Search found 87 matches

by Flyingpigs
Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Statement of Educational Philosophy and Covering Letter
Replies: 2
Views: 5490

Re: Statement of Educational Philosophy and Covering Letter

Yikes--thats a long cover letter. Cover letter is brief, to the point and concise. Three paragraphs--4 maximum.
Very few admin are going to read the back. Honest.
Cover letters:
This is your chance to be specific--do NOT use a form cover letter--tailor it to the school/country you are applying to.
Highlight your career, highlight what makes you unique.
The educational philosophy is like a personal statement --remember Jerry Mcquire?? like that.
Its your belief about how you would run your school if you were king of the world.

Summary:
Ed. P: What is your BELIEF about how kids should be taught.
Cover letter: The cover letter is FACTS about you
by Flyingpigs
Sat Dec 13, 2014 6:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: India
Replies: 6
Views: 8733

Re: Chennai, India

Hiya
It's great that you want to do your research, Yo Teach, before you make a commitment. Good for you. I would highly recommend going to India before applying to a school there, or accepting a position. I think thats a good idea for anyone contemplating signing on the dotted line, but India is more intense then say Italy...hahahahahaha. :)
India can be absolutely amazing and it can be absolutely disgusting all in a matter of a heartbeat.
I love and hate it at the same time.
However, working in an international school is different then backpacking around--you will be supported and presumably have school supports. In addition, you can hide in the dorm and never venture out, or you can embrace the experience...The choice will be yours.
L
by Flyingpigs
Mon May 19, 2014 7:22 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Kuwait
Replies: 4
Views: 6342

Re: Kuwait

Check out 'internations.org' no matter where you are, its a forum for ex-pats with things to do, meet-ups etc.
Seems that most people either love Kuwait, or hate it.
by Flyingpigs
Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:35 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: breaking contract
Replies: 7
Views: 10006

Re: breaking contract

If your health is suffering--can you get Doctors letter, and show to principal/director then leave properly?
If they are causing you so much grief, then in all likelihood your situation is causing them grief too--and they might just be more than willing to let you go amicably.
If they say 'No' then consider the runner after the school year is done, ( 1.5 months) perhaps?
Also--consider--are you the type of person who will feel guilty and be looking over your shoulder for years, worrying that any stranger coming to your door will be the authorities? In short, will "a runner) haunt you for years?
by Flyingpigs
Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:15 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Morocco - Anyone there now with positive advice
Replies: 3
Views: 5449

Re: Morocco - Anyone there now with positive advice

I have never worked in Morrocco, but I have travelled there extensively. I loved it. The people, the scenery, the exotic feel, the energy, the solitude....I loved it all.
Now, that being said--if you are an unsuspecting, unsavvy traveller--they will take you for everything youve got :)
by Flyingpigs
Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:08 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Canada Maple International School
Replies: 3
Views: 6895

Re: Canada Maple International School

I think I am thinking of Maple Bear-a derivative of the Maple group. All I know is in terms of their organization re: interviewing they were poorly run. The teachers complained abt the business office...turnover was high. But each school (maple bear)was private and independently run. Other than that(from my research at the time) that's all I know...which is not much.
by Flyingpigs
Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: staff morale - is it an issue?
Replies: 7
Views: 8969

Re: staff morale - is it an issue?

In my opinion what happens at an International school is not tht different that what happens at a western school. Being in admin for 10 years I have seen it all: staff that hate me, staff that love me, parents that demand and are squeaky wheels, parents that are supportive and involved. Teachers that are petty and demanding and have poor classroom management and others that are fabulous. The issues are similar everywhere. There will be some staff that love your style and some that won't I international school or not. End of the day you have to lead with your leadership style. Understand that you have WAY more influence than power and view each challenge as a learning opportunity.
And agreed-there does seem to be a lot of judgment and negativity on some forum posts.
by Flyingpigs
Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Canada Maple International School
Replies: 3
Views: 6895

Re: Canada Maple International School

Is that the school for grades K to 3? Manitoba curriculum?
by Flyingpigs
Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:54 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Work Visa requirements/process
Replies: 10
Views: 12919

Re: Work Visa requirements/process

I spoke to HR about this. Apparently the school HR holds the passport while they are processing your paperwork. This is standard practice and happened to me in other middle eastern countries. If an emergency arises, and you have to go home--you can get your passport back ( according to HR-I have no proof of this but I hvae no reason to not believe them)
by Flyingpigs
Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:50 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Contacting recruiters through Search
Replies: 12
Views: 12372

Re: Contacting recruiters through Search

I contacted all the schools directly,and mentioned in the subject heading and again in the last paragraph of the covering letter that I am a search candidate. They can then go to SEARCH and look at my profile.
I did this because I did not like the way the email looked coming through from the search website directly. The format was off, the font was boring and it did not look appealing or unique at all.
just my two cents
by Flyingpigs
Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:38 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Leaving an empty house
Replies: 16
Views: 28700

Re: Leaving an empty house

Insurance companies dont want to pay out. So if your house is left unlived in, and unwatched, they are under no obligation to payout if they stipulate that the house needs to be checked at least once a week, and it isnt.
They would "know" if/when they do an investigation and they ask neighbours etc who looks after the house, and how often. It depends on what your insurance company expects. For me, in my case and in my province--the house needs to be checked once a week minimum. If there is damage when I am away, and my house ISNT looked after according to their rules...they dont pay.
by Flyingpigs
Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:44 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Leaving an empty house
Replies: 16
Views: 28700

Re: Leaving an empty house

Check with your insurance company re: how many times you have to have someone check in. In Ontario, Canada, the insurance stipulation that someone check in at least once a week, or insurance is not valid. Best to check--rather be safe than sorry.
by Flyingpigs
Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:12 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: My son has special needs.
Replies: 13
Views: 15067

Re: My son has special needs.

Red rider...you seemed to have misread the intent of my post. When I said " international schools have to have..." I was implying that the OP should make sure that the Int'l school has the best things for her son--which, in this case MIGHT be assisstive technologies. Of course I did not mean that THEY MUST HAVE ( meaning a RULE) ....to say that about any International School would be idiocy. In fact, if you read my post further, you would see that I was talking about the Western law of inclusion ( at least in Ontario schools) and how it pertains to schools IN ONTARIO.
I suppose, to be completely correct, I should have said " To be comparable to a school in Ontario, Canada, International schools would have to have teachers that...etc" . I guess its the text/understanding intent conundrum.
In regards replicating and " begging the question, why leave?"
The OP was trying to find out what would work for their kid. The parents want the experience of an International School career--and hope that that desire will have minimal impact on their son. Keeping things the same for their kid in terms of his schooling is the point.
Now that being said....all the negativity that their seems to be on the site for schools that are not run like western schools or countries that dont have the same standards as Western ones, or cultural norms like western ones--also get a bad rap which of course does beg the question 'if you want things replicated, why leave'. However, in this case--the OP was talking about her 8 year old son.