Search found 18 matches

by t_rock
Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:11 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you do when it's not working and you leave early?
Replies: 12
Views: 13409

Re: What do you do when it's not working and you leave early?

The simple answer is to communicate clearly with your boss. It's an uncomfortable conversation, but necessary to protect your career prospects.
by t_rock
Mon Jul 27, 2020 6:06 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Beginning Of The End for China Foreign Teachers?
Replies: 54
Views: 66713

Re: Beginning Of The End for China Foreign Teachers?

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more hypocritical than many of these international educators who drone on ad nauseum about social justice, BLM, etc., and then take jobs in China simply because of the money on offer. If you would sell out your main values and beliefs for 30 pieces of silver that easily then that is truly pathetic.

China wants to be isolated. I say let them.
by t_rock
Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:29 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: and it continues
Replies: 27
Views: 39255

Re: and it continues

The Chinese people are mostly good. The Chinese Communist P@rty is evil incarnate and I hope it is soon overthrown. To compare the US history of slavery and killing of the natives centuries ago to the CCP's ideology today is absurd.
by t_rock
Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:23 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: The path to get QTS after iPGCE
Replies: 9
Views: 12387

Re: The path to get QTS after iPGCE

Leeds Beckett runs a 100% distance learning PGCE course, and it is very reasonably priced although getting more expensive every year.

https://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/PGCE ... elearning/
by t_rock
Mon Jun 29, 2020 4:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: thai police clearance cert
Replies: 9
Views: 10928

Re: thai police clearance cert

If your next job hasn't requested it, and you don't know why you need it, why would you put yourself through the stress of getting it? Ask your school for a letter of good conduct on official letterhead in lieu of a Ministry document. I have filled out a few myself in Cambodia for my staff because getting a police letter is near impossible even under normal circumstances, to say nothing of times during COVID.

If you really want answers, go to Thai Visa forums rather than an international education forum.
by t_rock
Mon May 25, 2020 10:20 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: So, if the border isn't open...
Replies: 29
Views: 34151

Re: So, if the border isn't open...

wander wrote:
> @t_rock
>
> I absolutely agree with you. I'm just saying that these are conversations
> people should be having with their new school now. If you are no longer
> comfortable with the job, for whatever reason, you should ask to be
> released from the contract. I know my current school and future school
> have both told new hires that they will release them without any problem if
> the teacher feels that is what's best for their family.
>
> I don't think it's advisable for teachers to be out there accepting
> multiple jobs and then picking one when the time comes.

Another issue is if China decides to devalue its currency, as looks likely, it's going to cut big time into savings potential in that country. If it devalues from 7:1 to 8:1 you're looking at a 15% or so loss of value if you plan to remit to a Western bank account.
by t_rock
Sun May 24, 2020 6:34 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: So, if the border isn't open...
Replies: 29
Views: 34151

Re: So, if the border isn't open...

[quote=wander post_id=59060 time=1590355292 user_id=239918]
I think people need to be very careful about how they handle this situation. Yes, it's making us all anxious. However, most teachers are going to be just fine. We may not arrive at the time we were supposed to, but we will get there when the borders open. I don't think applying for and accepting multiple jobs and hoping one of them works out is the best advice. We all know what a small world international teaching is. You could be putting your reputation and your career at risk.
[/quote]

There are a multitude of other considerations for a teacher in this position, rather than the risk to one's reputation:
- Is it safe to travel to the destination? Are you putting you or your family's health at risk? What if your government continues to put a travel advisory for your new destination country even after the borders re-open? You risk being SOL if the situation spirals out of control again (I know people who have been stuck in a hotel room for 2.5 months).
- While the school might pay for a lot of things, will they pay for your 14-day quarantine when the borders initially re-open? The much more expensive flights? If not, these will cut into your savings potential (I've read a 2-week quarantine in China when they are ready to receive foreigners again will be something like $70 USD/night = $2100).
- When you arrive, will you be allowed freedom of movement? Will you be able enjoy your leisure time and ability to travel around without having to suffer more quarantines? What if there is a second-wave (seems inevitable) and we're right back to square one?

