I have offers from these three schools but am having trouble finding much information on them, apart from the one in Okinawa. I will have to relocate my family for all, which is quite expensive, so don't wish to get stuck somewhere bad.
Any information would be appreciated!
Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA
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Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA
I wouldn't work for a school that didn't pay flights, etc...
Just saying. It ain't cheap if you are planning on going home some summers and Christmases.
Just saying. It ain't cheap if you are planning on going home some summers and Christmases.
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Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA
Congrats on the offers (maybe some day you can entertain and amaze us with how you come to have 3 offers dangling out there at the same time)!!
I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my child.
So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.
Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.
So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!
I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my child.
So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.
Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.
So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!
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- Posts: 13
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- Location: japan
Re: Deutsche Schule Kobe, Okinawa Amicus or Osaka YMCA
wrldtrvlr123 wrote:
> Congrats on the offers (maybe some day you can entertain and amaze us with
> how you come to have 3 offers dangling out there at the same time)!!
>
> I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council
> of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the
> YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a
> good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the
> mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my
> child.
>
> So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid
> side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus
> gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think
> Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from
> DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you
> are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously
> the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.
>
> Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a
> decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers
> the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.
>
> So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are
> all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help
> you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!
I live in Japan so that probably helped with the small crap schools. The bigger schools are much tougher, unless your wife is buddy buddy with the right people!
> Congrats on the offers (maybe some day you can entertain and amaze us with
> how you come to have 3 offers dangling out there at the same time)!!
>
> I taught in Japan a few years back (and was involved with the Japan Council
> of Int'l Schools) and never really heard of any of the 3. I do see that the
> YMCA school IS a member now, which is a decent sign but no guarantee of a
> good to great situation for you. The YMCA school in Tokyo was quite the
> mess at the time and not really a place a would care to teach or send my
> child.
>
> So, based on the limited info. (including the review of Amicus on the paid
> side), I would rank them, 1-Osaka, 2-DS Kobe and distant 3- Amicus. Amicus
> gets the 3 based on the review combined with being in Okinawa. I think
> Okinawa is not necessarily a bad place based on the things I hear from
> DoDDS teachers but I think it would be a very different experience if you
> are not with the military or DoD in some capacity. On the upside, obviously
> the area is very westernized/western friendly if that is a concern for you.
>
> Kobe and Osaka would both be excellent places to live, but would require a
> decent package and a reasonably decent place to teach. Osaka also offers
> the IB which would be good for your resume for future moves.
>
> So, sorry no first hand insights for you but I do think these schools are
> all a bit under the radar. Let us know about packages and maybe we can help
> you figure out what that would look like. Good luck!
I live in Japan so that probably helped with the small crap schools. The bigger schools are much tougher, unless your wife is buddy buddy with the right people!