Search found 42 matches

by idonteven
Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:29 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to resign and transfer my visa?
Replies: 46
Views: 40126

Re: How to resign and transfer my visa?

shadowjack wrote:

> You can go the PG route, but your admin has nothing in the tank to replace
> you - you are it. If you just want to get out of the school, then quit. But
> don't expect you'll be staying around China or getting a transfer approval
> from your school.

Yeah, the last part of this is what seems to be the roadblock. I can't remember if I specified this or not, but the other school I want to go to is also in China. From what I've been told, I need a cancellation and release letter from my current school otherwise no school in China can get me a visa.
by idonteven
Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to resign and transfer my visa?
Replies: 46
Views: 40126

Re: How to resign and transfer my visa?

sid wrote:
> I don’t think that’s going to pass muster.
> There might not be an option for resigning mid contract. That would explain
> why it’s not in the handbook- it doesn’t exist.
> It doesn’t at my current school, though our handbook does have a line about
> teachers sometimes having emerging life situations that require them to
> depart mid contract, and to see their principal if that’s the case. For us,
> if you do this for a reason such as a parent requiring care, we’ll
> negotiate a deal, but you’d probably lose certain benefits- depends on all
> sorts of factors about how long you’ve been with us already, how serious
> the situation is, how reasonable you’re able to be about a smooth
> transition, etc. A compassionate case deserves a compassionate response
> from the school. For your case, we’d just consider that you’re quitting and
> you’d lose everything. You’d even have to pay recruitment costs. The basic
> premise being that if you’re leaving for mercenary reasons, greener grass,
> you’ll get a commensurate response.

I appreciate your candor and I suspected this might be the case, but I'll push back a bit on the mercenary comment. It's true that the other school would pay substantially more and that adds to my motivation. However:

1. I was hired to teach a particular high school subject, and literally the day before classes started I was asked to teach two different high school-level subject classes (10 periods/week) that I have no preparation or experience in (in addition to what I was hired for). I've been burning the midnight oil every night (including weekends) trying to do the best I can to both learn the material myself and make half-decent lesson plans, but I still feel like I'm not doing an adequate job (because, you know, they are not subjects I'm familiar with). And if I'm going to be putting in 14-hour days, I want to at least get paid for it.

Other teachers are also carrying an extra load, but they are doing it in lower level classes where the content itself isn't an obstacle. For what it's worth, we're in this position because another teacher had to leave for a legitimate emergency. I also like my colleagues and boss well enough on a personal level. But given we're already on a skeleton crew, I'm not sure how they could manage if I left. Which makes me think they won't allow it if they can help it. I have real empathy for the school's predicament, but this is not what I signed up for.

2. They were misleading about how close my apartment is to the school and the transportation options to and from.

3. I recently found out what my apartment rents for and it's less than half the price of what the person I interviewed with (not my direct superior) told me. I'm actually happy with it other than its location, so maybe it could be considered a moot point. But I find it weird and discouraging that they would lie about something like that.
by idonteven
Sun Sep 20, 2020 1:13 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to resign and transfer my visa?
Replies: 46
Views: 40126

Re: How to resign and transfer my visa?

A separate document from my school given this summer given to all OSH staff, heavily paraphrased:

“This is an unprecedented time and you may have signed a contract when global circumstances were drastically different than they are now. We’re offering teachers who no longer feel comfortable teaching at our school due to changes caused by the pandemic the opportunity to resign in good standing.”

-The letter was sent in early June and employees who signed it and returned within about 1 week were given an additional departure stipend paid in July.

-Employees could also sign it after the 1-week deadline and resign in good standing but would not receive the additional stipend.

However, there’s no hard date given on a deadline for resignation in good standing (just the stipend). Is it worth it trying to use this, or is the obvious implication that this offer is void once classes start?
by idonteven
Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:30 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to resign and transfer my visa?
Replies: 46
Views: 40126

Re: How to resign and transfer my visa?

I've gone through all 39 pages of my staff handbook. Stuff like maternity leave, sick leave, etc. is in there but nothing about employees who wish to end the contract for other reasons. Also read through my Chinese labor contract and ELOA (employment letter of acceptance), they both say nothing about this.
by idonteven
Sat Sep 19, 2020 10:22 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to resign and transfer my visa?
Replies: 46
Views: 40126

How to resign and transfer my visa?

I'm at a school in China, and for various reasons am unhappy with my current school. I also have an offer from another better school, if I sign now they can give me a month to go there.

I've read and re-read my contract with my current school, and somehow can't find any information about how much advance notice I'm required to give before leaving.

And of course asking my boss/colleagues isn't great, because if it turns out my contract doesn't allow me to leave this year, it will be awkward working with them for the rest of the year (I'm not going to pull a runner, especially because I need this school to release my work permit to the other school).

