Search found 1392 matches

by sid
Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:43 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Hiring procedure
Replies: 9
Views: 11235

Let me tread carefully here.
Your post has linguistic features that suggest you might not be fully fluent in English. These include grammatical errors as well as constructions that are not typical for English. It is possible that you are fully fluent, but that you were typing in a hurry.
If you are not fully fluent, this could be holding your application back. Schools prefer teachers who have a fully mastered and nuanced grasp of English. This does not mean you must have English as a first language, but only that you must be able to use it at a very high level.

On the other hand, you might just be waiting because schools aren't ready to bite yet. There are many variables that determine how soon a school contacts people.
by sid
Mon Nov 18, 2013 4:28 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bottom Schools
Replies: 14
Views: 16423

Top 10 worst? I doubt it. There are far too many schools out there that barely qualify as schools. Once you reach a certain level of awfulness, how do you distinguish?
People might give you individual lists of places that are awful, but if you want that, just go over to the school review side of ISR, and read your way through.
by sid
Mon Nov 18, 2013 4:26 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Taking the money for air tickets
Replies: 16
Views: 19724

Scribe has described what seems to me the most common approach. But everyplace is different.
Some schools will only buy a ticket - if you don't want a ticket, you get nothing. I think those are rare situations.
Most schools are more reasonable, recognizing that people's lives and travel needs are very individual.
Ask around your school. It should be easy to find out from colleagues. Hearing from us, strangers in other schools, won't help you if your school uses a policy that doesn't get you what you want.
by sid
Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:43 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Job possibilities for administrators
Replies: 8
Views: 11173

Have you tried looking at smaller schools or ones with lesser reputations? Schools generally consider that there's a huge jump in responsibility between teacher-leader and admin positions, and they prefer to hire either a known quantity (promote from within) or someone who has held an admin position before. In either scenario, they have some evidence to suggest that the person will be able to handle the responsibility.

That also explains why some schools will ask for at least 3 years prior admin experience. Generally those are the larger or better schools.

So, let's say you're an AP who has worked several years in a small or lesser-known school. You now want to move up the career ladder. You have 2 choices. Either look for a Principal position in a similar (small or lesser-known) school, or look for an AP position in a bigger or better-rated school. Either move is up the ladder, and either will prepare you for the next step. Which is better? Hard to say. There are often people who have been Principals in lesser-known or smaller schools, who move to AP positions in larger and better-rated schools. Because if you want to end up at the top, Principal of a large or better-rated school, you will have to first get admin experience in such a school. You are unlikely to move straight from a smaller school into running one of the top schools.

No matter the progression, the hardest thing is often to get that first admin post.
by sid
Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:51 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: "Visit our table at the job fair"
Replies: 4
Views: 5723

It means they are interested.
If they weren't, you wouldn't hear anything at all.
Or, you'd get a note to the effect of 'There is not a match between our needs and your qualifications'.
Recruiters don't bother sending polite hope-raising e-mails unless they have a reason.
by sid
Sun Nov 10, 2013 6:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Assorted newbie questions
Replies: 13
Views: 36895

Find a school that will take you as a teacher. You'll have to start in less popular and/or weaker schools, but this can be valuable if you're prepared for it. It'll be a challenge, but can be fun. It can also be absolutely awful for someone who is less independent and needs/wants more support in their early years of teaching. Only you can say whether you are ready to go it alone, no admin support, in a school with very limited resources and possibly challenging children. There are lovely schools out there, with small enrollment and limited resources, that are absolutely lovely, don't get me wrong, but no matter what you have to be prepared for independence, whereas most new teachers really benefit from having lots of mentoring.
Or, as you say, get more experience before leaving your home country.
by sid
Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:04 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Assorted newbie questions
Replies: 13
Views: 36895

Be very careful about working as a teaching assistant. Such work will not count as teaching experience, so you'll be in the exact same not-so-great position when you next go out to recruit.
Some schools can't even promote you internally from assistant or intern to teacher. If their policy is that they can only hire teachers with at least x years of experience, and teaching assistant/intern doesn't count, then they can't even promote you if they want to.
Of course, some schools are more flexible than that and their policies will allow them to promote an internal (known) candidate with fewer paper qualifications than are required for external (unknown) candidates. But be careful. If you're fully qualified as a teacher, and yes your paperwork does clarify that you are, then you shouldn't be looking for work as an assistant. You don't want to get shunted into a track from which there is no escape.
by sid
Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:42 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Would we qualify as a teaching couple?
Replies: 2
Views: 7899

