In terms of time teaching, I really don't think a school is going to care whether you did summer school or not. Obviously, put it on your resume, but at the end of the day nobody is counting less than full years. It won't hurt you, but it probably won't help either.

That said, If you do plan on doing two full years of English, then I would go with trying another subject in the summer.

Anyone use Harcourt StoryTown as part or all of their Language Arts program? Particularly interested if you are in East / Southeast Asia. I'm wondering how popular it is. I've been using it since August. It's the first time I've had such a structured program. How do you find it?

Just asking out of interest..

I work at a school in another part of China. Our school has both local (PRC passport holders) and foreign kids. I have seven nationalities in my class, with local students making up about 40%. It can be done, but the rules and regulations will be different.

I was living in Cairo previously. I'm now living in Shanghai. I wouldn't move back to Cairo, that's for sure. Shanghai is a cosmopolitan, well planned city, with lots of things to do. Cairo isn't. Yes, the pollution in Shanghai is a concern and the weather sure isn't as good as Cairo, but I often wonder how bad the pollution was in Cairo compared with Shanghai.

I would choose Shanghai, however, I don't think either place is somewhere I would consider a long term destination. Four years is probably the max for me.

I'm in the opposite position to Overhere. I'm in China, paid in RMB, which I am converting to dollars. The exchange rate is currently very good for us. I guess if both our salaries had been split into half local currency / half US$, then much of that fluctuation would have been smoothed out. However, nobody complains on the upside, only on the downside.

There used to be a website called shambles.net with lists of schools. I don't know if it still exists.

Sorry, links don't cut and paste;

http://internationalschoolsreview.com/v ... rew+hallam

Andrew Hallam has another book coming out in November focused on expat investment for Canadians, Americans, Brits and Australians.

I often wonder about the legalities of verbally accepting a contract. Could one not say, "I accept this position pending viewing and acceptance of the final contract", because that's when you get to see the nitty gritty. How can you truly say you accept something when you may not have seen the final details. I was recently sent a contract from a 'sister school'. I know it's similar to the one I would be asked to sign but gives details that don't apply to me and I could not accept an offer based purely on this (verbally or otherwise). Surely I have the right to wait until the final contract comes to make a final decision. Of course, I realize if you have already had time to view an exact sample copy of the contract, this would become more problematic.

Any word on this school? Package? The area it's in? Accommodation?

Thanks in advance

No, we have to foot the bill for the kids.

Yes, we have been told we'll get 6000RMB each for housing. No, tax has not been deducted, but we were told the rent we pay is tax deductible on presentation of a fapiao. If that is the case I think tax would be closer to 10-12% (although I'd have to work it out).

Got an offer today. 21,000RMB plus 6000RMB housing (we're a teaching couple so housing would be 12,000RMB). MSH plus health insurance. Flights every year.

Thoughts? I know it's not the best salary, but does the housing cover a decent three bedroom apartment 30 minutes from the centre of Shanghai? We have two small kids, so nightlife is not important (but holidays are). Could we save on that salary? We really need to be sending home $2500 a month.

Just trying to get some info on this school. Package, the school itself, make up of the student body. This particular campus appears to a Canadian school. Can anyone shed some light on that? Where does it rank in the pack?

Thanks in advance.

Our school was recently approached by this company in Cairo http://www.sovereignoffshoreltd.com/ . After sending some links to my principal and telling her a little about the companies they represent, the offer to come and do a presentation at our school was withdrawn.

This company sells products for Friends Provident, Zurich International, Nomura, and Generali. All have high fees & poor benefits.

ISR should do an article or blog about this.