Search found 15 matches

by Zebra750
Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:09 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Competitiveness in 2020
Replies: 17
Views: 16713

Re: Competitiveness in 2020

@Psyguy - you'll have to forgive me as some of your abbreviations I'm not privy to. What's IE & DT?

Out of curiosity - for those who are answering my questions.
I'm wondering whether it's worth it to take a job at an IB institution stateside, or to remain at my current school for next year if there aren't really that many appetizing opportunities abroad. (That is to say, offers - but in places or in schools that are not really first choices)

Or is it significantly better to have another international placement over a stateside one?

Thanks again.
by Zebra750
Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:06 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Competitiveness in 2020
Replies: 17
Views: 16713

Re: Competitiveness in 2020

Noted - thanks again everyone! I appreciate the sobering yet encouraging comments.

I'm attending the SA Fair this week, so I'm hoping something good comes from it.

*Fingers crossed*
by Zebra750
Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Competitiveness in 2020
Replies: 17
Views: 16713

Re: Competitiveness in 2020

Thank you both for your feedback. I appreciate it.

I ought to clarify - I don't mind working in any hardship positions. I've lived in Jordan as a kid, I can speak, read and write Arabic fairly well. (For whatever that's worth to a recruiter. In October I had an interview where they seemed relatively interested in that, although I did not receive any follow ups) So the idea of being in a place that's not necessarily a tourist hotspot doesn't immediately repel me.

I'm curious as to where else I should be considering.

The Middle East and North Africa are my main focus for next year - but I'm not married to being strictly in the region although I'd like to be there.
by Zebra750
Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:48 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Any thoughts on the Search Fair coming up?
Replies: 8
Views: 8847

Re: Any thoughts on the Search Fair coming up?

I've got a mind to attend. Although my associate told me that there will be over 1000 candidates. So I imagine that the schools will be flooded with applicants.
by Zebra750
Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:15 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Competitiveness in 2020
Replies: 17
Views: 16713

Competitiveness in 2020

Hi All - I posted this previously in the other forum but didn't get much response.

I'm looking for some constructive criticism here, as well as what I can do to make myself a stronger candidate. I'm on Search, attended some fairs. I've had a few interviews and still planning on two more fairs, but I've yet to receive any offers. It feels in so many ways as though schools are just kind of kicking tires this hiring season.

I'm one of those many teachers worldwide that had a position at an IB school last year, but lost that position due to the financial state of our school.

I've been in Education for moving on 3.5 years now.

I've got a BA in Political Science with a minor in History.
Masters in Ed that I'm working on.
Stateside Certs in English, History & Sciences. Secondary and Middle Grades.

1.5 Years as an LTS. (Middle Grades English)
1 Year in Lebanon. (MYP & DP English & DP History)
1 Year at a Charter. (Secondary History, my current role)

Should I have any hopes for this hiring season, or should I pack it in and just wait for next year?
by Zebra750
Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:19 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How Competitve?
Replies: 2
Views: 3705

Re: How Competitve?

Well, I think a lot of this happens to be about where you are aiming to end up.
When you were teaching abroad were you at an IB school? It appears that holds quite a bit of weight with many IS's.
by Zebra750
Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21431

Re: Reply

@Psyguy

Even then - I have friends who have done a Masters at ivy league schools and still didn't land the nicest schools.
One of my former colleagues was at the same Tier II school I taught at making only slightly more than I was being paid. It feels to me that in our field, the power of those prestigious degrees and institutions has less punch.
by Zebra750
Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:33 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cover letter length
Replies: 14
Views: 13719

Re: Cover letter length

@ThamesPirate

I'm inclined to agree with you - I have a general template that I sort of adjust and amend for the specific kind of job that I'm hunting for.

