Are you a non-native speaker?

Update: The job I was offered, I will not be taking up. After doing some research, I'm not sure all was strictly above board with the terms and conditions of the offer. Also, what even further made my mind up to back away from this, is that I do not think this would be a suitable place for my kid to be educated.

Back to square one it is then. My current feeling is that I'll likely be done with working in a school setting ever again.

Update. Been offered a 6500 USD non teaching position a month (in Asia) plus free education for my kid , along with a 2K USD a month housing allowance+bonuses+flights etc.

Decisions, decisions, hmmmm.

@PsyGuy hahahahaha. Thanks a lot for all of the laughs you have given me. Seriously, I haven't laughed so much in ages Now, I do have some connections in International Schools and I intend to reach out to these guys soon. Not expecting an 'in' but inshallh, some good advice might be gratefully received! I've just had a nice 6 week vacation, sun, sea and sand and now I'm just about ready to get on the job hunt.

I think you forget one important factor, that there are schools out there that merely want a white face, with decent quals (which I have). I also believe my leadership experience is worth plenty in terms of my current skillset. Does it mean anything/much at most IT schools? Probably not but the way I see it, I only have to be lucky once. One advantage I might have is, my bags are packed and I am ready to go at any time. I agree with you about doing something like an MEd in leadership. However, that's not happening unless I land a non-teaching job in an IS.

Having said all of the above, I do agree with most of what you say. However, if I were to have a defeatist mindset, I'd never in my wildest of dreams have landed a previous job that was paying 12 grand a month. (That would have been nutter thinking/talk)

Apart from leadership/management roles, what other non-teaching roles are there? Academic Counselor?

I'll give it 6-8 months and if something suitable doesn't get landed, then I'll use the Saudi cash to buy a house near my hometown and I'll switch career paths and draw a complete line under teaching and IS education.

@psyguy anything is possible in life. I know teachers at IT schools that have fewer quals than me and that had ESL experience only and landed decent International school gigs. 30K a year? I haven’t made such a low amount since Thailand in 2007. My attitude is very much aim for the moon and stars and see what comes back. I’m in no hurry whatsoever to land a gig. In fact, if I don’t land what my target is, then I’ll happily retire from working in education and change career paths. Having banked like a madman on a 6 figure salary in Saudi for 8 years, thankfully that’s a luxury I can afford.

@PsyGuy and @cookies4u - thanks a lot for such detailed responses and for all of the info both of you have given. Much appreciated.

Tbh, I’ll backtrack a little and say that I would consider an ESOL/EAL position at an International school, if it were in a leadership/non-teaching (or mostly non-teaching) role and if free tuition were to be provided for my child. Also, to get my foot in the door, I’d consider all Tier 3 options if the package was decent (similar to what cookies typed) if it were in a leadership role. Being brutally honest, I’d love to go down the leadership route from now on, if at all possible. I’m a fairly stable guy and I’d be more than happy to get my head down for a few years, if the right opportunity came along.

For now I’ll focus on China and see what happens. Perhaps one advantage for me is currently I am spending time with my parents as I hadn’t seen them for over 3 years. However, I would be ready and willing to leave for pastures new as soon as a school would want me to.

Thanks again gents.

PsyGuy, thanks for the reply. However, I think you misunderstood me.

Firstly, I am not looking to make 12k a month, I was explaining that’s what I made in Saudi. Secondly, I think you are confusing QTS with ECT (formerly NQT). Once a PGCE is successfully completed, you receive QTS at the end of the course (it means that you are now fully licensed to teach and you have successfully fulfilled all parts of your placements - lots of hoops that have been completed). However, to complete ECT (formerly NQT), I would need to work for another 2 years post-PGCE.

Also, I have never worked in a Hagwon. I’ve worked in Universities, public and private schools only.

My question was, what kind of (Primary) International schools and what kind of salary, could I realistically be looking at in China? I’ve no interest whatsoever in working in ESOL/TEFL/ESL/EAL. I’m happy to start off as a Primary International School teacher and then try to work my way into leadership from there.

Thanks!

Putting this here as hoping for a better response.

Hey all,

Currently, I am in a bit of a dilemma and would really appreciate any advice that could possibly be given.

My situation is, I left Saudi Arabia over a year ago after working there for eight years at a training centre (not an international school) at a big oil company. I started off teaching there, then became coordinator and was Vice Principal when I left. The money was great (started on 8K USD and maxed out at 12K USD all in) but the politics, toxic environment, backstabbing, living conditions/boredom etc, was soul destroying. Still, I am glad I hung in there for so long and the work experience was great. I returned to the UK a year ago and have since finished a PGCE in Primary Studies. However, since finishing a few weeks ago, I realise that I do not want to stay in the UK for much longer. I would prefer to change career paths rather than work in a school in the UK.

Therefore, taking into account my 8 years of Saudi experience, plus 6 years in Korea (half teaching/half in admin/coordination), along with three years teaching English in Thailand, along with having a PGCE and Master’s degree in Education (TESOL), I am wondering what my options might be?

Just wondering if my Saudi leadership/management experience would count for much/anything? The fact I haven’t done the 2 years post-PGCE teaching in the UK, could that possibly be overlooked by the fact that I have loads of other experience and a MEd in TESOL?

Ideally, I’d be interested in trying to land one of the better paying jobs in China? Does that sound unrealistic? Any other advice about school locations/salary ballparks, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am in my mid 40s, so I’d also love to try to get back into leadership/management/admin roles. Is that in any way realsitic?