@Rhysoy

Thank you for the reminder. I am aware of that. I am not here to complain about the package. I have nothing but gratitude toward the school. As a father of 2, I am responsible for taking care of my kids and family. I need to make sure I can do so with this offer. I believe they will understand even they see this post, but thanks again.

Rhysboy wrote:
> No problem - just one more thing - if anyone from your school was to view
> this post they could easily figure out who you are. It might not be a
> problem but you never know. Just something to think about.

Hi Rhysboy,

Thank you for the inputs. I think I should clarify more about the situation. The school originally didn't have a position for my wife, they are very kind to want to support us to make a living in Tokyo, so they are willing to offer my wife a part-time position with limited hours. That's why her salary is low because technically there was not a job for her. Although our children are US citizens, We are only green card holders so I am not sure if the free tax policy applies to us, but it's good to know.

There are many moving pieces in this situation, so we are really careful about making a decision, but thank you for the insights.

Rhysboy wrote:
> I would try and negotiate some form of housing allowance as housing in
> Tokyo, especially near your school is likely to be very expensive. Of
> course this varies greatly on the size of the house/apartment but I would
> expect to pay between 150,000 to 200,000 yen a month on rent.
> Secondly, although the school offer free tuition for your two children, it
> is classed as income in Japan and is therefore taxable. This can have quite
> a considerable impact on your tax bill. Although I understand that as a US
> citizen you get two years tax free in Japan so it may not affect you.
> Thirdly, your wife’s pay seems quite low, if she supplement this with some
> extra teaching it might be a help financially.
> Overall you will be able to live fairly comfortably on that package just
> don’t expect to be able to save that much unless your wife can earn more.

Hi lovely international teachers,

As a first-time international teaching job seeker, I am extremely grateful to receive an offer from a school in Tokyo Japan, I have some questions about the package, and I would like some suggestions especially from teachers who taught/are currently teaching in the greater Tokyo area.

I am a non-native English speaker with have 11 years of teaching experience, a US professional teacher license, and a master's degree. We are a family of 4, we cook at home a lot, and we don't spend money on fancy items.

Here is the basic information,

1. 570,000 monthly for me, my wife will get 100,000 monthly as a support teacher. So it is 670,000 in total monthly
2. 300,000 relocation
3. Monthly transportation 15,000
4. No housing allowance
5. PD allowance
6. Free tuition for my children
7. 2 years contract

I was wondering if,
1. We can make a living with the salary, again, we are not looking for living comfortably, teacher salary in the US isn't good anyway, so we always have simple living style.
2. Although the school doesn't provide a housing allowance, can I still try to ask for some housing support?

I know that this might be a very rare chance for me as a non-native English speaker, and this is a great opportunity for our kids to explore and learn to adapt to a new culture and environment, expanding their comfort zones, and a perfect chance for me as a teacher to teaching in a different country, but as much as we want this opportunity we also want to make sure this is a sustainable package/situation.

Honest feedback is much appreciated. Hope everyone is safe and sound.

@fine dude,

Thanks for the advice. As far as IB, there are some schools, not many, around where I live offer IB programs. Some are within my own school district, and some are private schools. I can potentially move to those schools to get IB experiences, but it depends on if there are openings. I do teach both math and science and AP, if not, at least I teach one of them, and support/co-teach the other as a teacher leader/content specialist. I mentioned those in my resume/cover letter, but I will see how I can cultivate them so they are nicer.

I appreciate your thoughts on the international education job market for next year, like I said before, although it's finding a teaching job, applying for jobs internationally feels like entering into a new world since I have no idea what schools are looking for. So far, I have applied to a couple of schools with the word "American" in their names in Asia, not sure what will happen since I am an Asian trying to go back to teach in Asian countries. No matter what, I know I will learn something new from the process.

On a side note, do you think US-trained teachers have a chance in international schools with the UK system?

Thanks again.

fine dude wrote:
> @Forteach
> IB experience could be a deal breaker, but established and not-for-profit
> schools, who are often backed by the local U.S. embassy pay well and treat
> you like a professional. Some of these schools also offer AP curriculum.
> You could market yourself as a twin-subject teacher on your CV, say
> math-physics, to gain that extra advantage. Computer science and robotics
> are two other areas where there is significant demand. If you could
> convince a school about your versatility in teaching as well as coaching
> multiple subjects and activities, who knows, there might be a job for you.
> Since the coming school year is seeing increased competition due to laid
> off teachers and people wanting to move to specific countries due to poor
> public health management in their current locations, 2022-23 school year
> should be more manageable from a recruitment perspective. I'd work on
> writing a robust cover letter highlighting not just areas of expertise, but
> professional accomplishments relating to exam results, active membership of
> the community and voluntary spirit.

