Search found 210 matches

by mysharona
Sat Oct 21, 2023 3:24 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How Desirable Am I
Replies: 6
Views: 22156

Re: How Desirable Am I

As always, does it matter? If you would let opinions on a message board dissuade you from applying overseas then its probably not the thing to do. There is some financial investment to make to land jobs overseas but they are not onerous. Apply and see what happens, wait until you are offered a job and then decide whether you are a good fit for that particular school or country, but to ask before applying seems a bit pointless. If my wife and I had taken ISS"s rejection (we actually got our application and original check back in an overstuffed envelop) back in the late 90s to heart then we wouldn't have spent 18 of the past 24 years overseas.
by mysharona
Mon Jul 03, 2023 12:22 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Family Size
Replies: 6
Views: 17932

Re: Family Size

We went overseas with three kids and we got the jobs because I was able to do some inkind work for the school, though to be honest I'm not sure that was even necessary once we arrived in country. We then went home for several years and then back out and managed to find a school that would take three children no questions asked. I think if you are willing to put in the time and not restrict yourself geographically you would find other opportunities.
by mysharona
Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: SA Bangkok Fair - Still worth it?
Replies: 23
Views: 74121

Re: SA Bangkok Fair - Still worth it?

You have to love those 6 page job descriptions, the ones that by the time you read all the way to the end you can't remember what the job even was.
by mysharona
Sat Jan 28, 2023 9:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Employability and advice
Replies: 8
Views: 9009

Re: Employability and advice

There is little or no cost, other than time and patience, in job hunting and if an offer is made then you have evidence to work with when deciding to leave your current jobs, which you obviously like.
by mysharona
Sun Dec 05, 2021 11:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: New to The Game...
Replies: 64
Views: 215440

Re: New to The Game...

Applying in or out of China is not an either or choice. If you are willing to put the work into it you should apply to as many schools as you can. Given current world circumstances you might be surprised at the results.
by mysharona
Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:39 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Vaccination and other issues.
Replies: 54
Views: 169458

Re: Vaccination and other issues.

The question isn't whether schools have a right to ask and require proof of your COVID vaccination status, rather it is your right to choose not to answer.
by mysharona
Mon Aug 30, 2021 9:30 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: SHANGHAI schools - subsidized tuition for 2 kids?
Replies: 11
Views: 26719

Re: SHANGHAI schools - subsidized tuition for 2 kids?

Yes, schools will do what is best for the school. However, everything else being equal two school age dependents will just put you behind other applicants.
by mysharona
Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Getting a police check done if you’ve lived in more countries/ places than one
Replies: 7
Views: 9526

Re: Getting a police check done if you’ve lived in more countries/ places than one

sid wrote:
> You might find that you need to also get a police clearance from China.
> Instructions on applying from abroad can be found here - looks tricky :

Based on my recent experience with getting a police check in China this would be an almost impossible task considering the amount of paperwork, time and energy it requires. That is unless you had the full cooperation of your previous school and they agreed to take it on for you, which is what happened to colleagues of mine that didn't return after the initial lockout and needed clearance letters in order to move on.
by mysharona
Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:07 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Big fish in a small (Lower Tier 3) pond vs. small fish in a Big (Tier 1) Pond
Replies: 25
Views: 27783

Re: Big fish in a small (Lower Tier 3) pond vs. small fish in a Big (Tier 1) Pond

I think there are valid arguments to both sides and I have been in both positions, though I guess I wasn't a huge fish in the small pond. However, I was able to do things in a small school and have an impact on student life and learning that I couldn't have in a big pond. Being a small fish in a big pond also has its advantages, namely being able to fly under the radar when necessary.
by mysharona
Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:04 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: When did you decide to settle down?
Replies: 9
Views: 11993

Re: When did you decide to settle down?

We spent 12+ years at our most recent school, which I guess could be considered settling down. We stayed for many reasons but one key factor is I just didn't want to play the recruiting game.
by mysharona
Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:00 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Countries/Cities with 100K savings
Replies: 47
Views: 59074

Re: Countries/Cities with 100K savings

The bigger schools in Shanghai allow a teaching couple to save $100K, and more, easily, of course saving is dependent on spending.
by mysharona
Sun May 16, 2021 3:28 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Signs it is Time to Move On
Replies: 43
Views: 78217

Re: Signs it is Time to Move On

Agree with the above, we've been here 14 years and up until this year it was great and now its not. Somewhat COVID induced but not all and its definitely time to move on.
by mysharona
Fri Apr 23, 2021 10:26 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: British Columbia Criminal Record Check
Replies: 3
Views: 5684

British Columbia Criminal Record Check

We are returning to British Columbia probably to retire or take on other types of jobs. However, we don't want to slam the door shut on teaching. I have been reading that teachers in BC are now required to have a criminal records check every 5 years and we haven't been teaching in BC for 16 years, so if we did go back into the BC system we would need one. My question is, does anyone know how they would treat the past 16 years? I don't see any mention of out of Canada records being required, not because we have a record but because we are debating on getting one from the country we're currently in, though it is clearly identified as a noncriminal record check. In the end I realize its probably a small cost to pay to get one, but I am curious.
by mysharona
Fri Apr 23, 2021 6:14 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schools Recruiting With Unrealistic Expectations
Replies: 4
Views: 7346

Re: Schools Recruiting With Unrealistic Expectations

We were once offered jobs in Bangkok that came with a salary that we would have had to subsidize with savings. It was a big no thanks.