Search found 320 matches

by mamava
Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:08 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: 5539

Re: How to apply as a teaching couple

We both submit cover letters and CVs for the jobs we want. The format and content of our cover letters is similar, but the wording and tone is each our own. We both indicate that we are applying as a couple and give each other's names and the positions our spouse is applying for. It's been successful for us!
by mamava
Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:40 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: ISS Job Fair Review
Replies: 8
Views: 8522

Re: Reply

PsyGuy wrote:
> @kellysensei
>
> There isnt. IE is going to get to really see this year just what practical
> value agencies and servicers bring to recruitment and what the value add of
> fairs really is.

I agree. The last 2 schools I've worked for make a huge push to get as much hiring done before the fairs. I've been to 2 job fairs (Melbourne and Bangkok) and it was crazy--we got offers, but I felt lucky with all the scrabbling to get noticed and get the interviews. It would be great to continue to use an agency as a 1-stop shop for references, your CV, maybe a bio sheet, but then just apply directly to schools, which is what we've done anyway every time we've moved.
by mamava
Fri Oct 02, 2020 9:39 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: GRC
Replies: 17
Views: 35569

Re: GRC

Illiane_Blues wrote:
> indogal wrote:
> > I believe you need to have worked at
> > another one of the GRC schools in order to register.
>
> I don't think this is true, but not 100% sure.
> I've heard it before, but I've also heard of someone working at a non-GRC school that
> registered with GRC and got hired through one of their fairs.

When it started out, that was true--it was a small coalition of schools that could more quickly and easily hire teachers based on the fact they were already working at reputable schools and hence had likely been pretty vetted at that point. Now, you don't need to have worked at one, but the immediate school notification is true. You wouldn't be able to do an early contract commit and then quietly continue looking for work, the way you might be able to do with Search.
by mamava
Tue Sep 15, 2020 10:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Anyone have experience with being Jewish in the ME?
Replies: 18
Views: 26922

Re: Anyone have experience with being Jewish in the ME?

ap410 wrote:
> Thank you very much! My fear is not so much filling out the forms. I was
> more concerned with my children being subjected to discrimination, hatred,
> etc. I have no problem not telling people that I'm Jewish -- I do that now
> for the most part in the US because there is just as much anti-semitism
> here as there is in other parts of the world. My children, however, are a
> different story. They are happy and proud to be Jewish, except in December
> when they want to celebrate Christmas. They sing Jewish songs all the time
> and I'm more concerned that they will encounter problems because children
> don't hide who they are. The Israel thing isn't a problem for me at this
> point. I've never been and don't have an overwhelming desire to go. Again,
> thanks!

If you live a life based in faith, that means not hiding behind another religion (Christianity) to get something. I worked in Saudi and there wasn't much said about Israel or Jews, but that's probably because the resentment/dislike is so deep-seated as to be no necessary to talk about. However, as a Christian, we were told not to talk about our faith or proclaim it for fear of being caught out proseltyzing. Children would routinely ask me if I was a Christian and then proceed to tell me that they knew all about Christians because "they eat pigs." Normally, I would correct or clarify misconceptions, but not in my Saudi classroom. I would never want my children to sing Christian songs or advertise their faith--it would cause hardships. Our kids were middle/high school, so they had a different understanding, but I'd feel strange telling them they had to hide their faith--unless, of course, it's a life or death situation. I would avoid most of the ME.
by mamava
Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:09 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Results May 2020
Replies: 5
Views: 7594

Re: IB Results May 2020

At our school there were horrible. It seems like it penalized the high level students, but the lower scores held more steady. My daughter had 2 HL classes in which every IB mark was a 6 or 7 and her grade was a 5. One of her friends had the same scores for 1 of the classes and got a 4. She has 2 friends who didn't score high enough to get into their chosen schools in the UK because the score dropped so dramatically. We are in South America and the idea that student scores were given based on historical scores is unfair, particularly for those students who score above that "average" historical band.

The IBO has shown its true colors and having a senior this year really highlighted their lack of transparency and communication and care. I would love to see schools say "no thanks" to the IB as a result!
by mamava
Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:49 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: 2nd most COVID country - Do I go?
Replies: 4
Views: 5683

Re: 2nd most COVID country - Do I go?

I am starting my 5th year in Sao Paulo and we'll be distance learning until September 8 at the earliest, by order of the governor of the state. Looking at what's happening in the States, I would rather teach at my school in Brazil than picking up a job here in a school right now. Our school is going to extraordinary lengths planning for when we come back f2f--and we won't be f2f 100% for a long time. We also did a survey where if you had criteria in high-risk categories, there seemed like there might be some flexibility for working distance-wise. Honestly, is Brasilia worse than Florida right now?

Another thing to keep in mind (sadly) is that our status in Brazil affords us more protection in terms of the economic level we live at and the hospital care we can afford. We are not living squashed together, we are not riding public buses, and you are likely to have access to the best medical care. You can order groceries and food online. Additionally, your school has in place structures, I'm sure, to help protect people. Is it perfect? Not at all. But no system is going to be able to protect you 100% unless you are completely sheltered at home full time.

There are a number of documents that show the pattern of growth in different states in Brazil in real time. It's interesting to note that Sao Paulo city was a huge hot spot for a long time, but now we are decreasing faster than the rest of the state--in part because we have more resources in a city than in more rural areas (even with the crowded conditions of the city). The governor has said that every "county" in the state has to be at the same level before schools can open, so it's possible that SP schools will be waiting for other areas to catch up.

