Search found 1173 matches

by wrldtrvlr123
Tue Apr 30, 2019 3:13 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Package ??? Love it or leave it
Replies: 31
Views: 92493

Re: Package ??? Love it or leave it

No one is asking you to adapt someone else's opinion (or god forbid ever admit to being wrong). But when you twist yourself in knots with ridiculous/illogical arguments that even you don't really believe, it just makes you look silly and gives your occasionally good input less credibility. Out.
by wrldtrvlr123
Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:21 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Package ??? Love it or leave it
Replies: 31
Views: 92493

Re: Package ??? Love it or leave it

PsyGuy wrote:
> @GrumblesMcGee
>
> Im one of those civilized persons who is adept at the preparation of my own food,
> not some iGen special snowflake who cant take care of themselves. Its a trivial
> benefit and minor convenience.
>
> Whats there too cook for breakfast for 5 bowls, spoons, and cereal. As previously
> stated I typically grab a pastry and iced coffee on my way to work.
> You do understand that trivial and minor is relative to the other benefits including
> the major benefits of comp such as salary.
>
> There is no profit, the IS cost of this buffet for a day is still around USD$1/day.
> They arent giving you any coin at all, there is no buffet or take this allowance.
> If there were (there) isnt Id take the minor amount of coin and add it to the comp
> as a minor allowance.
>
> I enjoy the activity of shopping and preparing my food, which I would readily, and
> easily do as opposed to eating at the same buffet 5 days a week.
================
This is what I "love" about your posts and what detracts significantly from the actually occasionally useful things you post. It's not enough that you disagree about something, you have to try (and generally fail spectacularly) to pseudo-intellectualize why the other person is wrong instead of accepting they have different opinion/point of view.

In this case, you are obsessed with what the meals cost the school. It doesn't matter what it costs the school, it's what it saves the poster. (in time, energy, money, etc). It doesn't matter if you wouldn't use the benefit (as if that someone elevates you above someone who would). They believe that they would. It is a worthy benefit to them. Why isn't that enough for you?

Are you that hung up on being different, disagreeable, "better" than everyone else (rhetorical question actually)?
by wrldtrvlr123
Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:28 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Feeling like I want to move my family back home
Replies: 29
Views: 30120

Re: Feeling like I want to move my family back home

cms989 wrote:

> In states with traditional salary scales, you can make $80k+ per year with
> some years of experience. Career teachers in these states are making over
> $100k on the tail end of their careers. This is publicly available
> information. And as you know, the big kicker - your spouse can work! Yes
> the ok salary with housing gives big savings potential to single teachers,
> but once you're married and if your spouse is not a teacher then there is a
> big opportunity cost as they stay at home.
>
> In the U.S. it is incredibly easy to re-invent yourself, there are all
> sorts of programs for career changers in most in-demand fields. Most
> college educated people can find a $50k+ career right away or within 1-2
> years of schooling, much of it online. Teaching, IT, business, healthcare,
> and so on.
===============================
Wow, if it is that rosy/easy back in the US, why do people bother to go overseas in the first place?
by wrldtrvlr123
Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:36 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Hoping to get my foot in the door
Replies: 32
Views: 78012

Re: Hoping to get my foot in the door

PsyGuy wrote:
> @GrumblesMcGee
>
> More like 100% right, why would I post material that was wrong?
>
> Tiers arent really subjective, theres some subjectivity to them, but that doesnt
> make them subjective. You can be happy at your IS for whatever tier it is, but your
> perceptions of it doesnt change the tier. You can think a tier 1 IS is garbage for
> whatever reason, its still a tier 1 IS, and you can love your tier 3 IS for whatever
> reason, its still a tier 3 IS. You can think your IS is a tier 2 IS, even a high
> tier 2 IS, (it probably isnt) but ITs with a given IS tend to stroke their own egos
> by over praising and evaluating there own IS.
================
There are really some priceless nuggets in here.

If tiers are not subjective, then where is the objective determination about a school being in a given tier, listing of tiers? That's like saying "You can think Star Wars is derivative drivel but it's still the greatest movie of all times. Because it is. And many other people are saying it is".

Actually there are more lists and rankings of greatest all time movies by established entities (not necessarily unbiased or in agreement) than there are established/published rankings/tiers for int'l schools. Yes, there is some consensus on this forum and others like it about some schools being better than other schools and where some schools might fit within a tier rating system but nothing like an accepted, objective, published ranking.

