Search found 258 matches

by sciteach
Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:41 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Venezuela
Replies: 13
Views: 27821

Re: Venezuela

There are meant to be 1 or 2 good schools in Caracas but I've heard horror stories about crime and living conditions in the country in general. The drop in oil price has also meant to have exacerbated the problems.

A couple of years ago I was at one of the major fairs and had one of the schools from Venezuela show some minor interest in me but I was scared off by one of the teachers I met that worked at the school. They stated that it was a great school - but most people who worked there had been held up at gunpoint at some stage.

This was only from one person (who may have not been telling the truth) and the conditions may have improved significantly - but I'd be wary of moving to Venezuela. But on another note - I'd definitely move to Columbia now as it's meant to be a good place to live and work (Bogata is meant to be a little drizzly though).
by sciteach
Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:29 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Expectations Questions
Replies: 5
Views: 10106

Re: Expectations Questions

As you are probably aware - your husband will probably be the more marketable out of the two of you. This is mainly due to the fact that there are more humanities teachers out there than math teachers.

One advantage you may have though is that some of the better schools will not fill the humanities position until they find a high need job with a partner (such as you and your husband). English, humanities and primary positions are the jobs which some schools keep open for longer in case there is a 'teaching couple' such as yourself.

Having two children of that age will limit your marketability but not that much. It will probably be less of a problem when your youngest is 5. Some schools are great with supporting younger parents - while some are terrible. My current school is the former and actually has individual ayis (or aunties) which look after your little one. You can even breast feed your baby during your breaks!! However - this is more the outlier than what is expected.

If you interview well and the job god smiles down on you (meaning there are a few schools with humanities/math positions) then you will probably have a good chance. This would of course increase in 2 years time when your youngest is of elementary school age
by sciteach
Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:48 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teaching math/science abroad with incomplete MS?
Replies: 8
Views: 12766

Re: Teaching math/science abroad with incomplete MS?

Boss14,

Apologies in advance if this comes across as a bit direct.

A lot of these questions about teaching in general would be covered in your teaching rounds in your undergraduate or masters degree.

I've also worked in the real world before teaching and I'll tell you that most of the time teachers work harder and for longer hours than most professions.

There are some teachers that work 8-5, but that's mainly either due to being lazy or they are so good at their craft that they have got what they need to do down packed.

In the first few years of teaching you will pull your hair out, be sleep deprived, question your ability to teach and recognise how much you don't know. This even happens to me some time and I've been teaching for a reasonable amount of time.

As such - I would recommend that it might be best to complete your degree and closer towards the finish then think more seriously about teaching internationally.

Most of the international schools that will employ new hire teachers are the schools that you do not want to work at. New teachers need a strong mentor and support to help them as they learn. Working in a highly toxic environment with no support is probably the worst way to start teaching.

Some international schools have interns but they don't get paid much but at least should have reduced teaching hours and some type of support.

There are of course always exceptions to the rule. The university course I completed for my education degree was for people who had worked other jobs and completed another degree (it's now a true masters - even with the thesis component) so there was lawyers, architects, nurses, artists and musicians who completed the degree and many of them no longer teach now.

So to put it simple - if you want to work at a reasonable school you MUST COMPLETE a real teaching degree/diped/diploma/masters with certification. Most international schools will take a teacher with 3 years experience and a bachelors over a teacher with a masters but no experience in a heartbeat.

Teaching is all about experience - the more you have the more employable you normally are. In every interview I've had a HOS or VP / Prin. has not looked at which university I graduated from or course I completed but wanted to know about what I could do as a teacher.
by sciteach
Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:01 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok
Replies: 8
Views: 16553

Re: Bangkok

The same could be said for London or Madrid who has also had terrorist attacks in the past.

It's all down to risks. Yes Bangkok has more risks than London and probably Madrid (I don't know as much about Madrid) but it's still lower than in many other countries.

I'd seriously consider living in Bangkok if I was offered a job at NIST or ISB but everyone is entitled to their own opinion
by sciteach
Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:47 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Grad Dip (Primary) starting out
Replies: 15
Views: 21315

Re: Grad Dip (Primary) starting out

Just like Australia currently, there are a lot of teachers trying to get into international elementary education.

If you are currently living in Australia, I'd probably get 2 years experience there and then move internationally. References it what really gets you jobs (along with knowing people or being at the right place at the right time) and that's hard to do with little experience.

I've also heard many horror stories about teaching at some of the rougher English schools - but this is mainly for high schools so that should not affect you.

Good luck.
by sciteach
Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:54 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Which School???
Replies: 12
Views: 21472

Re: Which School???

