Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear Deicide,

Only men, actually. Justin's below the equator - everything's opposite down there.

Regards,
John

[laconic]

[natsume]

Along the lines of what laconic is posting and my earlier post, that is the route I curently plan to take, (home country credential, then experience, then getting hired from my home country, at least for the first job),
as it seems like the most expeditious for the long term, careerwise.

As far as the OP is concerned, perhaps he/she may be able to land a local hire job in an International School in China, perhaps even one of those desperate vacancies mentioned here. Right place/right time. From what Justin and John are saying, I would imagine what is true in the ME and LA may extend to China. Maybe you can work in an IS in China without the standard prereqs.

[johnslat]

Dear laconic,

Nobody is saying that international school don't recruit. I'd explain it by saying that they're recruiting (in the Middle East, anyway) for positions they're unable to fill with local hires.

What I'm saying is that in the Middle East, they prefer to go the cheaper route first insofar as they can.

Regards,
John

[guest of Japan]

In Japan local hires got paid less. Still, local hires were the exception.

[keitepai]

I don't think you would be accepted for many international schools, the good ones anyway. They ask for teaching degrees and certification, equivalent is teacher reg from NZ which you are not eligible for. Parents are paying a lot for their child's education so an untrained teacher would not be considered. Teachers being sought have IB & PYP training as an additonal advantage to their teaching degrees and experience.

It does depend on each countries work permit rules, for example in Turkey it must be a university degree (education) trained teacher and a native English speaker. Your adult education qual does not mean much in the international school circuit but great in NZ or Oz for tertiary positions.

Also, unless you have an option to get an EU passport you will have a very hard time getting employment in Europe. Middle east, Asia including Turkey seem your best options. Have a look on the TES website under international jobs, you will see on the positons advertised the qualifications you need to apply.

I would consider upgrading your degree or stick to working at langugae schools. An upgrade may take you 18 months at one of the NZ uni's, yes it costs money but it is worth it! Then you would need at least 2 years classroom experience in NZ, teacher reg as mentioned before. Teaching is not something you can just do because you have experience with kids.....there is a lot more to it than that
In my opinion international schools are definietly NOT desparate for teachers - it is an employers market out there!

[Justin Trullinger]

My experience with teaching couples is that it doesn't actually matter (in terms of jobs and hires) which one is pegnant. BOTH frequently leave.


Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

Aim for the less desirable countries, I had friends who had very little experience and just a degree have offers from the -stan countries with good benefits, re a house with maid and cook. They were desperate to fill the psotions. Look at southwest Asia.

[sg9015]

There are International Schools and there are International Schools. If they have a website with a published staff list, you only have to look at the names to see whether you have a chance of being recruited.

I worked as a classroom teacher full time at my Wife's school last year in Kazakhstan because the regular teacher disappeared during the night and they just couldn't recruit anyone in time. After a month, they were so happy with me they kept me on. I don't have a degree, just a Celta. I was even teaching IGCSE English Literature.

So, it can happen. I wasn't however paid on International rates. I was paid at the local rate and to be honest, if it wasn't for my wife's very good package, it wouldn't have been worth the hassle.

The general rule of thumb is that the schools that hire mainly locals are International in name only and should be avoided as you will get screwed one way or the other. In general, the fully accredited schools with good packages and reputations do not need to scrape the bottom of the barrell and will insist on a teaching certificate (such as a PGCE) plus degree, plus at least 2-3 years experience. They have at least 50 applicants per job, sometimes a few hundred so they don't need to bend these rules and they can fill unexpected vacancies quickly or get a supply teacher in.

[laconic]

[Justin Trullinger]

WHich doesn't change the fact that those who don't hire "mainly locals" still sometimes hire locally. And I repeat my advice: It doesn't hurt to contact international schools in your area. THough you may not meet their profile, when desperation strikes, they often flex requirements.

Certainly true of even the "real" internation schools that I've worked with.


Best,
Justin

PS- I have never taught in INternational schools. It isn't my gig- I'm a TESOLer, and am much happier with this than International Schools. BUt I have worked cooperatively with several international schools, specifically in filling their last minute recruiting needs. It happens, folks.

[naturegirl321]

[Chris_Crossley]

The umbrella organization, to which my private education training centre in China is affiliated, advertises the fact that "generous packages" starting at $XX,XXX (U.S.) per year are offered to expatriate teachers. (Shh! It's a secret!)

However, I am now in my fifth full-time year working on behalf of this organization and I still do not receive a basic salary equalling this alleged amount since I was hired locally.

Hence, the moral of the story is: what may apply to those recruited directly from home may not necessarily apply to those recruited in situ even though they must save them a packet on air fares (at least the journey to the country had been done before and paid for by somebody else!).

Hence, the strategy for recruitment is absurdly simple: think locally, recruit locally and do everything else locally, too! What about "globally", then? Umm ... come again?

[mjfaina123]

Hi was reading this thread.. i have a question, may sound stupid sorry bare with me... what is the difference between a language school and international school? In terms of what is provided for the teacher and students and who it is run by. Is it better to work for one than the other? thanks

[johnslat]

Dear mjfaina123.

I'd say that fully-accredited international school, one that requires its teachers to have a certification, is a much better working environment in every respect than any "chain" language school.

Regards,
John