Block schedule and I have 5 preps including an AP and class sizes of 16-23. To prepare thoroughly and mark assignments each week is overwhelming.

Cooldude wrote:
> I am teaching five HS language art classes a week 4 core including AP and a
> writing elective. Class sizes are 16-22 and block periods. I have three blocks every day. What do other
> other teachers consider fair and reasonable?

Well yes of course. They are considered a cost saving benefit, popular in more remote locations where social opportunities may be more limited. If one half of the couple teaches Math or Science, then very desirable indeed.

I am teaching five HS language art classes a week 4 core including AP and a writing elective. Class sizes are 16-22 and block periods. What do other other teachers consider fair and reasonable?

If the IB school is offering training and your subject areas, take it. I have worked for QSI and their 'mastery learning' system and academics are a joke. IB experience is becoming more valuable. The salaries are not that great at QSI but low to mid range compared to ISS schools. Good luck!

Two weeks later and still no positive response from ISS headquarters. When you are sitting in a remote location calling them up is not that simple. They ought to respond to email queries in a professional manner but simply do not. Refused a refund even though they have done nothing.

Awful. Will try SEARCH next.

Wow Heyteach - that is a heck of a lot better than ISS who grab your money and do nothing in return!

Sadly Wistuco we decided to change schools and went to an organization that is large but teachers lives outside school are private. When you are in your forties/fifties you don't expect to be told to ensure that you sleep in your own apartment each night and be home by a certain time in case the security guard reports it to the landlord who would be 'offended.' The upside is that we are very happily together!

Does anyone have updated info or experience of the American School Casablanca?

As a single guy in my late forties, I met the love of my life last year who was teaching in the same school. Unfortunately, the director did not approve of singles dating at all, especially between staff. There have always been singles in the schools I have taught in overseas - the men generally do tend to go for young locals and the women tend to stick to each other.

Just join lots of groups outside school where there is more chance of meeting singles. Some of us do appreciate intelligent mature women instead of local bimbos that we can't communicate with emotionally or intellectually.

Look for larger schools to teach in where there are more singles and avoid religious type schools where you are supposed to be married to the job.

I'd stay out of the smaller schools and those that are very nationalised. As a teacher you also want qualified and competent teachers for your own kids so check teachers at the grade level your kids would be entering. Also in some QSI schools teachers are not certified or are non native speakers.Having a good year also depends on how religious the school staff and director are - if you are not of the 'christian' persuasion you could have an uncomfortable year or two.

Lots of other schools out there.

I would agree with Danda on many points re: QSI. I found the Mastery Learning system to be very subjective and simplistic to follow and teach. In many QSI schools subjects like ESL, ART, PE and Music aren't valued enough to have qualified teachers. In fact, QSI seems to think anyone can teach ESL, PE or Art and you might find yourself doing that.

If you have a non-teaching spouse, QSI is great as your spouse will be likely be given a position as a PE or ESL teacher or classroom assistant. Nor is being a native English speaker a requisite.

Eastern Europe - especially the former 'stans' are crap locations where saving is difficult and the lifestyle can be restrictive. It is true that if you are non religious you may be outside the 'golden friendship' circle at certain schools where directors bestow special privileges on those they attend prayer breakfasts and church with. In a small school this can be very unpleasant and most unchristian-like behavior.

There are better schools out there with better pay, conditions and locations but to get a toe in the international door, stay one or two years and move on.

I would agree with Danda on many points re: QSI. I found the Mastery Learning system to be very subjective and simplistic to follow and teach. In many QSI schools subjects like ESL, ART, PE and Music aren't valued enough to have qualified teachers. In fact, QSI seems to think anyone can teach ESL, PE or Art and you might find yourself doing that.

If you have a non-teaching spouse, QSI is great as your spouse will be likely be given a position as a PE or ESL teacher or classroom assistant. Nor is being a native English speaker a requisite.

Eastern Europe - especially the former 'stans' are crap locations where saving is difficult and the lifestyle can be restrictive. It is true that if you are non religious you may be outside the 'golden friendship' circle at certain schools where directors bestow special privileges on those they attend prayer breakfasts and church with. In a small school this can be very unpleasant and most unchristian-like behavior.

There are better schools out there with better pay, conditions and locations but to get a toe in the international door, stay one or two years and move on.

Having spent four years with QSi in two locations, i would advise staying out of Kazaksthan - especially Atyrau ( location sucks - oilfield trash town with nothing to do and unpleasant administration) and Almaty (very expensive and high staff turnover). China is pretty good and so is Macedonia. Housing varies a lot from location to location as do religious expectations depending on the administrator.

QSI appears to hire singles based on need i.e. for locations like Atyrau etc where they can't get couples. However, they have strong moral guidelines and do not like singles dating local or each other, going to bars or generally having much of a life outside school.