Search found 348 matches

by vandsmith
Mon Dec 03, 2018 5:19 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Middle east: Unmarried teaching couples
Replies: 16
Views: 17678

Re: Middle east: Unmarried teaching couples

we needed a notarized copy of our marriage certificate to secure visas as a married couple, just an FYI, and we had to bring it to the hospital before we left with our baby.
depending on how both of you feel about 'getting married', maybe it's not the best place right now?
best of luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Dec 01, 2018 2:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Middle east: Unmarried teaching couples
Replies: 16
Views: 17678

Re: Middle east: Unmarried teaching couples

in the ME - officially - non-married couples are two single teachers, not a package deal.

i have had friends in my time (UAE) there that were hired, unmarried, and lived together but all it takes is a nosy person to begin a problem.

as to your question, two unmarried people without children are more desirable; but as i said, unmarried couples are officially taboo there.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Nov 17, 2018 11:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Free IB Master of Education
Replies: 11
Views: 13914

Re: Free IB Master of Education

it's not free, but it would only cost about $2600. the question isn't whether IB schools would accept it but rather, if any other schools would accept it as a real masters course. the presentation on it in vienna a few weeks ago was great, the idea for it is pretty good as well, as it caters specifically to transient populations. anyways...

it's interesting to note that whenever anything like education is given for 'free' or at a reduced rate, people are stunned but more suspicious. i guess it was more the 'marxist' comment. i mean, take it how you want, but how does the idea of a university dedicated to giving extremely reduced rates get tagged as dodgy? and then 'marxist' as if it's a bad thing. i guess the idea that people should be educated without having to go bankrupt is a social marxist idea, and with today's climate, that's akin to saying you want to eat babies, burn dollar bills, and lock up hillary.

maybe i should stop working so much on the weekends...

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:36 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: cover letter question - joint or separate?
Replies: 8
Views: 9161

Re: cover letter question - joint or separate?

we've always kept ours to maximum one page. i can't imagine anyone reading a two page cover letter.

v.
by vandsmith
Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:27 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Leopardfish?
Replies: 13
Views: 14526

Re: Leopardfish?

actually, between leopardfish and teacherhorizons, i have seen a lot of good schools advertize - i suppose i shouldn't say "a lot" but there are some, certainly not 3rd tier. but many are lower quality for sure.

i think it's more the economics for the school. i have to believe there will be a big change - eventually - in the way schools get at prospective employees.

v.
by vandsmith
Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:23 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Social isolation interationally
Replies: 16
Views: 20789

Re: Social isolation interationally

sports clubs not necessarily with people from school. it's a lot easier in a bigger center. partner and i play a bunch of sports separately with mostly locals. it helps a lot.

but i would agree with sid in that, you could always try to pitch something to the social committee or do it yourself. if you are in this "third wheel" position, surely there are others who were/are, OR who are kind of being dragged out by one or the other group. you never know until you try.

personally, i find hanging with the married with kid(s) crowd to be quite boring, if only useful sometimes. there are exceptions of course, but the things my partner and i are interested in aren't really the things these family people are interested in (maybe anymore).

best of luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Oct 20, 2018 12:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: ISS Schrole Advantage Schools?
Replies: 1
Views: 3602

ISS Schrole Advantage Schools?

maybe i missed this somewhere, but are ISS schools visible to schrole members, and vice versa? are they integrated but still separate in a way?
when i look at all the schools on schrole, they are missing some i know are on ISS.

v.
by vandsmith
Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:41 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: October - Too early to say "yes"?
Replies: 13
Views: 13522

Re: October - Too early to say "yes"?

it's a roll of the dice, but if you were already at a top tier school (or whatever) then i am assuming money isn't your motivating factor?
it really comes down to what you are looking for. october is traditionally "early" but who's to say what's early if the job checks all your boxes?

the peak time is december and january, in my opinion. it's more related to the contract and when you need to tell your current boss if you're leaving or not. in europe, this can be as early as october and as late as may!
yes you good chance with that experience in europe.

if you know what you want, then pursue it. i have absolutely had schools come knocking after i had already signed, but not good enough for me to go back on my acceptance.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:01 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: cover letter question - joint or separate?
Replies: 8
Views: 9161

cover letter question - joint or separate?

hi all,

just looking for some perspectives.

when we apply directly to schools, my wife and i sometimes send a joint cover letter/letter of intent...we've had success doing this, and also with separate letters.

what are your thoughts on this - as teachers, or admin or those of you responsible for hiring? does anyone else do this?

thanks!

