Job Discussion Forums

lorientravel · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 23 Location: Canada

HI, I'm new to posting here but have been using and reading Dave's Cafe for years and years.

I have experience teaching in Canada at the intermediate level, even some experience at the primary level. I have taught English in Korea and French in Cuba. I have a couple of degrees related to education/teaching French and English as well as diploma in TESOL. I have taught at a school with a First Nations/ special needs mandate for the last two years. I am certified to teach at the elementary and high school level.

I am tired of all the bureaucratic 'crap' that a teacher has to deal with in Canada, ei. unions, power hungry school board office workers who play God with your qualifications, and so on and so on. On top of it I'm done with housing prices, ridiculous taxes, and horrific traffic (ps- I live in near Vancouver, BC). There done my rant!

So... What I'm hoping to find is something that pays around the same as my Canadian salary, has health care, flight and other stuff/costs covered, and it would be nice to have a place to live.

What I'm trying to avoid is getting stuck somewhere because I have taught too long out of the country. I was hoping to teach at a reputable international school so that I could work on getting experience in the British education system.

Anyone out there have the answer to solving my life's problems? I love teaching but this system is just making it so difficult to stay a teacher.

Thanks for any help or suggestions. I'm very open to anything.

Lorien Osborn
Gibsons, BC, Canada

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

This won't be helpful - sorry. But it's kinda the same all over, in many ways...

I teach at a university in the Netherlands. We, too, have a near-unbearable level of bureaucratic crap (currently aiming at eliminating prep time, for example). Decent housing can easily cost 50% of a university level teaching salary. Normal taxes in this country run 50% - though they can be as low as 30%, I must acknowledge. Traffic's not a problem, so long as you don't drive a car.

There are few places that cover flights and health care these days. And the economy's generally in the toilet worldwide.

Not that you may not find the package you describe - your quals are obviously quite ok. But jobs like that are quite thin on the ground, even more these days than in the past.

Your best bet is obviously international schools - there are some websites (maybe do a search) and you could also check into any international job fairs coming up in Vancouver/Seattle area.

lorientravel · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 23 Location: Canada

Well, thanks for the reply. At least I don't feel alone in my fight. This all arose because yet again my school district is doing a post and fill year. What I like to call a 'Hire and Fire'. They've been doing this for a few years now because those old teachers aren't retiring and declining enrollment is forcing new teachers out. Last year, anyone in my district with less than 15 years of experience was fired. Nice, eh!

Well, I'm not looking forward to the process again. Last year all teachers sat in the local High School gym and went in based on seniority to 'choose' a job thus bumping the person below them. There was a lot of crying, sorries, and "I hate this..." going on.

I can't do this for the next 15 years.

I am at a loss of words to hear that this happens else where. Since when has educating the world's future become such a bottom end job?

Now I just getting bitter! SORRY.

Lorien Osborn

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

have sent you a p.m..

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

www.ibo.org and www.tes.co.uk are good sites for you

There are also lots of links to intl schools here
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=4556

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

lorientravel · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 23 Location: Canada

Thanks to everyone for the helpful hints. I have applied to some international schools, such as the Canadian International school in Bangalore. As well as with CFBT in Brunei.

I'm waiting to hear back.

It's spring break so it gives me a little time to collect my thoughts and see what I am looking for.

As for the British experience I am looking for... I am just looking to broaden my experiences so that I am that much more qualified when I see that amazing job offer come along.

I'll just have to wait and keep sending out those applications.

I'm really not a negative person, I'm just so... I guess, disappointed, is the right word.

Lorien

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

You mentioned a couple of degrees. Is one of them an MA? If so, check out Oman. Airfare, housing, healthcare, two months' holiday (plus a lot of national/Muslim holidays), decent salary. Some jobs are also available without MAs, but with a lower salary (I think... this might only apply to the uni jobs). There are international schools, small-ish colleges, and universities, both public and private.

d

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

verity · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 19 Location: WestCan

Hi

YOu may have seen this job posting but just to point it out since at least one of them mentions the program is certified by the BC Ministry of Education and needing certified teachers>

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=19395

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

The problem with the International jobs is you have to do in person interviews - either at a job fair or at a school.

Now that means you either need savings (alot of it) or you need a good job that will allow you to take time off work to go to the interviews. If you already have a good job - you prob won't want to spend tons of money going to the interviews.

Personally I would have a problem spending a load of money going to the interviews - and maybe not getting hired.

I am a certified teacher myself - but simply cannot afford to go to the interviews (Plane tickets - taking time off from current job).

meiyoubanfa · Joined: 14 Mar 2009 Posts: 16

Loreintravel..

Not sure what you want to teach but if English is ok check out Hong Kong.

http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1&nodeID=1300

They tend towards "british" standards, or so it is claimed, and

Advantages
1. high pay (over 3000k CAN, possibly as high as 5-6000)
2. Housing allowance, about 1000 CAN/month
3. Airfare paid both ways
4. Public School setting (more stable)
5. Modern City setting, or near it anyway
6. Higher level students.

Disadvantages
1. Hurry hurry lifestyle
2. apparently similar to a public job back home in terms of marking prep load
3. crowded

That being said, this is all hear-say. I am trying to get on with this program as well. But with your credentials and xp you should have no trouble!

Check out the forum here on Dave's about teaching in Hong Kong through the SNET (secondary) and PNET (primary).

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=40

again, check it out http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1&nodeID=1300

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Yes, HK's NET prog pays well but many complain about the lack of creative flexibility and the often rigid, traditional system they're expected to kow-tow to. Sounds like the OP would be more interested in HK's big international schools, which are more liberal in approach, though many of them now use the International Baccalaureate curriculum rather than the UK's, as before.