would avoid myself.

One day, I'll ask about a particular school and get nothing but positive information back and life will be simple!
Thank you though everyone; I appreciate all the insight.

Thanks Cheery, that's really helpful. Lots of the information is tourist rather than resident so my concern was that it was a good place to visit, less so to stay. I'm in a city in Asia at the moment and I miss the great outdoors, that's what appeals to me about Jeju most at the moment but of course, the grass is always greener...
I'm not scared of a bit of hard work and I've done new schools before so I know what to expect on that score. I've got one child who is at nursery with pretty much all Chinese kids (even though we're not in China, just live in a Chinese neighbourhood) and I can't say it's been a problem for her. I've emailed the school about the dog because they provide accommodation but depending on what they have to say I'm pretty keen to apply.

I'm thinking about applying for a post here. If anyone has any info about the school or thoughts about living on the island that would be really helpful. I've got a large dog which I need to accommodate so any thoughts on that would also be helpful: if she'd be welcome or at least tolerated, easy to find places to walk her etc. (Unless it's something about Koreans eating dog, I'm alright for thoughts about that).

Thanks everyone who's provided something useful. I'm checking each response so any other ideas would be great.

I'd be interested to hear how you both get on in Vietnam.