I think it's ok to say: "Look, when we signed our contracts we were expecting X but now the situation is Y and that's not going to work for us at this moment. Extraordinary circumstances, yada yada yada..."
by t_rock
Thu May 07, 2020 12:54 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: URGENT: Should I take Teach Now? (with MA in Education from Nottingham)
Replies: 5
Views: 7591

Re: URGENT: Should I take Teach Now? (with MA in Education from Nottingham)

[quote=shadylane post_id=58875 time=1588790206 user_id=142392]
Part of your issue is that you have the Nottingham iPGCE. It is not very well reputed, and many schools / locations won't accept it as a valid qualification.
[/quote]

FWIW, a friend of mine--without any stellar experience nor exam results supporting his candidacy--got a job in Taiwan (before COVID) with just a BA from the US and the iPGCE fron Nottingham. It's not a tier 1 school but it's fairly well respected.
by t_rock
Fri May 01, 2020 2:44 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: China closed
Replies: 67
Views: 80241

Re: China closed

Not that anyone of us knows anything for sure, but anyone want to place over/under bets on my speculative date China will re-open its borders -- September 15th, 2020.
by t_rock
Sun Apr 26, 2020 1:55 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Closing of Borders (20/21 Teaching Year)
Replies: 7
Views: 8592

Re: Closing of Borders (20/21 Teaching Year)

Travel restrictions, along with visa issues, are certainly going to physically prevent the arrival of some newly hired teachers. It would be pretty callous for schools to withdraw offers of employment simply due to the closing of borders and the inability--literally--of teachers being able to arrive, and I think only the worst schools would go that route. I don't think a bending of the rules (i.e. coming in on a tourist visa and switching via border run) is going to work either with 14-day quarantine rules in effect on both sides of the border.

My personal opinion is these lock downs will need to end soon. The "stay-at-home" and "flatten the curve" arguments may work to some extent, but in reality they only delay the inevitable and once countries begin opening up again, the coronavirus is likely to spread in new waves. Meanwhile, the global economy is in tatters with many countries recording negative growth. I can see countries putting age restrictions in place for visa purposes, as older folks are more susceptible to COVID.

My conclusion is that online learning will be kept in place, maybe with some schools doing a hybrid sort of thing with teachers on campus who are already in the country, and online with teachers who aren't, until normalcy returns or at least until teachers can fly freely.
by t_rock
Wed Apr 15, 2020 8:38 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Reopening
Replies: 5
Views: 9477

Re: Reopening

What countries are re-opening schools on 20 April?
by t_rock
Fri Apr 03, 2020 2:25 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: China closed
Replies: 67
Views: 80241

Re: China closed

For those of you in China currently, have you detected a rise in anti-foreigner sentiment?

From what I gather, lawsuits are already being prepared in several US states and Australia against China for the coronavirus which will seek reparations and/or seizing businesses/land from Chinese companies. Meanwhile, Beijing is peddling some conspiracies of where the coronavirus originated from as they brace for a second wave of infections from people returning.
by t_rock
Sat Mar 28, 2020 1:36 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: China closed
Replies: 67
Views: 80241

Re: China closed

[quote=zenteach post_id=58498 time=1585373001 user_id=217564]
How does this impact educators who already have contracts at schools in China for next school year? Does this mean they will not be able to work there?
[/quote]

A HOS told me today not to worry, the situation should be OK by July/August, but if it isn't, contracts are guaranteed and can teach online until the time comes to get visa and fly.

Can only speak with my experience; not sure other IS are taking the same line.
by t_rock
Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Situation in China
Replies: 37
Views: 81969

Re: Situation in China

[quote="fine dude" post_id=58303 time=1582380014 user_id=105776]
Apparently, the v i r u s is spreading far and wide. I see more school closures abroad and an increasing number of them offering remote teaching. Brace for it, folks. The WHO screwed up big time.
[/quote]

Agreed on both counts. That Ethiopian guy needs to resign. He's been a total disgrace in his position, only exacerbating the situation with terrible advice, and is such a brown noser for the CCP. Absolutely terrible job.