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MrJaredGamble
Joined: 13 Apr 2016
Posts: 19
Location: USA
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 Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 9:26 pm Post subject: How can I get a job in an international school? |
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Hello all,
I'm a U.S. teacher with 6 years experience in on-level and Pre AP English. I've also been a professional university writing tutor for faculty and students, and I have a couple articles published in a social issues magazine.
I want to work in China, and from what I can gather, international schools would give me the best experience, salary, etc.
How do I find a position from the U.S.? Should I use a recruiter?
Thanks for your consideration,
J G |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| For non-ESL international school opportunities, look at Teach Away, Footprints, Serious Teachers, Search Associates, and Seek Teachers. |
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MrJaredGamble
Joined: 13 Apr 2016
Posts: 19
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:17 pm Post subject: "non-ESL"? |
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Thanks for responding. What do you mean by "non-ESL"? (Sorry, I'm new to this.)
J G |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| The ESL Cafe mainly targets those who teach English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) as opposed to k-12 subjects like math, English language arts, social sciences, computer literacy, etc. Although there are some non-ESL teachers who post within this site, there's also International Schools Review, which has a forum geared more for subject teachers. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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I'd try to get a conversation going with an international school.
If nothing comes of it you at least will be able to refine your applications.
As others have mentioned over the years, many Chinese schools use 'international' in their names as a marketing ploy.
To me a true international should have a sizeable complement of expat students and ideally teach the International Baccalaureate.
Here's one to try:
http://www.cliffordschool.org/contact-us-1/ |
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MrJaredGamble
Joined: 13 Apr 2016
Posts: 19
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:45 pm Post subject: What type of schools do you all recommend? |
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Would you all recommend international schools?
I'm open to having some pretty adventurous times. After browsing international school sites, I feel a little disappointed to be honest. I think I'd rather teach Chinese students.
I've read about teachers doing lessons on the side, but also read that it's at least semi-illegal. Could I make decent money in schools that are not international schools? How risky would it be to provide private lessons?
Thanks,
JG |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| MrJaredGamble wrote: |
Would you all recommend international schools?
I'm open to having some pretty adventurous times. After browsing international school sites, I feel a little disappointed to be honest. I think I'd rather teach Chinese students. |
What are your specific qualifications (i.e., degree major(s), licensure area(s) and grade levels, and years of experience)?
Focus on those private schools that are American or IB accredited, or at minimum, that teach American curriculum. To start, Google american curriculum schools china and communicate with the schools directly. Or ask on International Schools Review about the top schools. By the way, if you're a US licensed and experienced English (subject) teacher, your pay should be solid enough that you don't have to do private lessons on the side.
You have to be very proactive.  |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:51 am Post subject: |
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You could be talking 15K pm between a true international school job (Clifford-type) and the max 20 hours pw gigs ESL teachers pull.
That's a lot of dosh for following the Chinese dream.
In the international schools there will still be plenty of local Chinese students, but they will tend to come from wealthier families. |
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Big Worm
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
Posts: 171
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 9:50 am Post subject: |
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i work at a legit international school. Id recommend going through search associates. You have to pay to join and theres a fairly detailed vetting process. But thats why good schools use it. Dont get so much of the riff raff.
International schools are a lot of work. Its full time, plus meetings, etc. But you dont have to deal with chinese admin nonsense (changing your vaca time last minuite, thinking cheating and plagiarism is ok, possible pay issues).
Since its a bit late in the recruitment process, Id try just finding a school you are interested in and apply directly. They dont always have their current openings posted. Good luck |
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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou
Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Posts: 1168
Location: Since 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| "...Although there are some non-ESL teachers who post within this site, there's also International Schools Review, which has a forum geared more for subject teachers...." |
English is a subject. Perhaps it isn't considered a subject when the FT sings songs and plays games with University students, it isn't considered a serious subject, but it IS a subject.
In my classes, writing English is a very serious and strenuous subject; speaking English is a very serious and strenuous subject. Reading comprehension is a very serious and strenuous subject. My grades stick. The administration doesn't change the grades.
I think perhaps it would be better to qualify other subjects as non-English subjects. |
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Laurence
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 401
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| someone wrote: |
| English is a subject |
That's overly simplistic.
Traditionally, English is more than one subject: English Language; English literature.
Moreover, when another subject is taught in English, skills from both of the above are required, as well as other skills, which are not necessarily linguistic but are often largely realised through language.
Halliday (look him up!) made discrete:
1. the learning of language,
2. learning through language
and (finally)
3. learning about language.
There is a tension stemming from the fact that typical TEFLers are expected to work on the learning of and (sometimes, but not always) about English, but aren't trusted with getting students to learn anything valuable through English. True language acquisition necessitates a healthy balance of all three ingredients. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| OhBudPowellWhereArtThou wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| "...Although there are some non-ESL teachers who post within this site, there's also International Schools Review, which has a forum geared more for subject teachers...." |
English is a subject. Perhaps it isn't considered a subject when the FT sings songs and plays games with University students, it isn't considered a serious subject, but it IS a subject.
In my classes, writing English is a very serious and strenuous subject; speaking English is a very serious and strenuous subject. Reading comprehension is a very serious and strenuous subject. My grades stick. The administration doesn't change the grades.
I think perhaps it would be better to qualify other subjects as non-English subjects. |
Songs are a legit part of oral ESL and should be used regularly. They convey many benefits including getting reluctant speakers to vocalise in relative anonymity.
See here:
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Schoepp-Songs.html
I have had email exchanges with Dr Schoepp and we talked about choosing songs that fitted with various situations.
There is work to be done, but given the status of oral English in Chinese high schools we often get reluctant speakers as freshers in our FT classes. |
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22Yossarian
Joined: 20 Jan 2013
Posts: 68
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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I am a history teacher. A former colleague (also a social studies teacher) and I followed a similar path.
We both came to China at roughly the same time and we both worked in the same university prep program at a dirty for profit Chinese school business. It paid well enough, nothing crazy but 21,000 a month after tax. That is plenty comfortable for China, if you aren't trying to raise a family.
He had better qualifications than me and more experience (he has an MAT and I just have an M.A. in history, but previous university teaching experience). He jumped to an international school after his first year. I stuck around at the dirty for profit school business. And now I am jumping to a great job at a western curriculum school for Chinese people, with tremendous wages, and the time off foreigners expect when teaching.
I got this job through networking, and old foreign boss who quit my first school became a head hunter, and I kept in touch. My former colleague jumped to his school through people he played basketball with.
If you are willing to work in a less than ideal place, come here and network. |
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