Search found 29 matches

by Cafare52
Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:19 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: It's raining jobs in SE Asia.
Replies: 8
Views: 17895

Re: It's raining jobs in SE Asia.

I was in Vietnam for years and talk regularly with my former colleagues and softball mates. New staff basically arrived and haven't been able to leave their apartments until last week. It's been miserable and, yes enrollments are falling at ALL schools. Whereas, a year ago the US was one of the worst places in the world to be now it is one of the best and a lot of international business folk and embassy staff are back home waiting it out.

Friends in Bangkok were in the same boat with a little more freedom. Long workdays and high expectations teaching online. WHAT?!?! Sounds horrible. One of the major things that has kept me in my current position is we have been able to resist going online outside of two months when the COVID originally struck and live normal lives with facemasks and vaccines (fingers crossed).

The whole point of teaching internationally, or a good part of it is traveling and enjoying yourself. I don't care how good a school's reputation 'has been', you are taking a big risk leaving a good situation this cycle, even if where you think where you are going is a tier above.

And 'developing' countries like most of SE Asia, might not be the best places to go during a world health crisis.
by Cafare52
Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Skiing and International Schools
Replies: 11
Views: 21938

Re: Skiing and International Schools

buffalofan wrote:
> Moscow
>
> Ulaanbaatar
>
> Beirut
>
> Istanbul
>
> Azerbaijan
>
> Norway
>
> Seoul
>
> You better LOVE skiing to live in some of those places though...

I'd live in all of those places as a single male. The biggest question marks would be Norway + Beirut because of $.
by Cafare52
Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:04 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Skiing and International Schools
Replies: 11
Views: 21938

Re: Skiing and International Schools

My ex-colleague works at the International School of Kazan, Russia and says there is a 'nice' artificial ski resort with lovely chalets and accoutrements within an hour of the school.

Also lots of ice fishing on the Volga river and tall Russian beauties to share the slopes with.
by Cafare52
Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:52 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Teaching in Italian International Schools
Replies: 8
Views: 31325

Re: Teaching in Italian International Schools

I know two people, both former colleagues in Costa Rica. They both left after their initial contracts. ASM and Rome. Both said great places to live but weren't able to save a dime and after your 25th year unless you are independently wealthy or running an online business most people aren't willing to spend their whole paycheck to live a basic existence when there are better alternatives out there. I'd rather work in Qatar and vacation in Naples.

But I would love to hear some counter info.
by Cafare52
Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:24 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How many teachers have had Covid?
Replies: 8
Views: 9946

Re: How many teachers have had Covid?

Me and three others. We were all locked down for two weeks. In my case three. The school delivered food and doctors did home visits. The oldest of us who is 60, was asymptomatic. The other three were all pretty sick. Nobody was hospitalized. There are about 85 members of staff here.

I'm glad to have gotten it out of the way and felt the school was very supportive.
by Cafare52
Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:20 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: If not in your home country, then where do you plan to retire?
Replies: 18
Views: 20467

Re: If not in your home country, then where do you plan to retire?

Florida, USA

I know it is my home country but want to put it out there nevertheless and I am a Yankee from the North. As far as I am concerned it should be on everyone's list.

1) Very cheap pre-fabricated homes all within a drive to the beach. Low taxes and low cost of living if you aren't trying to exist in the center of places like Miami or Naples.

2) Plenty of part-time work available so you have something to do and don't shrivel up and die. Drive Uber, taxi dispatcher, front-desk worker at many fine hotels and resorts.

3) Great healthcare facilities who are used to treating geriatrics.

4) Nice sports teams to follow on your downtime. Plenty of world class fishing, kayaking, watersports and the like. Most of this is very cheap to do if you can navigate it on a small boat and stay close to the shore.

5) Beautiful weather and dramatic electrical storms.

6) Plenty of other geezers to hang out with and kvetch.

7) ENGLISH is widely spoken in most places.
by Cafare52
Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:54 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Switzerland.
Replies: 29
Views: 37715

Re: Switzerland.

I really appreciate the flood of info. The 'clean air' point can't be overstated either. My reason for leaving a good salary, quality of life combination in SEA was the pollution which after years of breathing it in, I have no desire to return to.

