PsyGuy wrote:

> @WT123
>
> Probably none, I dont include my DODEA experience in my profiles. I alternate between
> SA and ISS, its only about $75/yr, I like to keep my interview skils honed.
==================
Wow. That must be some interesting profile. So you have a 6 year gap since your last employer/experience and no reference from your current supervisor and/or you hone your other primary skills (lying and deception)?

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Walter
>
> The only poo is yours, and the only nonsense is more of your admin babble.
> You have no clue who I am and never have. Despite being in DODEA I still
> attend recruitment fairs. Im a full member of SA and have attended BKK for
> both SA and ISS.
===============
Interesting if true. There can't be that many candidates registered with Search that teach for DoDEA (although I find it hard to believe that you spend the money to stay current with Search and go to job fairs, just for the fun of it).

BM12 wrote:
> Is this the perfect example of a hijacked thread? Pretty tiring.
>
> Regardless of who is right, I still have not seen any links or data supporting the
> argument? I do know it's been asked a whole bunch of times now, but the question
> for evidence seems to be ignored....
==============
Spoiler alert: There isn't any evidence, but only some/most of us will admit it.

Unless you were talking about the actual topic of the thread, pollution in BKK, which does have some data surrounding it.

PsyGuy wrote:
>
> @WT123
>
> You should get over to the BS IS in Tokyo sometime.
===============
I've been there and talked to teachers who work/have worked there. It's good/nice but not in the same class as the the 4 letter school.

Walter wrote:
> Dave, Dave, most of the tosh you write simply makes me snicker and move on, but you
> really are excelling yourself in this thread. Where is the data that supports this
> absurd list you've drawn up about Japan being #1 in the rankings of Asian destinations?
> I presume this is more of your so-called "experience and trusted sources". Well
> as many have observed, your "experience" in year-long (if you're lucky and aren't
> found out sooner) sojourns in dodgy Tier 3 schools is meaningless, and I can't imagine
> that you have any acquaintances who have significant leadership time in serious
> schools.
> So here's my OPINION. (Get that, Dave. I wrote it slowly so you would understand.)
> The best of the schools in Japan don't begin to measure up to best of the other
> schools in Asia. Not in terms of facilities, resources, curriculum, teaching quality,
> school culture and energy. Sure people line up to get jobs there, because they have
> a romanticised view of life in Japan. just like people line up to get to schools
> in France and Italy, because they have a romanticised view of life in historic Europe.
> And just like Japan, there are no top quality schools in those countries either.
===================
Thank you for your opinion and not trying to convince us it's fact, data or gospel.

I do think you sell the top 4 letter school near Tokyo a little short. I have spent quite a bit of time on their campus and the campuses of the two top schools in Beijing (in my opinion) and have visited some other campuses in Asia briefly. I think it would be hard to make a case that at least the top Tokyo school doesn't belong in that group in terms of the qualities that you mentioned. And in my opinion, the reality of Japan is pretty amazing, especially compared to Beijing (and we do love HK, Singapore and BKK).

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Heliotrope
>
> No, its firmly in the middle. The values between rankings are not equidistant, its
> not an interval scale. Japan is so popular with about 75% of the variance that using
> quantiles with few divisions doesnt yield useful differentiation. Using tertiles
> you have three divisions a high, a middle, and a low and JP occupies all the high
> all the middle and a portion of the low. Using quartiles and JP occupies all of
> the upper and all of the high and low middle quartiles. It isnt until you get to
> the pentile (5 divisions) that the regions other than JP occupy more than one (and
> the bottom division), from there increasing the divisions (such as dectile, 10 divisions)
> than Thailand is no longer in the lowest or the highest division and thus is in
> the middle. So yes, firmly in the middle.
>
> SK has a very positive image in western culture, its modern, high quality infrastructure,
> cosmopolitan, everything works, its very close to JP, doesnt have the heat of the
> more southern Asian regions, and benefits from popularity of Kpop. The only consistent
> negative is its proximity to North Korea. From the IE perspective SK has a very
> small bimodal 2nd and middle tier, unlike Thailand which has a normal curve distribution
> and a typical 2nd/middle tier. For this ana1ysis @teacher tan limited their claims
> to first tier, and mine ignores them completely.
>
> There are some very good ISs in Thailand and some very good ISs in Japan, every region
> has all three tiers. For some ITs the heat and the air quality in Thailand are deal
> breakers. Radiation isnt an issue for Japan. Just as the political issues in Thailand
> arent really an issue (the coup was a non-event for foreigners), dont go around
> insulting the monarchy in Thailand and youll be fine.
====================
All the pseudo-intellectual babble in the world is not going to take the stink of what is just your opinion.