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:27 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Downsides of IT
Replies: 33
Views: 43333

Re: Downsides of IT

of all the schools in the world, it's pretty hard to say a particular amount...if i am guessing, i'd say if you had a random selection of teachers, maybe 85% stay the minimum. if the school sucks, and the admin sucks, there is a direct relationship to teachers staying or leaving. some teachers can weather anything - even really bad admin - for many reasons (money, lifestyle, location, spouse, kids, etc...)

insubordination could range from asking a question or suggesting a way of doing something, to telling your principal they're an incompetent boob. as PG says, if you're going to rock the already bullet-hole ridden boat, it's better to cut you loose.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:43 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Downsides of IT
Replies: 33
Views: 43333

Re: Downsides of IT

jamcdona wrote:
> @mathman85
>
> Could you expand upon more about poor admin with checks and balance and
> about firing teachers at will? It's my understanding that you sign a
> contract for a minimum of a year or 2. Could schools fire someone before
> their contracts are up? Wouldn't it need to be for extreme reasons for them
> not to fulfill the contract obligations?
>
> Just curious... Thanks!

not necessarily. it depends where in the world you are teaching, and even then, "not fulfilling contractual obligations" is a broad and vague notion that can mean nearly anything.

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Sep 30, 2018 5:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: 2019-20 jobs
Replies: 24
Views: 28341

Re: Reply

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Vandsmith
>
> Thats bunk, thats searching for the silver lining in the storm, its like
> getting hit with a fine of 250 for some minor infraction and saying
> "your helping your community provide essential services to
> residents". Children being an "anchor" is not a benefit, its
> a rationalization. The only supporters of which are 1) Those with kids, and
> 2) Those sympathetic to those with kids.
>
> Its also disingenuous, its not just "some expenditure".
> Tuition/Place waivers are valued on average at 10K/yr, for 2 children thats
> 20K/yr. Add in increases in housing, flights, insurance, and relocation
> costs with the average IT salary of 30K/yr, hiring an IT with a family of
> 4 to fill one classroom costs the same as hiring 2 single ITs that fill 2
> classrooms. That doesnt even factor the cost efficiencies when comparing
> teaching couples without kids.

maybe, and yet, it continues to happen.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Sep 29, 2018 2:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: 2019-20 jobs
Replies: 24
Views: 28341

Re: Comment

PsyGuy wrote:
> I concur, kids are cost without value, why commit to that kind of
> expenditure this early in recruiting.

maybe there's some truth to that, but kids can also act as anchors - no parent wants to uproot their kid(s) year after year after getting into peer groups, friends, etc...

but yes, there is some expenditure - tuition, flights, some days off for sickness, etc...

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Sep 23, 2018 11:52 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: CV - school listings on CV
Replies: 4
Views: 5635

Re: CV - school listings on CV

fine dude wrote:
> For the older schools, I'd only highlight major leadership initiatives and
> formal contributions (curriculum review, accreditation work, workshops
> etc.). BTW, what regions are you aiming at?

hi fine dude,
we're not hardcore looking right now. my current posting in europe doesn't require firm commitment, so i am a bit more relaxed about it. that said, we're down for nearly anywhere but maybe not western/northern europe again for a while.

@everyone - thanks for the advice, keep it coming if there is any more. after 8 years or so, the old CV needs some refurbishment, pruning, and concise-ish-ness...including only keeping the most relevant PD and workshop stuff.

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Sep 23, 2018 3:46 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: CV - school listings on CV
Replies: 4
Views: 5635

CV - school listings on CV

just updating my CV - and i have a question:

when listing your schools, what format do you put underneath them? i have been putting something like the following:

school (curricula used)
time period
- bullets about accomplishments/duties

my question is: do you use the same sort of thing? i'm finding it's getting very repetitive with the bullet points...does anyone do a narrative there? or is that too long? what kind of stuff should i include that isn't so damn repetitive?

thanks in advance!

v.