@Heliotrope

Thanks for the information. I am aware of both schools. My high school was not far from both of them, closer to the American one. It is interesting when I think about this. I didn't know what it's like to be a student there, I didn't know I will become a teacher, and definitely didn't see myself teaching in the public schools in the states, in English, but now I am looking at job opportunities at both schools. Life is full of surprises, right?

I grew up in Taipei, so I am not familiar with the one in Kaoshiung, I will definitely look it up. I am not sure how the schools will see me, a Taiwanese who taught in the US for 10 years, but I will give it a try.

Thanks so much, happy holidays, and happy New Year.

[/quote]Heliotrope wrote:
> There are two good international schools in Taiwan, both located in Taipei.
>
> One school identifies as American, the other as European. Both pay very
> well and will allow you to save a lot.
> The American one pays the most but its student population is less
> international than its European counterpart, although even that one still
> has mostly local students. Taiwanese local students are very pleasant
> though, so there's not the attitude that you will see at ISs in some other
> countries with a high percentage of local students.
> Because of its (very) high pay the school that identifies as American
> receives a crazy amount of applications, and the turnover is -not
> surprisingly- very low.
> There's also one decent IS in Kaoshiung.

fine dude wrote:
> With a CV like that, you don't need to seek advice here. I'd go ahead and
> apply to all tier 1 schools in Asia. There is only one decent school on the
> island. Many international schools are over-rated, not really on par with
> private schools in the U.S. or U.K.

@fine dude

Thank you for your kind words. I have applied for a position in Japan, the principal replied to me the next day, only asked me if I have taught IB before. They eventually moved on with other candidates because I don't have IB experiences. That's why I was wondering, for international schools, what are the deal breakers? No IB experiences? Not a native speaker? Not a foreign face (In Asia specifically)? or all of the above? I honestly don't know what international schools are looking for. It is a teaching job, but it feels so different than applying for positions here in the states.

I am not sure what tier 1 means, but I will do some research. Maybe I accidentally applied for a position at a tier 1 school that has a higher bar.

Thanks again, I wish the best to you.

sid wrote:
> Forteach wrote:
> > @sid
> >
> > Thanks for the feedback. I have the same feeling about Taiwan, although it
> > is my home country, it might be the hardest place for me to get a job. For
> > other Asian countries, I am not a native speaker, but at least I am still a
> > foreign teacher, in Taiwan, I will be neither. Will you say that's the main
> > reason? Thanks so much.
> That’s my take, yes

@sid

Thank you for the input, maybe going home is a lot harder than I thought.

@sid

Thanks for the feedback. I have the same feeling about Taiwan, although it is my home country, it might be the hardest place for me to get a job. For other Asian countries, I am not a native speaker, but at least I am still a foreign teacher, in Taiwan, I will be neither. Will you say that's the main reason? Thanks so much.

Hi all,

I was born and raised in Taiwan, and I have taught in the US public school systems in the past 11 years. I thought I will ask the questions, and introduce a bit more of myself to give you a full picture.

Questions:
1. Do I have a chance to teach at an international school in Taiwan, or Japan, or Asia?
2. Do I have a chance to teach at an international school at all?
3. Based on my experiences, can I compete with the native speakers? or Can I prove that I can perform like them?
4. Does my experiences count as "taught internationally?"

Background:
1.Taiwanese Passport, non-native speaker but close to native level
2.Currently teach High School Math
3.No IB experiences yet
4.BS in Chemistry, MEd Curriculum, and Instruction in Math and Teacher Leadership, working on my second MEd in cultural and linguistic diverse education.
5.Colorado State Professional License, K-6, 7-12 Math and Science, Chinese, Project Lead The Way Computer Science certificate, AMI Montessori adolescent certificate, the University of Colorado Denver Teaching for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Certificate
6.11 years of teaching experiences in the U.S, taught 5-12th grade, math, science, AP Bio, AP Chem
7. District distinguished teacher
8. Extracurricular- Culinary, Guitar, Coached basketball, American football, baseball, floor hockey, and ultimate frisbee, I don't know enough to coach soccer
9. Teacher leader- School-based instructional leader team for 7 years
10. District level leadership advisory council, NGSS/NCTM cohort, district science curriculum selection team, multiple district-level leadership training
11. 100% student perception rate, the only teacher, also a foreign teacher who received this rating
12. Outdoor education expert - worked at Outward Bound and currently work for Wilderness Medical International

I listed all my experiences only because I know that maybe none of them will count, especially in Asia, since I am not a native speaker/I don't look like a foreigner.

Please let me know what you think, honest opinion is much appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time, be safe and be well.