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Thames Pirate
>
> Because you dont read well. As I wrote, "if you ONLY want to see the
> campus", an IS will make the time for a prospective parent, even if it
> is only an admissions officer you will get a tour, where as a potential
> candidate, an IS is more likely to decline (theyre busy, etc.).
====================
I don't have any reading deficits. You literally wrote, "present as if you're a parent and are considering the IS for a potential student". Whether they only want to see the campus or not, it is still a misrepresentation that could bite them in the ass or at least be awkward/embarrassing down the line.

Heliotrope wrote:
>
> Where do you two (PsyGuy and TT) get your rankings from btw?
> I'm sure there are stats somewhere to back them up, and I'm not saying they're not
> accurate (although the high ranking of SK is a bit of a surprise), but just wondering
> where you've found them.
================
Your optimism is refreshing but likely misplaced (happy to be proven wrong though). I too would love to see an actual rating based on a poll, numbers of application per school, anything resembling data but have given up expecting it or assuming there is any.

The fact that PG went from "firmly in the middle" to top three in the very next post should tell you something about the origin of his desirability ranking (hint: unlike Thailand, the sun don't shine there :D).

PsyGuy wrote:

> @Heliotrope
>
> Not even second, HK is second, and then SK is third and Thailand is fourth (but they
> are real close and when you look at various demographics Thailand pulls ahead of
> SK). Regardless JPs ranking is so high (about 75%) the rest of Asia is fighting
> for scraps.
> UAE and Oman are in the ME.
===============
Actual rankings vs. different people's opinions? That would be very helpful to see. Where can we find them?

We never did one but some people seem to do something along the lines of a personal flyer or visual resume. Not exactly like this but should give you some ideas:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522065781779433081/

straycat2019 wrote:
> The package is here and a lot of this is left blank.
> I'm used to what the schools offered in the past, so all the blanks is really confusing.
>
>
> They filled out the dates so that's good - a two year contract.
>
> Do they want me to negotiate the salary and the duties I will be having? I'm really
> lost!
====================
To be honest, it sounds fairly dodgy and disorganized. What you had was a "The job is yours if you want it" type of interview which is never a good sign, especially since they basically decided that before the interview (possibly they would have not hired you if you literally answered the Skype call with a bloody ax actually in your hand, but we'll never know).

Now, none of this means that it's necessarily a fraud and that you shouldn't consider working there, given your situation. You need experience in a K-12 setting and you need certification in order to progress in a career as an int'l teacher. If this school ticks one of those boxes it's worth considering as long as it's not unsafe and you can actually survive on the package.

As for the mostly blank package, that is odd. If they wanted you to start a negotiation then they should have at least asked you your desired salary, benefits etc., rather than just a blank space that you have to interpret.

Definitely get in touch with the foreign teachers’ liaison and ask some questions. You've come this far you may as well find out what you can about the school and see what they are offering. I hear good things about Taiwan so you certainly could do worse than working at a bad to decent school in a good/great location.

