Search found 1150 matches

by Thames Pirate
Wed Jan 13, 2021 6:46 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Maritial Status: Single, No Answer... OR??? need advice
Replies: 4
Views: 18679

Re: Maritial Status: Single, No Answer... OR??? need advice

I think "Other" or "No Answer" may be better options. I am not a recruiter, but an "other" means you have the opportunity to explain or ask questions before you get into an interview that wastes everyone's time. They will know the rules of their country more than you will, so they might be able to better help you navigate. If someone judges your "other" or "no answer" responses, do you really want to work for that person anyway? It's not like there is only single/married as an option. You could also put single with partner, though that might keep you out of countries where your common law might be accepted but simply being attached might not.
by Thames Pirate
Sun Jan 10, 2021 8:44 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Smaller schools with nature and great community for NQT
Replies: 12
Views: 12691

Re: Smaller schools with nature and great community for NQT

I disagree that you can't find something. You just have to go beyond the big agencies and not look at tiers. Or you could look at off the beaten track places. Ulaanbaatar or Dushanbe or Lusaka come to mind, for example. But there are tons of small schools in Europe, for example, many of which are boarding schools, that are not in the big cities of a country (though I would not call Dushanbe a big city). So maybe look at boarding schools?

Many of these won't require tons of experience, though it varies wildly. I would also get a paid subscription here. Often schools that are a bit harder to find are reviewed on here, so you can get names of schools that way. You can also get information on the quality of those schools.

If location and atmosphere are your big qualifiers, I would steer clear of the big agencies or major ISs and focus instead on things like parent or expat forums, for example, or just lots of googling areas that look interesting.

I am confident you can find something.
by Thames Pirate
Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:46 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cover letter length
Replies: 14
Views: 13738

Re: Cover letter length

My one page resume is almost a bullet point version. I put my husband's on the back when we are applying at fairs. It has contact information, education, and jobs held in vague terms. On the two page I might put a bit more--

[Subject] Teacher--XXX School 2013-2016
Courses taught: IBDP [subject], MYP [subject, grade level], MYP [subject, grade level]
Additional Roles: CAS Coordinator, PBS Leader, Swim team coach

I might add more general roles like member of the tech integration team or involvement in the school play. I might also include more about my accomplishments and interests as they might be relevant to the school, and maybe an objective.

Both should be in a format that can easily be scanned and free of stupid fluff like "met with parents" or "provided hallway supervision."
by Thames Pirate
Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:38 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: 20473

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

cbadnc wrote:
> 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.


Start here: https://lehrkraefteakademie.hessen.de/l ... bschluesse


>
> 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!


The reasoning is that international teachers can relate better to international students and coworkers. And because domestic teachers in Germany prefer to teach in the German system and become Beamte.


>
> Thanks again for all of your comments and advice! Happy New Year to all!


Happy New Year and good luck!
by Thames Pirate
Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:03 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cover letter length
Replies: 14
Views: 13738

Re: Cover letter length

I have only ever used one page. Not many people have time to read a life story, and some don't bother to read them at all. Just say why you think you would be an asset to that particular school, and let the CV or resume speak for itself. You can have a tailored CV, too--highlighting things that are more relevant to the job you want. For example, if I taught social studies and English at a public school and were applying to a humanities job, I would put the social studies first and vice versa. I might highlight different clubs based on the school's mission or obvious priorities. I think making a CV more relevant to the job accomplishes more than writing an endlessly long cover letter.

My resume is also one page, though I also have a 2 page version available.

So many cover letters are generic and just say "I want a job." Make it specific to that particular job!
by Thames Pirate
Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:56 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How much harder is it to get hired in Western Europe?
Replies: 11
Views: 13257

Re: How much harder is it to get hired in Western Europe?

Getting a job in Europe is not hard. Getting a job in a specific location or at a particular school is almost always hard, regardless of where in the world it is. Getting two jobs that match perfectly at a specific school is nearly impossible, but luck is always a factor.

Like with anything else, the more picky you are, the harder it gets.
by Thames Pirate
Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:49 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: 20473

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

Some schools prefer filling one job and keeping the partner in reserve for cover or jobs they are unable to fill. I once heard an HR director say that they preferred hiring one because if they liked both, they could keep both, but if they only liked one, it was easier to let one good teacher go rather than upsetting the apple cart in two departments. Or maybe they prefer having the strongest candidate in both roles. Or they might prefer couples, but simply not have two jobs. Anyway, the point is that this will absolutely be the biggest stumbling block.

The other schools in the area vary--some good, some less so. But I would say stay open to jobs at different schools within reason; once you are there, the other partner can always more easily slide over if something becomes available later. I would keep an open mind on other ISs in the area.

