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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Posts: 442
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 Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
This is going to sound like a real newbie question ... But what exactly is an international school????
I had always assumed it was a school in which home country certified teachers taught subjects, in much the same way as they do at home, but in foreign countries. |
I would have said a school that teaches an international curriculum such as A-level/IGCSE, SATS/AP (whatever the American system is, I don't really know) or International Baccalaureate.
The make-up of these schools will be different from place to place, some will be majority children of expats, others might be majority Chinese with parents who want them to have a foreign education. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| That's what I thought too, which basically means it's nothing to do with TEFL really. Or at best, very little to do with TEFL. Unless its not really an international school. I know they get talked about a lot on here, but I'm never sure why really. |
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wonderingjoesmith
Joined: 19 Aug 2012
Posts: 910
Location: Guangzhou
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| kungfuman wrote: |
I work at an international school now.
12 classes a week. Mostly with the same group of students.
I had to cover classes for a teacher who didn't show up. Grade 5 and grade 1.
Students in the of these classes were pretty bright. Most from out of China. Taiwan, HK, Malaysia, UK, USA, Canada.
So far it's no different than other places except the Chinese staffers are in general very nice. Some are chatty.
So only downers I have met are some foreign teachers who think their poopy don't smell like poopy. I make sure to stay away from them.
I'm teaching high school. Can't say it is good but I have a strong disposition. And they pay me. What more do I need? |
I wonder how this international school deals with rich Russians, Africans or Chinese that have low English level kids to enroll. |
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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Posts: 442
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
| That's what I thought too, which basically means it's nothing to do with TEFL really. Or at best, very little to do with TEFL. Unless its not really an international school. I know they get talked about a lot on here, but I'm never sure why really. |
The curriculum is taught in English, so there will certainly (ESAP) English for Specific Academic Purposes staff. |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:57 am Post subject: |
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What makes it an international school is that it enrolls both Chinese and foreign students. And they pay a premium for a few dozen foreign teachers.
Some students have decent English, some not.
I had to take someone else's 5th grade class. MANY of the students spoke decently. Some, not at all. Surprisingly, the Koreans did the best and had the best attitude. |
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Mr. Leafy
Joined: 24 Apr 2012
Posts: 246
Location: North of the Wall
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
This is going to sound like a real newbie question ... But what exactly is an international school????
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In my experience there are three types. First are �real� international schools. These are run by an overseas body of education. Most teachers come from that country or one with a similar educations system. They have to do everything that a school in the home country would do to maintain certification as regards to curriculum and standards. These are not necessarily English. There are Japanese, French and Indian and other international school in many countries which enroll expat kids and follow exactly the what their peers at home are doing. The school and work culture is largely what you would expect at home. Depending on the host country, sometimes locals can attend, sometimes the govt. restricts to foreign students. The fees are usually ridiculously high because the parents� company is paying the fees. Students leave with a US/Canadian/British diploma.
This first type is what I was referring to in my message above.
Then there are local schools with an international course or program where the kids study more (usually) English and maybe take some content courses in English. They may prepare the students for tertiary study abroad. These vary greatly in how international they are and what the quality is. Certification is only local, students cannot claim to have graduated from a US/Canadian/British high school.
I�ve worked at the above two types.
And then there are the (usually) kindergartens which have �international� in their school name because a foreign teacher is present and sings songs with the kids. |
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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Posts: 442
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:40 am Post subject: |
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Nicely summarised on the whole, but I kind of take issue with the following (bolded)
| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
Then there are local schools with an international course or program where the kids study more (usually) English and maybe take some content courses in English. They may prepare the students for tertiary study abroad. These vary greatly in how international they are and what the quality is. Certification is only local, students cannot claim to have graduated from a US/Canadian/British high school.
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If it's a school following an international programme, certification would likely be conferred by an exam board such as Cambridge (UK) or equivalent and their certification would be globally accepted. This is usually true even in the case of locally owned and run 'international' schools with a student body that is majority local. |
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Mr. Leafy
Joined: 24 Apr 2012
Posts: 246
Location: North of the Wall
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| twilothunder wrote: |
Nicely summarised on the whole, but I kind of take issue with the following (bolded)
| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
Then there are local schools with an international course or program where the kids study more (usually) English and maybe take some content courses in English. They may prepare the students for tertiary study abroad. These vary greatly in how international they are and what the quality is. Certification is only local, students cannot claim to have graduated from a US/Canadian/British high school.
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If it's a school following an international programme, certification would likely be conferred by an exam board such as Cambridge (UK) or equivalent and their certification would be globally accepted. This is usually true even in the case of locally owned and run 'international' schools with a student body that is majority local. |
The problem here is you only took part of the sentence, and not the key part.
Cambridge exams are great and globally recognised but they are English exams, they have nothing at all to do with certifying high schools. I was talking about high school graduation. A student graduating from a country X international school in country Y can often enter university in country X as a domestic student.
These names can be abused too though. I know there are several "Singapore International Schools" in Jakarta that have nothing to do with the Singapore Board of Education. |
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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Posts: 442
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
The problem here is you only took part of the sentence, and not the key part.
Cambridge exams are great and globally recognised but they are English exams, they have nothing at all to do with certifying high schools. I was talking about high school graduation. A student graduating from a country X international school in country Y can often enter university in country X as a domestic student.