According to you, a shite school in a shite location can still be a tier 1 school simply because it's the "best" school in the city/country/region (unless you've changed your mind/story about that). With ratings like that, the tier concept will always likely be somewhat subjective.
by wrldtrvlr123
Mon Apr 15, 2019 2:40 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Package ??? Love it or leave it
Replies: 31
Views: 92493

Re: Package ??? Love it or leave it

The recent poor offers were 17 and 18K per month which is close enough to 2X for this forum.
by wrldtrvlr123
Mon Apr 15, 2019 6:58 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Package ??? Love it or leave it
Replies: 31
Views: 92493

Re: Package ??? Love it or leave it

I would say that it's a good to very good package. With housing being provided, your combined monthly gross should leave you a nice chunk of change to spend or save. Hopefully you would be happy with the provided housing.

It's over 2X what we generally describe as a poor offer, so relatively speaking it seems pretty good to me. To get significantly over 400,000 rmb a year, you are generally looking at the bigger, better schools in Beijing/Shanghai (from what I recall, I'm not on Search any more).

Be excited and take it would be my two cents.
by wrldtrvlr123
Mon Apr 15, 2019 5:34 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Working with challenging husband/wife teams
Replies: 4
Views: 7033

Re: Working with challenging husband/wife teams

It varies wildly from couple to couple but it's safest to assume that whatever you say to one will be heard by the other (and not necessarily in the exact form or in the exact way it was delivered by you).

Like dealing with any potentially problematic colleague, be professional and cordial and don't get drawn into any professional or personal drama.
by wrldtrvlr123
Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:49 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Small school v/s big school
Replies: 10
Views: 11678

Re: Small school v/s big school

zenteach wrote:
> In terms of K-12 schools do you prefer a smaller school (300-2000 students)
> or larger school (2000-5000 students)?
>
> What are your reasons for preferring one over the other?
============
I agree that your ranges are not particularly useful for this discussion. You're lumping any number of smaller schools of varying qualify with some of the larger/better schools (ISBeijing, ASIJ are both in the 1500-2000 range). Once you are over 2000+ students what schools/kind of schools are you thinking about? Would they be "one school" but spread out over a number of campuses/divisions?

I've only taught at smaller int'l schools but taught at a 2000+ middle school in the states. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Smaller schools you generally get (almost have to get) to know everyone, especially in your division. The bad part is there may be people you really dislike but have no choice but to interact significantly with on a daily basis. This is true in many schools if they are in your dept./teach next door but in a smaller school you may be more likely to also have to ride the teacher van everyday together, live above them, etc.

In my large school in the states there were almost 100 teachers and you really only got to know people in your dept., lunch hour, etc. There was room to find your own space, your own people and fly under the radar is you so chose. Still, it was difficult to really get a handle on what was going on, or the school as a whole at times.

In general, I guess I prefer a somewhat smaller school. I think faculty size and number of divisions can be good indicator of how you might fit into the scheme of things. I'm currently in a HS only school with around 30 teachers and it's a reasonable balance of small enough to know everyone and what is happening with the school but big enough to find your own place and people.

I also think that quality of school/students is a much more significant factor then size of school.
by wrldtrvlr123
Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:47 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Trailing Spouse
Replies: 10
Views: 11224

Re: Trailing Spouse

I wouldn't automatically assume/resign yourself to him not working at all. What does he do now? What is he qualified to do? What is he willing to do?

In many countries it would be feasible for him to do something, for income purposes and to give him a purpose. Many spouses end up doing something at school where language is not a huge barrier. Many people teach English, tutor, etc. Many people do some type of money making skill/service online. Whatever he is able to do will be helpful with bringing in money, developing/widening his skills, etc. I would start seriously considering and working on that before you worry about hiking clubs, etc.
by wrldtrvlr123
Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:15 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Feedback on a couple Chinese schools
Replies: 16
Views: 18829

Re: Feedback on a couple Chinese schools

It's true that the salaries are all pretty low, especially if that is gross. I would give a hard pass on the most recent offer if they are putting you near the bottom of that range.

As I say, those salaries are very low for a certified/experienced teacher, but as you point out, you are not both of those things. You would likely be able to field more offers before the start of the year, but many/most of them are likely to be from the same types of schools. There is the off chance that a better school could need someone very late in the year and take a chance on you, but you can't really predict or count on those opportunities.

At the end of the day, you need a job and working at any of these schools for two years would likely lead to a somewhat better chance at better schools in your next recruitment adventure. If you are going to take one of these, do your best to get the best possible deal and then put your head down and pay your dues.

You could probably stall a little while and these jobs would still likely be there (or very similar offers). Have you checked out Math positions on TES lately? There are quite a few listed in various parts of the world (e.g. China, ME, Mexico, Europe, etc.).
by wrldtrvlr123
Thu Mar 28, 2019 5:13 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Good cities for families in China?
Replies: 30
Views: 38176

Re: Good cities for families in China?