My school is part of a well-known chain, so I assume they must have some established policy on this. Should I create a new e-mail account and ask their HR? It is time-sensitive if I'm going to get into this other school, which I'm really hoping to do. Help!
by idonteven
Sat Feb 22, 2020 2:25 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Situation in China
Replies: 37
Views: 81961

Re: Situation in China

monkeycat wrote:
> It’s times like these that show a school’s true colors, I feel.
>
> Our school has been paying us our normal salary, thankfully. We are
> required to teach distance learning classes, of course (not necessarily
> videos or streaming). The initial announcement was for each day of distance
> learning to count as half a day of actual learning in terms of counting
> school days and adjusting vacations. The school sent out a survey to the
> teachers and most of the teachers argued that the amount of prep involved
> for distance learning shouldn’t be underestimated. Not sure if the school
> will rethink the policy or not though.

Agreed, I know people at other schools in my area getting full pay + a hardship bonus due to the outbreak. But I (sort of) knew what the deal was with my school going in.
by idonteven
Sat Feb 22, 2020 2:21 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Situation in China
Replies: 37
Views: 81961

Re: Reply

PsyGuy wrote:
> @idonteven
>
> Sounds like its time to examine your exit strategy options. Your getting
> shafted, but I understand the ISs position.

Normally I would agree (about the exit strategy I mean -- I'm definitely getting shafted). But I've signed a contract for a job I want in China next year at a better school, and apparently my school could screw me out of working in China by not giving me my release letter. It sucks, but I think I'm going to just take it on the chin. At least I'm getting my Jan. pay since I stayed here in China during break, feel pretty bad for my colleagues who aren't getting that.
by idonteven
Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Situation in China
Replies: 37
Views: 81961

Re: Situation in China

eion_padraig wrote:

> I haven't heard any worries from people about not being paid from any of my
> friends, and I know people at full international school as well as
> bilingual and foreign programs run from public schools. If that happens it
> will be something we hear about.

My school (Southeast China, foreign program run from boarding school) is not paying teachers for Feb. aside from online classes we are assigned to for partner schools in other cities in China. Those are paid at an hourly rate of 150 RMB/hour that is strictly for class time (nothing for prep, correcting homework, etc.). Which as you guys probably know is below the absolute bottom of ESL hourly rates for native speakers here.

Additionally, even though our school's start date has been pushed back to early March (and may end up being pushed back further), teachers who were not back in China by Feb. 15 are not getting paid for January as per a dubious interpretation of one of the clauses in our contract.
by idonteven
Wed Feb 19, 2020 6:14 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Roth IRA and Foreign-Earned Income
Replies: 11
Views: 20115

Re: Response

PsyGuy wrote:
> Concur with @Sid the threshold makes it impractical and if there are ITs
> with that level of coin for investment a Roth IRA isnt that attractive
> considering ROI, and while a ROTH IRA is a strong vehicle when in the USA,
> ITs arent limited to investment products in the USA, an IT with that level
> of coin has better options available and even below that threshold there
> are comparable investment products.
>
> If you want to invest in a Roth IRA just cycle the coin that you want to do
> it with through your own company.

Could you elaborate on some of those better/comparable options (for ITs below that threshold in particular)? Genuinely curious. I know there are pensions in Europe, and QSI has a pension, but that's all I really know about.
by idonteven
Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:36 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: International vs Bilingual school in China
Replies: 12
Views: 20953

Re: International vs Bilingual school in China

National wrote:
> One consideration for #1 is that you can transfer within their system. They
> have schools that teach IB so you might be able to teach a year or two at
> the current school and then transfer into an IB math position at another
> one of their schools. They will put teachers with no IB experience into
> those positions. Then you get your IB experience, boost your resume and
> move on. The schools don’t do much for your resume but the IB experience
> does. I started my international career at one of these schools and with
> the IB experience was able to move to a much better school next hire. Also
> as other posters say you won’t have problems with pay or getting what’s in
> your contract. There are definitely annoyances, but it’s a means to an
> end...