Finally, don't rule out the German system. Germany is desperate for qualified teachers, and there are options for getting foreign credentials recognised, some of which are actually not that onerous (by German paperwork standards). You could potentially even both work in the German system. It depends on your qualifications--Masters, etc.--and the rules of Hessen.

And I disagree with PsyGuy. It's actually common in German ISs for non-Germans to teach German as a foreign language or even some of the middle grade native classes. For DP German A it's less common but also not unheard of. So being able to teach German, even as a non-native speaker, is definitely helpful. And while the language of instruction may be English, by far the largest need in the language department will be German. So yes, your experience will be worth something, even if not as much as one might think.
by Thames Pirate
Wed Nov 11, 2020 9:12 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: 20473

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

Why only FIS? MIS is every bit as good, and there are a number of places in Germany with smaller schools or Tier 2 schools that are great. With your language ability, you could also consider taking one job and having the other partner work in the local system, for example. There are public IB schools in several German cities. The Frankfurt area has a number of ISs, so if it's the city you want, you also have other options.

A big part of it is having two openings that fit you--and for which you are either the best or very strong candidates. So they might have a PYP job for your wife and another primary job, but prefer giving that to someone whose specialty is primary even though you have been teaching PYP. Would you be willing to do sub work or other jobs? Would she? Would you be willing to work on one salary?

There is no magic formula; you both have the qualifications. Your language abilities may or may not be an asset as FIS is a truly international school, but they may be an asset at another school.

As for in-person interviews, under normal circumstances they might insist on it. With Covid, it's hard to say. There is no harm in indicating a willingness to figure out an in-person situation that is safe under the current circumstances.
by Thames Pirate
Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Top Schools In Europe
Replies: 32
Views: 28350

Re: Top Schools In Europe

Illiane_Blues wrote:
> Thames Pirate wrote:
> > I very much agree with the list Iliane Blues made with one exception, and
> > that is Luxembourg.
>
> It was fine dude and Heliotrope who mentioned those cities, not me.
> I do know someone who was able to to save well while teaching at the Luxembourg
> school, but she lived in France, which was only a 30 minute drive from school. Unsure
> about her lifestyle. She said you can also live in Belgium or Germany, and have the
> same half hour commute.
> Or are you referring to the quality of the school and not the ability to save?

Sorry, of course--fine dude's list.

I was referring to the quality of the school, which from what I have heard is full of ossified teachers who are unwilling to work on programming, update their teaching, or work collaboratively with energetic teacher. I believe one can save pretty comparably to anywhere else in WE.
by Thames Pirate
Fri Oct 02, 2020 8:54 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Top Schools In Europe
Replies: 32
Views: 28350

Re: Top Schools In Europe

I very much agree with the list Iliane Blues made with one exception, and that is Luxembourg.
by Thames Pirate
Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:48 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is it low-level corruption if IB teachers are made to 'help' too much, or is this widespread?
Replies: 10
Views: 19253

Re: Is it low-level corruption if IB teachers are made to 'help' too much, or is this widespread?

There is stretching the guidelines and there is actual dishonesty. For example, you are only supposed to meet with a student a certain number of times on a certain assignment. But the student stops you after class and says "We talked about X, so I implemented these changes. Is that right?" Is that a meeting? It's a grey area at times. In those cases I would consider the spirit of the IB (making sure the student's work is independent and authentic) and of teaching (helping a student figure out how to be independent) as well as the goal of the assessment and whether your input will influence the assessment of that skill or content. However, if you are clearly being asked to go beyond the parameters allowed, I would consider reporting through either internal or external channels.
by Thames Pirate
Sat Feb 15, 2020 5:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Effect of Brexit on WE teaching job market?
Replies: 18
Views: 42691

Re: Effect of Brexit on WE teaching job market?

Also, a lot of schools say they can't provide visas, but if you are from certain countries it's not an issue. For example, if you are from the US, NZ, Japan, etc. you can travel visa-free to the EU. In some countries, as long as your in a shortage field (which teaching often is) and you have the requisite degrees and a concrete offer, you are then eligible for a visa. So just because the school doesn't give visa assistance doesn't mean you can't get a visa. It really depends on the country, your qualifications, etc. But Brexit wouldn't be a factor.
by Thames Pirate
Sat Jan 18, 2020 6:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Creating fake references
Replies: 26
Views: 51628

Re: Creating fake references

Don't kid yourself. This is a troll. And not someone who cares about kids.
by Thames Pirate
Tue Jan 14, 2020 2:20 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Move to admin?
Replies: 6
Views: 13223

Re: Move to admin?

If you want to test the waters, try something in-between like CAS coordinator, IB coordinator, grade level or team leader, or HOD. You can get a taste for some of the administrative tasks and the required mindset while staying primarily in the classroom. You can see if you are capable of leading others, enjoy it, have a "title," and then make a decision if you prefer to keep the role, pass it on, or move up.