Search found 1392 matches

by sid
Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:35 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Abu Dhabi public schools in relation to post-cert experience
Replies: 9
Views: 10304

Teaching in that type of school would probably count as your two years. It will be up to individual schools to decide, so when the time comes, make sure to pitch it positively.
by sid
Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:17 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Dress for the Fair
Replies: 7
Views: 8879

The minimum is the norm. Suits are the exception.
by sid
Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:15 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Dress for the Fair
Replies: 7
Views: 8879

Suits are absolutely not required. Many teachers simply do not have them, and no one counts it against anyone.
But tidy and professional is important. Dress slacks and shirts, yes, absolutely.
by sid
Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:03 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Dress for the Fair
Replies: 7
Views: 8879

Formal business attire.
Suits if you have proper ones. That includes ladies.
Minimum dress trousers, long-sleeve button-down and tie for the gents.
Minimum dress trousers/skirt and proper tops for the ladies.
For god's sake, no sneakers, no neon, no cleavage, no ridiculous lacy hosiery for either gender. I once had to decline to interview someone with all 4 at once. Still trying to burn the image out of my brain.
by sid
Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:59 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Questions! regarding ME. Assistance really appreciated.
Replies: 20
Views: 35087

Listen to ShadowJack. An excellent response.
There's a chance that #7 could be better than our interpretation, but you'll be safe looking at the worst case scenario. If it turns out to be better, excellent!
by sid
Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:20 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Best paying schools
Replies: 18
Views: 49584

Some of it depends how you do the math. On salary alone, it's under 100K. But add in the value of housing, flights for the whole family, contributions towards retirement or PD, bonuses, health care, not paying taxes, and possibly the savings on holidays if you can get them cheaper starting out from your international post... Then you could possibly be looking at over 100K in the better schools.
by sid
Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:08 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Why so many vacancies post-BKK fair?
Replies: 8
Views: 10382

A lot of schools, a lot of teachers, a lot of positions, a lot of fairs.
One gigantic jigsaw puzzle, and only some of the pieces are available at each fair. The whole thing won't be completed for months yet.
by sid
Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What to do? What to do?
Replies: 12
Views: 13298

Let the dream school know that you have another offer, but that they are your first choice.
This happens all the time. The dream school should be willing to tell you if they can give you a decision within your time frame.
by sid
Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:33 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: experienced teacher new at teaching abroad
Replies: 6
Views: 7581

Please stop thinking about this as a a year or two 'off' and start thinking in terms of starting a new job. Transitioning to a new role, school, life... is huge. You will be there to work. You will have the same amount of time to travel, explore and play as you currently have, or perhaps less. Many international schools are quite serious, committed, progressive places which have very high expectations of teachers. They're often further developed pedagogically than schools in the US. Not always, but often enough.
If you go expecting a holiday, you'll be disappointed.
Teaching internationally can be great, fantastic lifestyle, great benefits and yes more travel than most teachers back home ever contemplate, but it starts with a job. Work. Students. Assessment.
You can still work to live, rather than live to work, and I absolutely support that sort of balance. Just don't expect a two year vacation.
by sid
Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:28 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: New to international teaching - Any advice?
Replies: 4
Views: 6153

I hate to be a downer, but I don't think you're gold yet. You may get there. Your husband's experience is too thin so far and not in a standard subject area. You need to finish your credential and get some K-12 experience under your belt. Uni experience can be great, but it doesn't prepare you for working with students trying to survive high school with their psyches intact while simultaneously applying for uni.
I'd recommend a couple more years in the US gathering the experience you need.
by sid
Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:54 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Just Starting Out
Replies: 25
Views: 35821

I'm going to leave behind the IB discussion. Too high level and technical for everyday use. We can pick up the debate again on the OCC someday.
Europe's been discovered, yes, but some European countries are still less popular and therefore often offer better packages. Teachers in France, Italy and Spain often get paid so little they barely break even. Some spend down their savings for the joy of living there. Whereas in other places like the Baltics, and former USSR satellites, you get the same European style city with gorgeous Old Town, cafe culture, great public transport, cosmopolitan outlook, etc, plus paid housing and a salary that allows a comfortable standard of living with some savings. A school in Vienna includes 'living in Vienna' as one of the items in their description of the salary/package benefits. And wows, Vienna is absolutely awesome, but I still need to pay my mortgage back home and fund my retirement. Tallinn may have 15 concerts per night to Vienna's 100 (just guessing), but I can only attend 1, so how many do I need?
There are schools in Europe that will pay full tuition for 3 kids. Not all, but enough. Tax depends on the country. Many have tax treaties that exempt intl teachers from tax for a certain number of years. Make sure this is clear to you before you sign a contract.
Good luck.
by sid
Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:32 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Deleted
Replies: 4
Views: 6543

QA is considered a very strong school and a good place to work. Package at any Qatar Foundation school is very strong. Doha has as much to do as you want to do, and is very family friendly. I would strongly consider it if you're lucky enough to get an offer.
by sid
Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:47 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Job Fair
Replies: 121
Views: 181919

Doesn't always work. Some schools have their own priorities/systems for scheduling interviews, like highest priority candidates in the morning of the first day.
So I'd recommend giving a block to each spouse, but more like, "I'll take all the even hours, and you take all the odds".
by sid
Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:44 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Just Starting Out
Replies: 25
Views: 35821

From the IB's document: "General Regulations: Diploma Programme"
8.2 The six subjects must be selected from six groups as described in the relevant handbook for the examination session, at least three and not more than four subjects being offered at higher level and the others at standard level.

Taking 3 HL and 3 SL is the norm and is highly recommended by the IB itself as well as most practitioners. Many schools prohibit students from taking 4 HL and 2 SL. Taking 5 or 6 HL is not allowed by the IB.
by sid
Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:33 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Jumping Schools
Replies: 17
Views: 21427

This conversation's gotten too juvenile for me. I've said my piece and I'm out.