Regarding the transfer option, correct me if I'm wrong about this but: after two more years of teaching secondary math anywhere, wouldn't I likely be able to find someplace that would be willing to train me for IB anyway? I've talked with a school recently that had this on the table but ultimately decided to go another direction because of my lack of experience.
by idonteven
Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: International vs Bilingual school in China
Replies: 12
Views: 20953

Re: International vs Bilingual school in China

eion_padraig wrote:
> Neither of these schools are long-term prospects if you're hoping to climb
> the ladder of in terms of pay or better schools, you probably don't want to
> stay more than 3 years at either of the places you describe. Once you have
> a couple more years under your belt, you should be able to move to a better
> place with IB or AP teaching options if you have a degree in math and can
> teach more advanced classes.
>
> I think the trade off is less the possibility of getting to teach 1 student
> AP calculus, and more about the relative stability of the quality place
> versus a Chinese-run school. If you end up getting that salary at the
> bilingual that's great. I've seen and heard of things changing quickly at
> Chinese-run schools for little to no-reason or because enrollment isn't
> there. I'm wary of places that are Chinese-run as a result, though I've
> also had colleagues be happy for short stints at those types of places. But
> on the other hand recruiters are not so enamored at quality places either.
> I don't think it will help your CV that much.
>
> Either can be a gateway to something better, but you're probably looking at
> 3 years to get to that place. What does help you bridge to other and better
> schools is having former colleagues vouch for you when they move onto other
> places. If you have a good reputation with peers who move on, they'll be
> important along with good experience, cover letters, and interviews.
> Network with people you meet at other schools in your city or those people
> you meet when doing training. This frustrates some people, but it's
> important nonetheless.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Eion

I don't have a degree in math or anything relevant, I just completed the Teach Now program and took the Praxis tests for Math. I feel comfortable teaching Calc, but I'm a little worried about finding ways to prove that to recruiters/schools (the catch-22 about needing IB experience to get into IB schools, or whatever).

I have a good relationship/references with my current colleagues/boss in China, so-so with my school in the US. But appreciate your points and am making a point to network more actively now.
by idonteven
Tue Jan 21, 2020 7:55 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: International vs Bilingual school in China
Replies: 12
Views: 20953

Re: International vs Bilingual school in China

IS #1 is offering a full OSH package.

IS/BS #2 is offering roundtrip airfare and housing, but they don't have all the extra "allowances" (overseas allowance, contract completion bonus, extra baggage allowance, etc...) included in IS #1.

Just realized I made a really dumb mistake with this. #1 is net salary, #2 is gross salary. So the net salary for #2 would, I believe, be something more like 310k RMB (I think). Thought I mentioned that in my post but now realized I didn't, whoops.

For #1 I would indeed be responsible for Gr.7-12 math.

There were no premium agencies involved in my dealings with either school.
by idonteven
Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:24 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: International vs Bilingual school in China
Replies: 12
Views: 20953

International vs Bilingual school in China

I just got an offer from a well-known chain school known for their "Quality". I think the pay is kind of low for China but it's in a a very nice/livable city. Pay is about 240k RMB/year including stuff like overseas allowance (but not including housing, flights, etc.). The position is for teaching middle-HS math.

I got an offer from them today, and they want me to decide by Friday (they're going to some fairs after that or something).

I also have an application for a bilingual school in my current city which is low-COL industrial city and pays 360k RMB/year which is surprisingly high (it's a new Huawei school and the pay is higher than what the consensus "best" international school in this city pays, I taught a demo lesson there and the facilities are fantastic). The position is for teaching upper primary math, and they said they would get back to me on Feb. 7 (but I will contact them today telling them I have another offer). The city has a meh-reputation, but IMO it's not bad (not that exciting, but quite livable).

I'm single with 1 year experience teaching math in the states, 1 year (current year) in the international department of a private boarding school in China (all Chinese national students).

My priorities: Savings potential is pretty important to me, but savings potential for the next 6-8 years. Both schools use Common Core (although the bilingual school's curriculum design seems a lot more convoluted), and with the first school I may or may not get some AP experience (they said they have 1 student who's on track for AP Calc now, with the possibility of others). Am I correct in thinking the first school will be better on my CV in the long run?
by idonteven
Sat Jan 27, 2018 11:31 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Another "what should I do" post
Replies: 9
Views: 10829

Re: Another "what should I do" post

shadowjack wrote:
> idonteven
>
> Here are some follow up questions.
>
> 1.Do you ever contact home? When I had a student discipline issue and had to set
> a detention, I always called home around teatime (in the UK, it's when you catch
> the parents at home) - so around 6 PM.
>
> 2. I never ever blamed the child. I simply told the parent what had happened, that
> I had given their son the choice of gettingto work or having to serve a detention,
> and they didn't get to work, so I have to set them a detention. At a rough school,
> I never once had a parent complain I was being unfair. But then, I simply described
> what happened with no connotative language or blaming the student - just this happened,
> this happened, this happened, so I have to set a detention.
>
> 3. It can also help to set detentions as "learning opportunities" for the student.
> IE Johnny needs to come in after school tomorrow because I noticed in class he had
> trouble focusing, and after direct questioning it was clear he hadn't learned what
> he needs to know. Is that a problem?" When students hear you present it that way,
> and ask the rhetorical question, "What parent doesn't want their child to be successful?",
> then it can often change their thinking about what the parent might or might not
> support (especially once you have had several students in after school already).
>
> 4. Another idea - if you have a colleague with a prep class, see if you can work
> out an arrangement where they take your worse student (one) for a class, and on
> your prep, you take their worst. The student does the work in the other classroom
> isolated from distractions and unable to distract others.
>
> These are just ideas, but things I have done or seen done in the past. In the end,
> as the teacher, it is up to you to maintain order. If that isn't working, and students
> are not showing up for detentions or "learning experiences" despite parental support,
> you need to enlist your admin as part of the solution. If they can't help you, after
> outlining all YOU have done (admin hate being the first line of defense, and it
> sends a message about you if they are), then you are getting a pretty clear message
> too.
>
> Hope that helps,
>
> check out TIEonline - there are schools out there who would hire you.