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I am still not sure what you mean here by 'certifying high schools'. Forgive me as I only know the UK system and am not familiar with US/Korean/Canadian whatever system.
Cambridge do not only offer English exams. If a school offers A-Level, IGCSE it will be a certified Cambridge (or other UK exam board) Centre, regardless of whether it is locally owned/run and even if it has 100% local students. Cambridge have everything to do with certifying high schools where their exams are taken.
Whether a student can enter the UK as a 'domestic student' has nothing to do with what school they attended, it is down to their citizenship status.
But as I said, the American system or whatever may be different so please enlighten me. |
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JayCee86
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 3:19 am Post subject: |
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| ecubyrd wrote: |
| kungfuman wrote: |
| traydragen wrote: |
Hey, where is the best place to find international school jobs in China. I have a Master's +30 in education (counseling) and my wife and I will be finishing up our first year of teaching in Korea, in February, am I qualified to teach/maybe be a counselor at one of the international schools? Your help is greatly appreciated! |
I don't think the job of "counselor" is something chinese or international schools need (ever?). teachers and lecturers yes. Specialty teachers like math and science definitely.
I know so little about the workings of my school actually. I keep a simple mentality - I teach, do my work, and then leave when class is done.
As far as school needs I would have to ask those that hire - typically the principle's secretary and the departmental heads themselves.
As far as February 2013, I doubt THEY think so far ahead.
if you are interested send me w pm with your info and I can ask next week.
I got the job from a friend that works there. He mentioned it to me one night while chatting in a coffee shop. |
Sounds like yours is one of those schools that has "international" in its name and is a school that sells itself as one even though it really isn't. |
I agree with ecubyrd, this sounds like a school that puts international in its name but isn't really one.
For one thing, I don't think the principal's (not principle's) secretary is not in charge of hiring new teachers. Also, Chinese students are not allowed to attend real interational schools in China, unless they have a foreign / HK, Macao & Taiwan passport.
@traydragen, don't listen to kunguman, quite a few international schools have counselors, I met a guy who held such a position at an international school in Shanghai.
Also, don't listen to him about international schools not thinking as far ahead as February of next year. Many international schools start the recruitment process for September of one year just after the start of term the September before and have recruited all the new teachers they need by January. Some still hire for September at the start of summer and there may be one or two last minute jobs going at the start of the year, but only one or two.
Most schools though try to recruit for September starts, so there aren't so many jobs going in February.
A couple of websites that can help with finding a job are www.theinternationaleducator.com and www.ticrecruitment.com
As to whether you're qualified to teach or be a counselor in a "real" international school, are you qualified to do the same in your own country? |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| @traydragen, don't listen to kunguman, quite a few international schools have counselors |
Suddenly you are an expert and know everything about my school and every other school in China?
As I stated I have never worked in a school that employed a foreign counselor. The school I work at has none- but has at least 20 foreign teachers who teach students of various ethnicity.
And the principal's secretary is part of the hiring process.
I am so happy you know so much about everything JayCee86. |
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JayCee86
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 82
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:11 am Post subject: |
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I'm not claiming to know anything about your school other than it's not a real international school. Nor am I claiming to know about every school in China, just that I have more accurate information about international schools in China than you.
Yes, your school's principal's secretary may help with hiring, I wasn't doubting this. I was saying that at international schools this doesn't happen, therefore I doubt your school is a true international school, which is what the OP was asking about.
Secondly, you didn't just say that no school you've worked at has had a counselor, you said "I don't think the job of "counselor" is something chinese or international schools need (ever?)."
This is not the same as just saying no school you've worked at has had one. Insread, it strongly suggests that international schools don't employ anyone in this role. I was informing the OP that this is misleading and that many inernational schools do employ such people.
The point of my post was to help the OP with more pertinent information, not make you angry. |
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wonderingjoesmith
Joined: 19 Aug 2012
Posts: 910
Location: Guangzhou
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:17 am Post subject: |
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Very well said above
| JayCee86 wrote: |
| For one thing, I don't think the principal's (not principle's) secretary is not in charge of hiring new teachers. Also, Chinese students are not allowed to attend real interational schools in China, unless they have a foreign / HK, Macao & Taiwan passport. |
I didn't know mainland Chinese were restricted to join such schools at home |
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003
Posts: 719
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
Cambridge exams are great and globally recognised but they are English exams, they have nothing at all to do with certifying high schools.
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Cambridge Assessment does not only offer English language exams, it also offers, via its subsidiary Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), a wide range of secondary level examinations, the most popular being IGCSE and A-level, which are globally recognised (to varying degrees) as satisfying University entrance requirements.
See http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ca/Our_Services/Qualifications and www.cie.org.uk if you want to understand more.
There are a lot of accredited CIE exam centres in China (I don't think an official list is published, but I know of 20 or so and I'd hazard a guess there's something like 50). |
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twilothunder
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Posts: 442
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:24 am Post subject: |
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I am still looking forward to hearing a further explanation for this part...
| Quote: |
| I was talking about high school graduation. A student graduating from a country X international school in country Y can often enter university in country X as a domestic student. |
Because I have never heard of such a thing. |
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