If you are relatively open to locations/school (and breathing) you have a good chance of finding a job. Your subject area will impact that for better or worse to some extent (Math/Science better, Elementary, Social Studies maybe a bit worse) but is not a deal maker or break either way.

There are also some slightly dodgy/basic agencies that could likely get you placed somewhere overseas that was relatively safe. If you could land yourself in a country that would actually be an enjoyable place to live then it could be worth paying your dues at a less than desirable school (Thailand or Malaysia could be good for that).

Just to offer a slightly different take. The vast majority of int'l teachers (and a large percentage of domestic teachers) are on renewable, rather than continuing contracts. The vast majority of those continue to work in the same position if they do at least a decent job.

Something has spurred you into looking into other schools/positions and so it does bear considering making the move if you honestly think the new school/position (or other possible new schools) could be fulfilling/rewarding in a way that your more secure current position is not.

As for guaranteed positions, they can change for the worst in many cases. I am far from an expert in EU/Swiss labor law so can't really speak to that, BUT, I am currently working for an organization that allegedly has great security and retention yet fully realize that the situation could change tomorrow if the powers that be make the wrong (for me) policy/budget change.

So, you may be better off staying where you are, but that shouldn't stop you from fully considering all of your options.

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Thames Pirate
>
> I dont tell them or disclose the why of the rejection, too often it leads to some
> followup or something, and I dont want to go round and round with a decision thats
> already done with. So much of the 'fit' is personal and things you cant really change,
> an ITs personality is just who they are.
>
> Its usually very specific criteria at signup that have just been decided in advance,
> and theres so many candidates when ou start opening it up it suddenly becomes "everyone"
> and its not possible or even desirable to interview everyone. Everyone who gets
> through the door and into signup can teach.
>
> A lot of the advance hiring decisions are screening related, the ITs whos only experience
> with a BUS/ECON background is teaching some business English just isnt hat the job
> requires.
>
> References arent that valuable, they are basically positive, what I value is getting
> an ITs reporting supervisor and just asking the questions like 'would you hire this
> person again and with what if any reservation", those are the things that matter.
>
>
> It depends what the position and current status quo is, if theres a big push by ownership
> to bring up Literature IB exam scores, I dont have the time to figure out if your
> AP experience or whatever is going to transition quickly and effectively to the
> IB program. Lit is also one of those areas where the ITs proficiency with the reading
> list is more important, if you have great AP scores but minimal experience with
> the works the IS has on curriculum thats an issue, and not one Im likely to work
> with if i dont have to, and since the fairs are at the beginning of general recruiting
> season, Im more likely to hold out and wait than I am going to feel pressured to
> fill that position. The deal breakers are deal breakers, but they are usually small
> issues, not huge factors or criteria.
>
> References dont play much of a role, Its too early to go picking through the writing
> between the lines that early in the screening and selection process.
>
> Usually have a couple advanced first night invites a few weeks before the fair. The
> other invites, about 3 per vacancy start the day before departure. The rest of it
> is seeing who is interested in the IS and visits us. Do most of the resumes sorting
> and screening the night before signup. Those are the ITs that actually showed up.
> The rest in ongoing, with a significant look before lunch, because we want to close
> with one of those preferred candidates on the first day, so they can accept/decline
> before the next day, the sooner the better. The rest of its just filler. Theres
> one candidate for first night, then three after that that get invites, those take
> the process to after lunch and lunch is then sending out some email invites. ITs
> have a better idea how they did and where their recruiting is going after signup.
> Check the box in the morning, at lunch/mid day and then in the evening after dinner.
>
>
> Presentation is just a slide show that covers the standard marketing material, than
> its FAQ, thats what attendees really want, they have a question about the IS and
> they dont really have a venue or place to just ask.
===================
TFF. All of this from your many year of previous admin/recruiting experience?

PS: I don't think the one year of (allegedly) sneaking in to try and guerrilla recruit at one job fair carries that much weight.

Considering that was their one and only post apparently, they probably won't be answering.