There's a chance. Focus on mid-level schools, schools that would be happy to have someone of your caliber, and also willing to take on a newbie as part of the bargain. Top level schools are not as likely to be willing to do this, but some medium ones could see it as a bargain.
In my experience, if one spouse is a good teacher, the other one is also probably good. Your husband has an advantage that most new teachers don't - a built in support network to mentor and raise his game 24-7. Sell that as you apply for jobs. He's a bit of a risk to schools at the moment, being so inexperienced, but with a potential strong payout as he gets better over the next couple years.
Small schools might be the way to go. More flexible...
by sid
Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:35 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Assorted newbie questions
Replies: 13
Views: 36895

Being a second language English speaker isn't per se an issue. Teachers from different mother tongues are in the minority on the international circuit, but they are definitely out there. I can name at least 6 within my current school, without even thinking too hard.
Your main challenge will be the lack of teaching experience and possibly the lack of a clear qualification.
Teaching experience counts when it is full-time, in your own classroom, for a year or more at a stretch. Part-time, tutoring, internships and practicums do not count. You will need to get more experience before you will be truly competitive or even eligible for most positions. Generally schools want at least 2 years full-time experience at a minimum before they can even consider your application. Any school that doesn't, is a school to ask questions about.
Your qualification is a bit unclear. The names of your degrees don't mention teaching, but you do mention internships. You will need to make this very clear in your applications, as without a recognized teaching qualification, there are countries and schools that cannot hire you.

Is it possible that the agencies you registered with are considering you as a potential internship candidate? From your CV as you presented it, that seems possible, and would raise questions about whether there's a match between what you're expecting, and what you might get. Schools might be happy to hire you as a teaching assistant or intern (both low paid), which come with no guarantee of ever being able to move up to full teaching positions. And neither count as the experience you need to get hired in other schools.

No, going to a fair is not required, but I personally recommend it for candidates with less experience. It will give you a chance to meet many recruiters, learn a lot, and sell yourself personally, which you can't do through on-line applications.
by sid
Mon Nov 04, 2013 11:28 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is it time to leave international schools?
Replies: 10
Views: 12382

The answer might be to move less often. If you leave the international scene, you still have to put the kids through at least 1 more move, and even then you can't guarantee that wherever you go will be their last house move or their last school. Back home, chances are they'll move from school to school as they age, so you don't get away from that just by being in your home country.
On the other hand, you could choose to stay where you are for a good long stretch, even until your children graduate, though that's longer than most stay. Or plan for just a couple moves along the way, perhaps every 6 years or so.
There are big benefits to students living internationally. It gives them a perspective they can never ever ever get if they grow up in the country of their citizenship. There are also some downsides, but those can be managed. Read Third Culture Kids and figure out what is most important to you and best for your kids.
Personally I find TCKs and TCAs much more interesting and generally fulfilled people than the general population. Of all the international students I've known, all grew from the experience, and none regretted it. None pined for a 'normal' life.
by sid
Mon Nov 04, 2013 12:47 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Do I mention my dog during interviews at a job fair?
Replies: 13
Views: 17222

I have to strongly disagree here.
Waiting until after acceptance could be a massive error.
At best, the recruiter smiles and says 'oh, no worries, we can help with that'.
At worst, the recruiter rescinds the job offer because either they simply cannot accommodate a pet, or because they feel you were dishonest by not disclosing relevant information.
I'll readily admit that worst case scenario is unlikely, but still, why would anyone want to do something that will make your new employer suspect you are economical with the truth?
by sid
Sat Nov 02, 2013 11:43 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Advice wanted
Replies: 8
Views: 9806

It's definitely not personal.
Apply, apply, apply, and open your heart to different sorts of possibilities. Top tier schools have their pluses and minuses, and there are tons of schools out there that people really enjoy teaching in, in countries that they really enjoy living in, but that, for whatever reason, will never be called 'top tier'.
by sid
Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Advice wanted
Replies: 8
Views: 9806

It's pretty unrealistic. Which is not to say it never happens, but don't put all your eggs in that basket. Three years experience is not really that much compared to the other applicants you'll be up against, many of whom have teaching spouses or less dependents.
by sid
Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:29 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: When Do Schools . . .
Replies: 6
Views: 7868

One where there's a huge gap between what's said or implied at interview, and what's on the ground when you get there. They usually have lower salaries than other schools, poor teaching resources, little to no support for inexperienced teachers (or anyone else), little to no support for students, no established curriculum, or a hyper-established rigid curriculum which is unsuitable for the students, they may be watching every penny to such a degree that basic educational needs cannot be met, they could have a ridiculous set of rules that teachers have to follow or get pay docked, etc.
And most of that you can't see until you get there. So if you look carefully at interview, you may be able to pick up on subtle warning signs. But if you're too believing, you may fall hook line and sinker.
So make sure you ask around about a school's reputation before you sign anything.
by sid
Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:23 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Early decision bonus
Replies: 10
Views: 13215

Seems fine to me. You get money if you make a decision early rather than later. Early decisions are good for the school, so they're providing an incentive.
I don't think I've heard of this particular incentive, but why question it? It doesn't appear to hurt anyone.