Search found 320 matches

by mamava
Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:11 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schools refunding tuition fees
Replies: 12
Views: 15835

Re: Schools refunding tuition fees

Our school will refund some money based on lunches, buses, activities and utilities, but not tuition. They are also working with families who are facing challenges meeting their tuition obligations.
by mamava
Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:34 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Search, China, and Reneging
Replies: 18
Views: 33511

Re: Search, China, and Reneging

Those of us that were in China during SARS and/or H1N1 know that things on the ground are not always as they seem on the news--a number of friends in Beijing (including those with small children) right now are confirming that. You can play for more, time, but this particular event isn't going to blow over by March--the government isn't even confirming they'll let schools re-open by then. You either will have to take a leap of faith (a bigger or small leap, perhaps, depending on the size of your school and how supportive they are of their staff) and prepare to head over to the Middle Kingdom in August, or cut your losses now.

Everything people say about China is true--the air quality, the human rights, etc. and tons of teachers head there, stay there, and love it. l loved the years we were there. We arrived in Beijing in 2008, just after SARS, and were there during H1N1, so it's probably safe to say that these types of issues are going to arise again (although our school didn't close during H1N1). If you can live with the issues that are well-known regarding China, plan to go. If air pollution and the possibility of outbreaks really bothers you, then probably best pull out now--you won't have much more clarity in a month.
by mamava
Mon Jan 27, 2020 5:13 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Situation in China
Replies: 37
Views: 82016

Re: Situation in China

A friend in Guangzhou was told to report back on Feb. 3 and they'll work on trying to implement some sort of virtual school until students come back (right now set for the 17th). We were in Beijing during H1N1 and lots of schools were forced to close and lots of quarantines because of the mishandling of SARS. Our school stayed open, but we all to have temp. checks before we entered school and there were random checks throughout the day and health officials at the school all the time.
by mamava
Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:49 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Skype Interview Advice
Replies: 5
Views: 19492

Re: Skype Interview Advice

I also considered the background--what people would see behind me. And, I practiced having the computer high enough so I could have another computer next to or slightly lower where I could look at notes or check the school's website as needed.
by mamava
Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:46 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Negotiating and Accepting an Offer with a Pregnant Wife
Replies: 14
Views: 20607

Re: Negotiating and Accepting an Offer with a Pregnant Wife

It's a tough question. For what it's worth--we were denied by 2 schools on a job search when we had 3 kids (one was going to be a senior) and we had stated we didn't need any benefits for him for that 1 year. Both schools said that their dependent policy (we are both teachers) meant just that--they would not consider families with more than 2 children, full stop. Considering you'd be showing up for your first day with a 3rd child in tow, you'd run the risk of violating your contract, starting a contract with your admin feeling like you mislead them, and the possibility that they'd not extend another contract to you, forcing a move after 2 years. It's not just tuition--it's health insurance (and those first couple years mean a lot of doctor visits), housing, flights, etc.

I would disclose your information, but in this case, I might wait until the offer actually hits the table. It wouldn't be too late for them to find another teacher if they said no to you--and by waiting, you know that they did want you, so you might have that in your pocket when you share your news. I would want to start off with a new school with a clean conscience. Good luck!
by mamava
Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:00 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Secrecy around salaries
Replies: 7
Views: 12106

Re: Secrecy around salaries

Obviously, schools want you to go through the full process because, in the event that the salary is not what you're aiming for, you'll be persuaded by the pitch to make concessions in your salary wants.

Likewise, as a job-seeker, you want to know the salary straight-up, but that information might deter you from accepting great jobs that might not meet your salary requirements.

Good schools have salary schedules--some post them on their websites, others don't but have them available.

I would be seriously suspicious of a school that doesn't have a salary schedule. Do you really want to work for a school that paid out salaries based on random or personal or subjective qualities?
by mamava
Sun Dec 01, 2019 7:03 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to apply to International Schools without experience?
Replies: 6
Views: 8387

Re: How to apply to International Schools without experience

I'm always interested in people who seem really casual about entering international teaching and low-ball themselves. International teaching can be really competitive and you need to be able to sell yourself well at whatever point you're at. It's OK to be realistic, but don't settle--a bad tier 3 (or any tier, really) school can be a LOT of hardship and work and frustration.

