Search found 9 matches

by cbadnc
Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:18 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!
Replies: 19
Views: 20489

Re: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!

Thanks Thames Pirate! Could you give me more information about teaching at a German public school, or just point me in the right direction? We had read that there was a shortage of teachers in schools, but we always figured that the bureaucratic hurdles to teach in the public schools would be too substantial.

I guess we would consider moving even if only one of us had a position at the school. The one without the position could substitute and eventually get a position. Concerning teaching German at an IS in Germany, I have heard and found that when hiring, the administration really did see it as a bonus that I spoke German when I was hired. It does still seem odd that they would hire an American to teach German in Germany!

Thanks again for all of your comments and advice! Happy New Year to all!
by cbadnc
Fri Nov 13, 2020 1:50 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!
Replies: 19
Views: 20489

Re: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!

Thank you for the thoughtful response and the questions! FIS is about an hour away from where my wife's family lives, and we would only be willing to leave our jobs and life here for a school like FIS. My wife is not eligible to teach in public German schools as all of her credentialing were done in the states. Although she would love to teach at a public school in Germany!

Yeah, the two openings at the same time might be a problem. I would have thought (from everything I have read) that a teaching couple would be preferable to two separate candidates (assuming the cv's are roughly the same). I feel like I would be relatively marketable as a PYP teacher and a German as a foreign language teacher. My initial position a the IS in Germany was to teach German, even though I am an American. Apparently, German local teachers would rather teach in public German schools because of their status as civil servants and the amount of work at IS schools. I got lots of questions initially why they would bring an American over to teach German.

Also, since we both teach at an IB German Immersion school, I would have thought that that would give us an advantage (maybe someone can comment on this). But who knows. Time to get our CV's in order and try to get our contacts in Germany to make a call to FIS.

Thanks again for the reply!!!!!
by cbadnc
Mon Oct 26, 2020 8:40 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!
Replies: 19
Views: 20489

Re: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!

Thank you everyone for your input. We definitely have a back up plan, which is to stay here. I love where we live, and we have a beautiful house near the beach. My wife misses Germany and her family, and the thought of teaching at a top notch school near my wife's family does peak my interest. Hence, should we apply for any positions, I would not be at all discouraged, if we do not get interviews or positions.
by cbadnc
Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:03 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!
Replies: 19
Views: 20489

Re: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!

Great insight. Thank you for taking the time to post. I would have thought though, that with both of us speaking German, and my experience throughout the spectrum of IB, would be an asset that very few candidates would possess. Very interesting that an administrator would look at the PYP years as a detriment that took away from the MYP/DP years.
by cbadnc
Fri Oct 23, 2020 3:24 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to apply as a teaching couple
Replies: 5
Views: 5545

Re: How to apply as a teaching couple

Thanks so much! Writing cover letters is one my my least favorite things to do!!
by cbadnc
Fri Oct 23, 2020 3:18 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!
Replies: 19
Views: 20489

What are the chances at Frankfurt International School? Need some advice from the pros!!!

Hello,

I am taking this excerpt from a previous post of mine, since there are several different questions being asked.

Basically, could you all respond to the following questions below, and give me some brutally honest advice.

Career Synopsis:

Wife: 12 years total at IBPYP Dual Immersion (German/English) school in the USA. 2 years at a Tier 2 IS in Germany.

Husband (me): 12 years IBMYP/DP school teaching IB History/German/TOK/Diploma Coordinator (1 year). 2 years same school in Germany teaching German as a foreign language and MYP History. The last 4 years teaching IBPYP at same Dual Immersion school as my wife.

Both of us certified teachers in the USA.

We are possibly planning on returning to Germany next year, but are only applying to one school in Germany, the Frankfurt International School (FIS). We know our chances are slim, because this is such a great school, however we simply want to know what the chances are next year. We do not belong to Search or any other organization. Here are my questions:

1. The website states that in person interviews are needed. Do you all believe 1-2 Skype interviews would suffice? Or would the school insist on us going to a hiring conference.
2. My wife is German, my son has dual citizenship, and I am American. Also, my son would be attending the local German school instead of FIS. Do these facts enhance our chances of procuring positions?
3. Does our experience with IB and our two years at an IS in Germany give us a chance at all? Feel free to give your honest opinion.

Thanks in advance!
by cbadnc
Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:22 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to apply as a teaching couple
Replies: 5
Views: 5545

Re: How to apply as a teaching couple

Thanks so much! Can you suggest websites/experts that could assist us with our CVs and Cover Letters?
by cbadnc
Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:55 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to apply as a teaching couple
Replies: 5
Views: 5545

How to apply as a teaching couple

Hello All,

I know this has been superficially discussed before, however I would like more in depth advice. My wife have around 15 years teaching in IB schools. Let me give a quick synopsis:

Wife: 12 years total at IBPYP Dual Immersion (German/English) school in the USA. 2 years at a Tier 2 IS in Germany.
Husband (me): 12 years IBMYP/DP school teaching IB History/German/TOK. 2 years same school in Germany teaching German as a foreign language and MYP History. The last 4 years teaching IBPYP at same Dual Immersion school as my wife.

We are possibly planning on returning to Germany next year, but are only applying to one school in Germany, the Frankfurt International School (FIS). We know our chances are slim, because this is such a great school, however we simply want to know the best way to apply.

1.How do we make the school aware that we are applying as a couple? I assume we put this into our cover letter, but do you all have any tips about how to do this?
2. The website states that in person interviews are needed. Do you all believe 1-2 Skype interviews would suffice?
3. My wife is German, my son has dual citizenship, and I am American. Also, my son would be attending the local German school instead of FIS. Do these facts enhance our chances of procuring positions?

Bonus Question: Does our experience with IB and our two years at an IS in Germany give us a chance at all?

Thank you in advance for your tips, advice, and honest opinions. Feel free to be brutally honest!