You might also want to research earthquakes in China as they have had some very horrific ones.
by wrldtrvlr123
Fri Mar 22, 2019 6:12 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: New resume for re-applying? Use a professional service?
Replies: 41
Views: 34113

Re: New resume for re-applying? Use a professional service?

PsyGuy wrote:
> @DomeVet
>
> I wouldnt recommend a tailored cover letter. Cover letters dont get read until if
> at all right before the interview, and you already have the interview at that point.
> The vast majority of cover letters are all self promotion praising.
>
> I agree with @Thames Pirate, good and great are not the same things, and your associate
> doesnt gain anything by providing you superior or better attention or services.
> If you get your dram job or some bottom tier IS, its all the same fee to them.
====================
Obviously you will have to judge for yourself but the vast majority of experienced teachers and recruiters (to be conservative) will advise you to write a cover letter that shows the potential employer that you took the time to learn something about their school and highlights your skills and experience in the best possible light, given the specific position, within that specific school/program. All it takes is a little of your time and energy to give you the best possible chance to land a good position in a good to great school/location.

Of course, if you accept that cover letters are never read until the short list is already done, if at all, then don't waste your time.
by wrldtrvlr123
Mon Mar 18, 2019 3:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Male applicant for Primary job at an advantage, or not?
Replies: 60
Views: 54733

Re: Male applicant for Primary job at an advantage, or not?

Thames Pirate wrote:
> I love the claim that only data matters juxtaposed with the adamant refusal to acknowledge
> data or provide any. Gives lie to yet another of your statements.
==================
Not quite of the magnitude but in the same spirit as War is Peace and Arbeit Macht Frei.
by wrldtrvlr123
Fri Mar 08, 2019 9:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Rent in the Hague
Replies: 35
Views: 32118

Re: Rent in the Hague

Heliotrope wrote:
> It must be so easy to get full marks on PsyGuy's tests as one of his students. You
> just give a random answer, and when he marks it as wrong you just say: "I only answer
> from experience, research and trusted and reliable sources. I have highly confident
> data to support my position."
===========
Au contraire. That would imply that he allows everyone else to benefit from the very low standards of logic, empiricism, and rationality that he holds himself to, which clearly is not the case.

He can be amusing (and occasionally useful) but the whole 1900 on repeat is really just him phoning it in and doesn't merit a response unless you can use it some way:

Question: PG, of your 8,345 posts, how many did not include you over-reaching, over-generalizing, falsely claiming authority on something you googled, hair-splitting, moving goal posts to avoid admitting you were wrong or declaring that you only post from experience, research and trusted and reliable sources when that is clearly not the case?

PG: Sad, totally, 1900.
by wrldtrvlr123
Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:20 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teaching internationally to pay off my masters degree?
Replies: 11
Views: 11210

Re: Teaching internationally to pay off my masters degree?

PsyGuy wrote:
> @WT123
>
> Thats true, and the interpretation of that is your keeping a loan in "good standing"
> while throwing coin down a hole for the significant bulk of your career. Graduate
> loan interest rates are 6.6%, income sensitive payments are 10% of discretionary
> income. The LW is borrowing $50K, make the math easy and they are making $50K/yr
> in DE without PSLF they have to make those payments for 25 years to have the remainder
> discharged, and thats what will happen because at a 10% repayment plan your mostly
> paying off interest and barely touching the principal. $50K loan at 6.6% is $3300/yr
> in interest, after 25 years thats $82500 in interest. If the LW makes $50K/yr and
> makes 10% income sensitive payments thats $5K/yr after 25 years they have paid back
> $125,000, of which $82500 is interest, that leaves $42500 of the $50K principal
> paid. They didnt even pay back what they owed even though it cost them 2.5x times
> what they borrowed, and that $125K is a house, not a huge house, not a great house
> but a house, all for what to "keep a loan in good standing"? Oh wait morality reasons.
>
> It wouldnt even hurt them if they returned to the US after how ever many years in
> IE, they would be in default and when they returned they would just rehabilitate
> the loan. Make payments on them while they can take advantage of the PSLF, so that
> after 10 years, they borrowed $50K, they payback 10%/yr on income sensitive repayments,
> which is $5K/yr and then after 10 years they have paid back $50K (what they borrowed)
> and the rest is discharged in forgiveness.
===================
Yes, for some silly reason, many/most people figure that if they borrow money in good faith, then they should actually plan on paying it back.