One thing that I'll say is you need to be a little careful what is written on this site as some admin are regular posters and French speaking teachers are quite rare so it will be very easy to pinpoint that it is you.

I'll also apologise in advance - but you need to be careful about painting things with the same brush. I've lived in Taiwan and have visited Thailand many times and find the cities, weather and people very different.

Firstly the weather. Taipei does get hot in summer but does have seasons. It can get a little cold in winter and it is quite rainy. Bangkok has two types of weather. Wet and hot or dry and hot. There are of course parts of the year where the heat is not so prevalent and they also have the monsoon (I think)

The people are also very different. English will be more widely spoken in Bangkok but Taipei is also a very metropolitan city with probably less crime and pollution than Bangkok. This part is my opinion (so its different for everyone and others will totally disagree) but I find Thai people are much more easier to get to know and be general friends. People from Taiwan are very friendly but tend to have fewer but more closer friends.

If you don't really want to work hard and show commitment - then maybe the Bangkok school is more for you. If you are serious about working at the best schools in the world then I'd work at Taipei (which I'm guessing is TES). Normally - 2 years is the norm for contracts but some schools ask for 3 as they are spending a lot of money bringing you out to their country to teach. As such - they need you just as much as you need them.

Remember that this is just my opinion so treat it as a grain of salt....
by sciteach
Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: New Year - New Job - New Start
Replies: 9
Views: 13643

Re: New Year - New Job - New Start

Here are my basics

1) The first year is always the most challenging. As such - don't try and over extend yourself

2) Focus first on getting your life in order (apartments and such) which will allow you to fully focus on your job later

3) Don't be afraid to ask for advice on where to live and where to get things. A few small questions now will save you hours and much heartache later.

4) Take your time in making strong assumptions about people

5) Remember that ALMOST EVERYTHING will take longer or be more challenging when overseas. Think it will take 10 minutes to get a sim card. Guess again. Is it easy to open a bank account? Umm - it depends on which way the wind's blowing.....

6) As mentioned above - try and go to events organised by other people as those invitations dry up quickly. I'm confirming this through experience

7) Don't be afraid to ask questions on why things are done - but many IT from what is perceived is the better schools detest being told they are wrong or there is a better way of doing things - even if you are correct. As such - don't make too many waves at the start.

8) Remember, the squeaky wheel gets oiled by the nagging wheel gets thrown out. If there is a major problem let people know and state how it can be fixed (aka - I don't have a photocopy card yet - how can I get a photocopy card) but complaining about it will get you nowhere

9) The office workers and general maintenance are some of the most important people in the school. Treat them well and often it can be repaid many times over.
by sciteach
Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:36 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: New Year - New Job - New Start
Replies: 9
Views: 13643

New Year - New Job - New Start

Hi All,

For many of us we'll be moving to a new country for a new job in the next few weeks. I'm also sure that there are some 'newbies' on the forum. As such - I thought it might be good for people to share some pointers about moving to a new school and especially moving to another country. Who knows - even us old hacks might learn something.....

I'll post my ideas in a day or so.
by sciteach
Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Which School???
Replies: 12
Views: 21472

Re: Which School???

If it's the school I think it is - one of my previous co-teachers has worked at that school for a couple of years. Taipei is also a good place to live but there is the joke about it's weather. Taipei has two types of weather - raining and about to rain.

Having accommodation included in major cities like Taipei and Bangkok is also a major expense. As such - savings potential is probably higher in Taiwan. Also - I concur with the previous comment of a proper international school beats a local private school almost always.

The real question is how much do you want to live in Thailand??
by sciteach
Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: looking to take my husband and 2 toddlers to spain to teach
Replies: 4
Views: 7710

Re: looking to take my husband and 2 toddlers to spain to te

Others will know more - but competition for positions at good European schools are normally quite competitive and you go to Europe not for the money but for the lifestyle. As such - it may be possible for you to work in Spain but it would totally be a subsistence or paycheque to paycheque wage. Spain is also know as having one of the lowest western european wages for teachers and the economy is meant to really be in the doldrums.

As such - it's a possibility but I would not recommend it.
by sciteach
Sun Jun 28, 2015 9:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Eagle Ridge International School in China
Replies: 5
Views: 13150

Re: Eagle Ridge International School in China

Looking at a website can tell you a lot.

First - it seems as though the website in English and Korean has not been updated in 2 years. This tells you straight off the bat that this is not a real international school. If getting international students was important - wouldn't you continually update your website?? For some people this is a deal breaker - for others it can be a good thing.

Second - this seems to be a for-profic school. I've not heard many good things about for-profit schools personally but some people on the forum state that they can run well. However - this seems to be a newer school with mainly a Chinese population. There is also a dearth of any pictures of info on kids from the school on the internet or the website. This is quite strange.