That's what brought me to Eastern Europe where I am grateful to be but looking ahead I long for more nature and in particular big mountains. The steppes can be rather flat and boring.

Switzerland seems like a dream location and as thrifty single with no dependents a passion for the outdoors and sporting, I could really make work for a long time. Anyhow thanks again for your feedback. I will reach out on the Private Forum.
by Cafare52
Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:39 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Switzerland.
Replies: 29
Views: 37715

Re: Switzerland.

Psy Guy and Helio -

I'm sure a lot of people do look, after all, people work in a lot if undesirable and low paying dumps, so naturally there will be teachers in Switzerland.

But of the two I know well who did a stint there and the few that I have met the reactions to the place have been lukewarm, at best. 'Can't save money, nothing to do if you don't ski, beautiful but cabin fever, got out in two/ three years', people are too rich for their own good, lots of right wingers/ anti-semitism,' etc...

I love the idea of Switzerland but am looking for something definitive in the other direction. Some positive affirmative statements like "I been here 8 years." "Best thing I have ever done for my career."

I'd rather live in Ukraine and save 20K a year with no prestige than go anywhere in Switzerland and save a penny less.

I will check out the payed...thank you both.
by Cafare52
Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:05 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Switzerland.
Replies: 29
Views: 37715

Switzerland.

Which are the best schools there when considering quality of life and savings potential?

I have been in Asia and Eastern Europe for a decade and am used to saving minimum $2K USD a month while maintaining a standard of living that involves a night or two out to dinner a week, sports, hiking, etc...

Switzerland looks like a place that is often overlooked because it's perceived as boring and expensive.

Any ideas here? I have met people who have passed through Swizz but nobody seems to stay long.

I'm a single with no dependents.
by Cafare52
Sun Jun 05, 2016 11:14 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Fair Teaching Load for High School Classes
Replies: 28
Views: 31791

Re: Fair Teaching Load for High School Classes

Best practices is 2 preps anything more than 3 is teacher abuse. In Michigan it is against the law to have more than 3 without the teacher signing a waiver. With the waiver they also get a pay increase. I want masters of content and curriculum. How can you be delivering the goods with so much to plan for?

Large schools should be able to accommodate 2-3 (max) whereas smaller schools spread them out in a way that hurts students. I had 5 preps before which really meant I had 3 because I was usually winging 4 and 5, sadly for my charges.

I am in a situation now where I will be going from 2 to 4 next year. I am hoping I can handle it cause if I can't I will have a miserable work life which will drive me away from a place I otherwise really like.
by Cafare52
Sun Jun 05, 2016 8:49 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think of this candidate?
Replies: 35
Views: 67827

Re: What do you think of this candidate?

Regarding the AP in question:

I am going strictly off her linkedin page and the fact that she was inducted this year in Tokyo, remains on their website and was also featured in the TIE magazine.

I talked to one of my veteran colleagues about this who came here from corporate and referred to her as a "career administrator." There are plenty of these stateside so why not abroad? She ran some English Academy in the Western US and then got one of those "international" masters degrees that doesn't lead to certification and then she jumped into one of the most competitive schools as an admin. Good for her. It's a dream job. Would I have trouble respecting her critiques of my teaching if I worked under her? Absolutely. But I would still have to work under her.

I met the current HOS at NIST in Thailand this year for a PD. He looks like he's about 40. How does this happen? Who knows? But it's a well-run school. I believe one of the best in Asia. He had people on his admin team with 15 years more Ed. experience than him. Imagine that dynamic in the leadership meetings. I was told by one of his employees that he "fell into" his 1st HOS job in Yokohama by being BFF with the prior HOS, did a great job and was recruited out. Great break! It's like that movie "Being There." And then of course having the goods once given the opportunity, which I am sure he does.

A lot of these "seasoned" leaders are doing their victory laps after careers in teaching and are well over the hill. I think some school boards would be well-served to explore younger leadership. My first job out of Uni' was at an elite private school-one of the most expensive in the US. The HOS had been there for years and basically went to fund raisers, had a great smile and served as the mouthpiece of the board to staff. What did we talk about in my interview? 40 minutes of sports. 15 minutes of "what do you bring to our school outside of teaching?" AKA: "Sell me on liking you." 5 minutes on pedagogy. I felt like I was being vetted for a fraternity. "How do you fit into our culture?" "Will you drink beer and watch hockey with us at least once a week?" "Are you articulate and confident enough to deal with our high profile parents?" "Would you be interested in doing a fishing charter with the rest of the department?" It was a great job. But I'm glad I came overseas.