That being said, most schools have postings on their websites (although they aren't always very good at keeping them updated). Work through the website and send your CV and cover letter to HR as well as the division principal. It may be overkill, but you never know how HR weeds down candidates and what actually gets to principals. I've always sent a very abbreviated portion of my cover letter (heads up as to what I'm looking for, why I'm applying to that school, name drop if I can. I attache my cover letter and CV (usually all in 1 doc so people don't have to open twice). You'll hear different opinions on that, but it seems to have worked for us over the years.
by mamava
Thu Nov 28, 2019 7:06 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: A contract with a car?
Replies: 6
Views: 9513

Re: A contract with a car?

My current school provides a car to principals and upper admin.
by mamava
Tue Nov 26, 2019 2:06 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schools that pay for flights up front?
Replies: 11
Views: 14840

Re: Schools that pay for flights up front?

The "red flag" issue is definitely worth paying attention to. I would definitely know the reputation of the school. We also asked our HR how soon we would be reimburse (interest costs) and then double-checked their information with a couple teachers we had contacts for. The teachers verified what HR was saying so we felt OK putting the $ up front.
by mamava
Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:23 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schools that pay for flights up front?
Replies: 11
Views: 14840

Re: Schools that pay for flights up front?

In my previous schools, we paid for visa and medical costs up front (and then submitted receipts) but our flights were booked ad paid for by the school. At my current school, all costs, including incoming flights, were paid for by us and then everything was reimbursed. It really does add up--I think we had almost $10K reimbursed when we were done! We just put it all on a credit card. Our current school requires reimbursements or benefits to be paid in a certain way for tax purposes.
by mamava
Tue Nov 12, 2019 5:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teaching International Schools in China
Replies: 11
Views: 14403

Re: Teaching International Schools in China

At most decent schools, the license matters. The schools require it because it (ideally) demonstrates a level of proficiency and capacity professionally-speaking. It's also often needed in order to get a visa to work in a country. You'll be far more marketable in the long run with the teaching certificate.
by mamava
Wed Nov 06, 2019 10:50 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Halloween as an Indicator
Replies: 34
Views: 70044

Re: Halloween as an Indicator

I've heard this--at the elite school I worked at there was no Halloween celebrations at school and at the next school (which was not good) Halloween was huge. At my current school, it's very good, but we do go all out on the day, lots of photos on social media of that day on that day--then it's back to business as usual, for what it's worth.
by mamava
Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to know if the school teaching well?
Replies: 9
Views: 12794

Re: How to know if the school teaching well?

The quality of teachers with respect to my kids is one of the most important factors. Of course, I want to teach with good quality teachers, but let's face it--if I had to, I could teach in a crummy school, but not if it impacted my kids. It's one of the reasons we left our school in the ME. Two years of watching teachers have visa denied and not being able to show up until October or December was not something we could put our kids through. It wasn't worth the money we were making.

We're on the brink of empty nest life and, while we'll continue to work at top-tier schools, we are also more open to places and opportunities that might not have been a good "fit" for our kids.
by mamava
Thu Sep 26, 2019 4:11 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Substitution Survey
Replies: 6
Views: 9251

Re: Substitution Survey

We have a sub pool, but it's all locals. Once in awhile we've had an expat parent who's subbed.
by mamava
Thu Sep 26, 2019 4:10 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Rio and EARJ
Replies: 13
Views: 20687

Re: Rio and EARJ

You have to check the cost every week sometimes! I currently live in Brazil--we lost 50% of our salary in our first year because of the currency devaluation. It crept up and has done pretty well, but it's recently tanked again. That means prices fluctuate in country, too. If you have no outside expenses (houses, bills in other countries) you can weather the changes pretty well. If you have to regularly send money back to your home country, it can get tricky in terms of meeting obligations and not getting soaked on fees. A couple years ago we lost about 26% of every money transfer back to the States.