It might be ok but others might know more.
by sciteach
Mon May 18, 2015 12:36 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: 1st timer -Asia
Replies: 11
Views: 15869

Re: 1st timer -Asia

There are a couple of things to consider when moving overseas, that is what schools are looking for and what you should be looking for. Apologies if I sound a bit direct with what I write below...

What You Have:

14 years experience. This is both a positive and a negative. It's a positive as good schools want teachers with experience. Negative as some schools who are not as established want younger teachers as they are cheaper to employ.

Secondary English / Drama: Unfortunately, this is one of the most common subjects to teach which means that competition for the available positions are harder to get than say Science or Math.

MYP Experience: This will help you get a job over many non-IB teachers, but DP is always preferable.

My suggestion would be to join Search Associates and go to the Melbourne Fair in January. I went to this fair earlier in the year and found it quite good for a mid sized fair. However - do contact schools earlier and try and get a job before Jan. If all goes well, you have a good chance of getting a job at this fair as you seem to have a bit of an advantage over many other teachers who attend this fair (MYP experience, flexibility in subjects, Masters etc).

For You....

I second looking for a school that suits your needs - not just a school based on reputation. Your chosen countries are also very popular on the international circuit which means that you will majorly limit possible job opportunities. Taiwan and Korea are also nice places to live.

Tier 1 schools are normally seen as the best schools in the region. They are seen as rigorous educationally but it's really more to do with paying well and having an admin which makes decisions which actually make sense. There is a lot of conjecture about who is a Tier 1 school and who is not. It really depends on the person you are speaking too. These schools tend to be not for profit.

Tier 2 schools. These schools are normally reasonably good but have something going against them. It might be location, it may be wage or it may be pollution. Tier 2 schools tend to be either non profit or are willing to spend some money for the benefit of the students. Many Tier 2 schools can be better than Tier 1 schools depending on the teacher.

Tier 3 schools. These schools are either for profit and/or cater almost exclusively for the local community. I've never worked for a for profit school, but my first school was a Tier 3 (now considered lower Tier 2) and I have positive and negative memories. Don't be scared off by teaching almost exclusively to local clientele, but others might have more to say about for profit schools.

At the moment, I've worked for Tier 1, Tier 3 and will be moving to a Tier 2 school (because of location) in the near future. I could have been employed at a Tier 1 school next year, but the opportunities offered by my new school met my needs better.

As such, do apply for jobs at Tier 1 schools but also focus on good Tier 2 or good Tier 3 (local student) schools. Many schools expect teachers to pay their dues on the international circuit to get into the best schools. However, I've seen good teachers never get into Tier 1 schools and new teachers get into Tier 1 schools. It really depends on what jobs are available next year.

Do note that schools start employing in November for June - August starts with most jobs being filled in Jan/Feb/March
by sciteach
Sun May 10, 2015 2:32 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: saying no nicely to a contract signed?
Replies: 21
Views: 31917

Re: saying no nicely to a contract signed?

I'm not going to get involved in what is the correct thing to do, but I will confirm that the international teaching world is really small.

I've only been teaching overseas for a little over 5 years, but can normally find a friend of a friend who knows or has worked at a specific school internationally.

As such, most admin types have worked internationally longer than I have and as such can find out even more info than I can. The best way to think about admin is the gossipy teacher in the staff room back in your home country. However - this teacher has better access to information than the gossipy teacher back home that only knows teachers at that current school or in the local district.

So to put it short - many admin people talk. What I said may make admin types sound petty - but many of us teachers (including myself) gossip as well or search for information on potential employers and co-workers.
by sciteach
Fri Apr 24, 2015 1:05 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Halloween as an Indicator
Replies: 34
Views: 70020

Re: Halloween as an Indicator

My first international school that I worked at used to make a big deal out of Halloween. Half a decade later - things around Halloween only occur if something is planned by the student council. As such, I guess this shows that my old school has matured more into what an international school should be. Meaning that things are student directed - not just some nice photos for the school website.

If it's a true American International School (meaning mostly American student) then I would not be too worried. If the school is mainly/almost fully local students, we might be onto something.
by sciteach
Fri Apr 24, 2015 12:58 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Medical check in home country for Chinese Z visa
Replies: 19
Views: 23639

Re: Medical check in home country for Chinese Z visa

I had this filled out earlier this year as well. The doctor just states that it's not present or it's ok. There is not too much to it. Where I got my medical (not home country) has had these visa forms a few times so you'll probably find that the doctor may have filled it out more than once.

Apologies, I can't comment on the tourist visa via HK.