It's all apples or oranges....pretty much.

I like Search. I have been with them for over 10 years. Others may disagree; However, just chose the one that's most convenient for you.

If the dates overlap, I'd chose the later fair. Recruiters often keep candidates hanging when the fairs are close together so they can pick and choose. The later fair when two are close together often determine their decisions.

Hi NMS,

Ask a principal, assistant principal, and department head. If you don't have those, contact your recruiter at Search for advice.

Hi NMS!

You need to contact your associate at Search and let them know what is happening with the application. How frustrating! :x

Sorry to hear about your situation!! WOW!!! That's tough! Hope things get cleared up real soon.

Name and shame??? There's a pretty accurate review of the school on here. Anybody interested in the school will stumble across it. :0)

Have you had any end-of-contract surprises?

I was just told that I don't get return airfare. Last year, some teachers got it, others didn't. There is very unclear, selective policy happening at this school! Honestly though, I'm not surprised. BLECH!!!

Anybody else getting some last minute surprises???

Italy has a lot of foreigners married to Italians. I would ask how many foreign hires were at the school. Chances are....the school is one of a few decent gigs in town for the local hires. Hence, no reviews on here.

Make sure you make at least 40K Euro annually (you shouldn't have to pay taxes for 2 yrs if your country has a tax exempt agreement). Otherwise, you will be struggling. Salary may be good for local hires as they often have more than one income. If you have to pay taxes, that will be around 35% of your income. That will make life a struggle!

Good Luck!

I think TIE is better. JMHO

My first int'l placement was in Egypt. I still yet have not found the comeraderie that that placement provided.

I was at a terrible school that I am surprised stayed open the 2 years I was there. However, the friendhsips and travelling that I did there created some of the best memories of my life!

It was a great start to int'l teaching. It taught me many essential skills needed for int'l teaching (flexibility, adaptability, willingness to succomb to chaos that I feel is ridiculous but a part of a culture, acceptance of the fact that int'l teaching doesn't meet standards of the US/UK, etc.)

All in all, my first experience "broke me in" and made me a better teacher. I may have worked in a school where education was not the top priority, but I worked somewhere that taught me that I can only do what I am capable of dong with what I have.

I went to the Search Bagkok fair and I was not at all enthusiastic about it. In fact, I was prepared to leave without a job. (especially considering I'm single).

Boy, was I disillusioned! I arrived and had more than 15 requests for interviews. I didn't have to wait in any lines for interviews. I had requests from a few top schools (Taipei Am School, IS Manila, Yokohama, Bombay, Bangkok Patana, and more!). I had 2 job offers and accepted one of them. A very competitive fair, but definitely worth sweating out the competition!

I'm a sp ed teacher and had many schools interested in me. I think this fair is more challenging for elementary teachers or other teachers in positions easily filled with couples.

I like Suddenpaws ideas too! I have always appreciated this forum, considering we had nothing like this before. Thank you ISR for even creating this!!! As far as finding anything on the forum, I just used the search feature and was able to find what I was looking for. It wasn't the most convenient; however, I was always thankful to at least have a forum to search. As with anything, there is always room for change and updating. As you do this, remember that your efforts thus far are GREATLY appreciated.

My experience with schools that are primarily local students has been that the schools primarily run on local culture standards: However, they try to integrate whatever other standard they claim. They usually have a group of expats that have married locals to support it.

Evaluate your own expectations of education and living and decide if you can accept "their" standards before you decide to go there. B/c most likely YOUR expectations will not be met, but theirs will.

I am speculating here....I would imagine that recruiters would go to the early job fairs before seriously considering you.....unless you REALLY stood out to them. The early fairs are quite attractive for teaching couples. Maybe they feel that they should wait until after the fairs before they start SKYPE interviews???

It's still a work in progress, but here's what I am thinking about now.

How much contact time would I have with students?

What would you say is the biggest challenge for the typical new teacher at your school?

Extra teaching duties: (recess, lunch, etc.)

Is there a formal referral process for students that teachers feel may need learning support?

Is there a psychologist at the school?

Are there related services at the school (Speech, OT)?

If there isn’t an OT/Speech person at school, how are these students serviced?

Teaching start/finish time:

Total number of teaching staff

What would you guess to be the percentage of local hire ______

overseas hire_______
overseas hire married to local: _______

Would you describe your staff as being predominantly in their 20’s, more in their 30’s/40‘s, or nearing retirement?

What would you guess to be the percentage of singles ______

couples______
couples w/ kids ______

What would you say is the biggest challenge for the typical new teacher at your school?

1-when is the first pay?
2-picked up/met at airport?
3-transportation to/from school
4-teacher reviews process?
5-what is the new teacher “settling inâ€

On your resume do you list all positions from day 1 or do you start later?

Thanks for the responses everybody! I know it may sound silly, but the responses really do make me feel better.