1. I have, and it was very helpful with one student in particular. Not so much with a couple others. It's something I should try more though. I've also called a few who I've been unable to reach.

2-3. I always figured calling the child's parents was implicitly blaming the child for something. I ask the parent to 'have a talk with their child' about whatever issues I addressed in the phone call but I don't think I come off as angry/demeaning. I don't really even like yelling at the students, but everyone tells me that's what these kids are used to and I need to yell at them *shrug*. I haven't had any parent complaints yet, but I've only been in this class about a month so I'm sure they will come.

The only detention I can give them is lunch detention, and some of them are in there daily and don't even mind it (a couple may even prefer it to the regular lunch room). There's no after school detention, all the students have to leave the building at dismissal (aside from basketball practice or some other school-mandated activity). I would love to have even 15 minutes to work with some of these kids in a smaller group setting after school, or any time really.

4. Yep, we do this. We just send students over during each other's class hours though, it doesn't have to be during preps. Sometimes it works. Sometimes the student refuses to go and continues disrupting class, which I have no real recourse for in the moment, other than contacting admin - who may or may not be busy with something else.

Thanks for the suggestions
by idonteven
Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:09 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Another "what should I do" post
Replies: 9
Views: 10829

Re: Another "what should I do" post

Thanks for the input everyone, much appreciated.

@chiliverde:

Applying seems like reasonable advice, would you also go the TIE route in my spot? Assuming I can’t get into Search/ISS…is it worth also e-mailing schools with my resume and inquiring about openings? And if the answer to the latter is yes, I still have to create some kind of list with schools that fall somewhere in the intersection of ‘where I’d like to go’ and ‘where I realistically have a shot at getting in’, which still requires some pre-assessment of how marketable I am.

I’ve tried to sit down and make a list of what I would/wouldn’t accept, the problem is all my criteria is conditional. I won’t accept A…unless there’s B, then I’ll accept A. For example, I might as a general rule say no to Saudi/Kuwait schools, but I would probably go to either one if there was some potential for solid savings + curriculum experience. I would take positions at schools in LCSA/SEA with little to no savings potential, as long as I can get curriculum experience and the schools don’t have a terrible reputation…But even this varies based on stuff like what kind of housing is provided (I’m not picky but I don’t want to be sharing bunk beds in a college-style dorm). I’m leaving out places like Europe/Japan because I assume they’re a non-starter.

Since my requirements are fluid and IE seems to have every shade of grey out there, it’s hard to do the exercise of listing my requirements upfront.

@shadowjack:

Thanks for the advice. Part of the problem is that if I were to actually follow the school discipline code, half the class would be getting suspended. The dean is supportive in this regard in terms of “dealing with”/suspending students who are particularly out of line after the fact, but the problem is when the classroom gets out of control *in the moment* and I can’t get them settled down to the minimum point where the students who want to learn can actually learn. I’ve tried shouting, stubbornly soldiering on with the lesson hoping the students will settle down, turning the lights off, saying nothing and “waiting” for them to calm down…Nothing really seems to work. I feel really bad for the ones who are trying to learn.

I connect with some of them talking about basketball, I think it makes some of them like me more but it doesn’t really help with their behavior.

@PsyGuy:

1) Agreed
2) This is my hope and the silver lining, I suppose.

7) Actually I’ve taken and passed the 7-12 Math exam (since getting hired at my current school). I haven’t taken the 7-12 PLT though.

What’s SLL? I was so sure I had the acronyms down :\ The school I’m at doesn’t have any valuable curriculum experience (just CCore) but they are data/exam-obsessed. If I can show growth from the students’ expected state exam scores to their actual state exam scores, does that mean anything in IE? Or do they only care about IB/AP/IGCSE/etc.?

In addition TIE/TES, do you think it's worth e-mailing schools my resume individually?