(Although it's easier for me since I've basically worked in Humanities/English/History world so things are semi-interchangeable.
by Zebra750
Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:39 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Competitiveness in the Market
Replies: 4
Views: 17743

Re: Competitiveness in the Market

[quote=shadowjack post_id=60146 time=1605642768 user_id=98854]target IB schools. You want to stay in that environment to progress. You have both MYP and DP experience - I am assuming you have your Cat 1 or Cat 2 certificates? [/quote]

That's the plan! I really preferred teaching in the IB system once I became accustomed to it last year.
I also have my Category 1 Certificate. I was supposed to get the Cat 2 over this past summer, but then my job decided to nix my position entirely.

[quote=shadowjack post_id=60146 time=1605642768 user_id=98854] You fill an I&S or Lang-Lit role - and have experience teaching across, which can be beneficial for smaller schools which need teachers to do that. Alternately, you could fill an MYP humanities position where podding takes place.[/quote]

I'll be aiming for those then, specifically. What do you mean by podding though? I've not heard of that term before.

[quote=shadowjack post_id=60146 time=1605642768 user_id=98854]I think you are competitive in that you have experience in the IB, but not a lot of teaching experience, so you balance out costs. Schools like a mix of experienced and acquiring experience teachers to have a mix of new and old.
[/quote]

I appreciate your taking the time to weigh in on my situation. Crossing my fingers that one of these schools sees some value in my CV!
by Zebra750
Mon Nov 16, 2020 5:12 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What should I do in 2021?
Replies: 10
Views: 9299

Re: What should I do in 2021?

Hey PurpleHaze.

I absolutely feel your pain on this one.
My employer pulled the same thing on me mid-contract over the summer which just absolutely was blindsiding. (To me and to many of my colleagues, roughly half of us were let go and practically all the international teachers at that)

Have you signed up with any of the services like SA in order to get access to job fairs?

I know that as someone in a similar boat alongside you - I've just decided to focus on Fall 2021. It feels as though things are a bit too up in the air currently to hope that you can land a job and get all the proper paperwork done in time. (I've had friends who were struggling with visa paperwork because of changing COVID situation) I also figure that at least schools can plan out for the next year, and by then the situation should (hopefully) be better.
by Zebra750
Mon Nov 16, 2020 5:06 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Competitiveness in the Market
Replies: 4
Views: 17743

Competitiveness in the Market

Hey Everybody. Feeling a bit intimidated given the job market currently, so I'd like to know what people think of my odds here...

Unfortunately, the economy cut my experience short last school year while I was abroad alongside many of my Lebanese and international colleagues across many schools. Even though we were given some documentation that our release was through no fault of our own, it wasn't much of a consolation prize. Given that reality, I'm back in the United States and trying my best to get back to the international scene. I am curious though what all of you think my odds are.

I've been in Education for moving on 3.5 years now.

I've got a BA in Poli Sci with a minor in History.
Masters in Ed that I'm completing.
Stateside Certs in English, History & Sciences. Secondary and Middle Grades.

1.5 Years as an LTS. (Middle Grades English)
1 Year in Lebanon. (MYP & DP English & DP History)
1 Year at a Charter. (Secondary History, my current role)

So - Do I have a shot at getting back out there? I don't much mind where I go in terms of location. (Although I would prefer the Middle East)
by Zebra750
Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:39 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Job sites for NQT's
Replies: 10
Views: 11590

Re: Job sites for NQT's

It's not true that Search Associates won't let you sign up with them with less than two years. You just have to make a strong argument as to why you feel that you would be qualified. It's what I did, and I managed to sign up.
by Zebra750
Mon Dec 10, 2018 10:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Wellspring Learning Community
Replies: 1
Views: 3237

Wellspring Learning Community

Hello All,

I am curious as to whether anyone has recent experience with the Wellspring Learning Community in Beirut, Lebanon.
I'd read some of the reviews on the website here and many seem rather dated and are of mixed quality.

Does anyone have recent experience and can give a more recent opinion of the work environment and school climate?

Appreciate any and all comments.

(I don't need a review of Beirut or Lebanon as a whole as I have spent significant time there in the past and know the city, politics, etc)