I say all of this as a way to not succumb to the CNN effect. What happens in a HUGE country is not consistent nation-wide. Not all of the US is Florida (and our colleagues in SP often comment on how bad things are in the US and they worry about us--even though we're in a place that is managing quite well). Check with your school and be very specific about asking how Brasilia ranks in the country, what will happen if someone's infected, what is the status of healthcare and access at this time? And then make the best choice for your situation. Keep in mind that the hiring season starts in November/December, at a time when borders are still not open, schools are still not being opened completely, etc. so next year's job search could be difficult.
by mamava
Tue Jun 30, 2020 6:02 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: new EU ban on travellers from the US
Replies: 5
Views: 8392

Re: new EU ban on travellers from the US

I would reiterate--visitors are not the same as incoming workers. The ban is directed at tourists. I would assume there would be wiggle room for people coming into secured jobs. My host country has banned incoming people, but our school was able to get exemptions for our incoming teachers. I think it will depend on your school's HR ability to work their magic.
by mamava
Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:30 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: new EU ban on travellers from the US
Replies: 5
Views: 8392

Re: new EU ban on travellers from the US

I'm not in Europe, but our country has said no US visitors, but because we have our permanent residence documents (work permits) we'll be allowed to re-enter. Maybe EU countries will be like that, along with a quarantine?
by mamava
Thu Jun 18, 2020 2:34 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Malaria
Replies: 13
Views: 13423

Re: Malaria

We lived in Tanzania for 3 years. We took malarone for the first 6 months and then stopped. It's really expensive and not feasible to take it long-term. You wear proper clothing and bring bug spray and sleep under mosquito nets. Eventually, people get it. Two of our children did get it and they were not serious cases. We had friends who lived on the coast where it's a constant issue and they lived there 3 years, no medication, no malaria.
by mamava
Fri May 15, 2020 5:15 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: 34180

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

It would be impossible to predict. So much depends on the financial health of the school, the way families pay tuition (monthly or by semester), currency valuation (local against USD), ability of the board to restructure/restructure ongoing expenses, projected changes in enrollment, border situation, government rules beyond a school's control. It's really hard to generalize anything from country to country, or even school to school right now.
by mamava
Fri May 15, 2020 5:08 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Staying for the Summer, or flying home for a visit?
Replies: 13
Views: 16185

Re: Staying for the Summer, or flying home for a visit?

We flew back to the States in March. Quarantine was easy since we are working full days. When we go back, we'll have to do a 7 day quarantine, so it's not too bad. Being back in the States for distance learning was a lifesaver--we are planning to open with a blended program in August, but if we don't and have to stay online, I hope we'll be able to stay on here rather than go back. We would be stuck in an apartment--no parks, not pools, walking is not safe, etc.
by mamava
Fri May 15, 2020 8:09 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Let the Bloodbath Begin.....
Replies: 14
Views: 18814

Re: Let the Bloodbath Begin.....

Our school has committed to no teacher/staff cuts for next year. We have a couple flights a day coming into the country, but of course, that could change. I had rebook our tickets in order to return earlier for a 7 day quarantine and 3 days that I asked for, the plane was fully booked. The issue for our new teachers is not the flights, but the visa work, which was all put on hold. Americans don't need a visa to get into the country, so I don't know if people will be able to come in and then wait for the visa work to be finished before they start work or if they'll have to wait. Our school will have a number of teachers out of the country (some of us left in March when school closed) but we're mostly located in the US/Canada so hopefully returning will be fairly smooth!
by mamava
Tue May 05, 2020 10:19 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Sending kids to local schools
Replies: 11
Views: 12852

Re: Sending kids to local schools

Besides cost, there are a lot of factors to consider. Having a "basic understanding" of a language isn't the same as knowing it. In a local school that is teaching in the local language (knowing it 7-9 years to become academically fluent), there will be a considerable amount of time in which your children's academic progress would be impacted by not knowing the language. A full-immersion would hasten things along, but in cases where I've worked with kids who speak 0 English and come to an English-medium school, a considerable amount of academic content takes a back seat to carrying the weight of learning the language. Local schools often don't have 2nd language services, either.

Some cultures are quite homogenous and students may be excluded because they're different or because they don't speak the language well enough or because of reasons we wouldn't understand if we are not part of the culture. As an example, when we lived in China, my 7 year old daughter was sad and said because she couldn't be friends with the Korean girls in her class. When I asked her why, she said it was because they did too much homework so they couldn't play and were only friends with their homework friends. Most of the Korean students went to hog-wans (spelling?) after school and tended to socialize with the children they rode those buses with and with the children of people associated with their parents' work. I don't know if that is a cultural "truth" but it was a common denominator for most of the Korean children in our school. She eventually did have friends who were Korean; however, they tended to be families who had spent time in the US, Canada, or Australia and has adopted different attitudes about work and school.

It's a long way of saying that there could be exclusionary factors that you're not aware of and a transition into a local school for a foreign child could be time-consuming and challenging. I would seek out families who have done it and ask about their experiences to see if it's right for your family.
by mamava
Mon May 04, 2020 8:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Unemployment
Replies: 9
Views: 12363

Re: Unemployment

I know that some international schools are quite American--I believe friends who taught at Taipei American School, for example, paid into the US social security system. There might be a few cases where you could claim, but not as a general rule.
by mamava
Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:14 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Pandemic Leadership
Replies: 5
Views: 7924

Re: Pandemic Leadership

I'm really pleased with our school. We are forging ahead with new content, assessments, etc., so it's a challenge, but our admin have been so supportive and transparent about where we are and where we might be heading. I've been reading the posts on Facebook from US school and I feel really lucky.