You guys are great. Never let this post die!
by Cafare52
Fri Jun 03, 2016 1:52 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think of this candidate?
Replies: 35
Views: 67827

Re: What do you think of this candidate?

Thanks again for the feedback.

It's really a sad situation. I like the school. I love my students. I like my colleagues and I even like my bosses. The City provides ample opportunities for socializing and saving. Everything is working out aside from my placements and the amount of resources we have at the school-almost nothing and it doesn't appear to be getting any better.

After working here for a year it seems more and more like a place where all we care about is filling seats and both students and teachers suffer as a result. The admin. is stuck between a rock and a hard place too because they are well-meaning professionals but our budget is a joke. Most of it goes into our salary while neglecting the conditions of the school, no textbooks, cutting our PD allowance, a cafeteria that doubles as a gymnasium.

I am also not being given the classes I was hired to teach and next year it appears that many of us are going to be stiffed teaching four new preps including AP for the 1st time. Basically I feel like I was mislead out of the gate.

I am still hopeful that the ship will somehow right itself but if not I'm stuck in the unenviable position of having to tell my bosses I am leaving for the reasons above and "Oh yeah, I also need a strong letter of recommendation for Bangkok." I don't doubt I will get a job either but at this point I am really hooping to have a shot at the bigs. So much of this is a crap shoot.

How we end up where we end up...

You have schools like ASJ in Tokyo that has an AP who only taught for one year and looks like she's about 30 years old? How does that happen? Then you have guys like my neighbor at my previous school toiling away for 8 years teaching the same classes unable to break into admin.

Any thoughts on my thoughts?

Summer is right around the corner!
by Cafare52
Wed Mar 09, 2016 12:52 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think of this candidate?
Replies: 35
Views: 67827

Re: What do you think of this candidate?

I am happy to see activity on this post. I thought it had died out for sure.

The good news is my school has committed to having me teach AP-level economics next year and I will be going to the US to train for it this summer.

I will also be able to put "(famous university) adjunct Professor of Economics" on my resume as of August this year after that training, which I would think may entice administrators come hiring time.

But a problem remains:

I really like my school and package. It's a good balance and I enjoy my colleagues who have a lot of experience from which i can learn and the best intentions. Nevertheless, I find it hard to warm-up to the location, which is strange because many people would be thrilled by this place. It offers great quality of life, savings potential, safe living environs, and ample travel opportunities.

All that being said I cannot seem to get on that wavelength and commit to this place for various reasons outside the school which will not change.

So I can either:

Work here for two years, one of which will be teaching AP-level Econ and go to the fair in Bangkok to see what happens with one year teaching AP Econ, 2 years at an IB school teaching non-IB, and 2 years in the states. 6 years total experience, good interviewer, knowledgeable, genial, logical reasoning for leaving each job. IB training but no teaching experience.


or

Stay on an additional year making it 2 years teaching AP-Econ and go to the fair in Bangkok to see what happens with 2 years teaching AP Econ, 2 years at an IB school teaching non-IB, and 2 years in the states. 7 years total experience, good interviewer, knowledgeable, genial, logical reasoning for leaving each job. IB training but no teaching experience.

Any thoughts on this quandary? I know the job market in Social Studies is always stacked against applicants but in my two attempts at international teaching I have been able to find, what I believe to be satisfactory jobs at mediocre schools (one with an outstanding package/ the other with IB) without even having to go to a fair.

I appreciate any feedback I may receive on this extra long post.

Thanks.
by Cafare52
Thu Oct 08, 2015 7:08 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think of this candidate?
Replies: 35
Views: 67827

Re: What do you think of this candidate?

Thanks a lot Sid. I know you are right about that and this certainly is making me more adept at scaffolding and ESL strategies, which in the end will only make me more skillful and well rounded. And don't get me wrong-I enjoy my classroom and my kids at my current post but am a lot more limited in what I can share with them compared to previous years.

Thanks Again.