Job Discussion Forums

[roamingteacher]

OK, I've researched Sri Lanka (no jobs), Brunei (dull?) and KL (still hoping). We've both taught in Bangkok already as singletons, and wouldn't go back with kids, unless to a nearby rural-ish area.

The kids (this time next year) will be 4 and 7 months - 2 boys. I have a PGCE (English and Drama), CELTA with CELTYL and an MA in Education (Applied Linguistics).

My other half has the CELTA and DELTA. We both have at least 8 years of teaching experience.

We would like to be near a capital city (for the sake of our sanity, we don't want to be stuck out in the sticks). However, we are happy (keen even!) to learn the language and would love to have friends among the locals.

I am mixed African-Irish - he is White British, both of us with UK passports. I'm aware that there is racism in Asia but unless it is horrendous and you want to warn us to avoid particular places, please don't start a debate about it - I know all too well the reality and have accepted it.

We are not party animals (any more) but we are young thirtysomethings and social life is important to us; we would love to meet other people for dinners, drinks and the occasional night out.

Obviously, the kids would need some form of education / care although we'd consider good local schools and not just internationals. One of us might stay at home part or full time, so we'd like this to be an option.

We'd like to be comfortable, but are not willing to sacrifice quality of life and time with the kids for money, so places like Singapore, Korea, and HK are off our list.

So a tall order but any ideas?

[celtica]

[roamingteacher]

Thanks celtica. Are there any international schools in particular that you'd recommend or warn against? Are the students pleasant?

[celtica]

The two major ones are Jerudong International School (JIS) and International School Brunei (ISB).

JIS - hard hard working teachers! long hours in very nice physical surroundings; well resourced; very 'professional' from the reports of teachers who work there, but meetings galore/committments to the boarding house on a rotational basis also. Coming from the UK you may not find it much different. Great holidays though...free housing, good pay

ISB is also well resourced (not as good as JIS) but terribly overcrowded...over 1000 kids from nursery to Yr 13 in less than an area the size of a small primary school in NZ or Australia. One football field the only green space....pay comparatively poorer than JIS or CfBT.

CfBt the lightest teaching load/committment, but arguably the greatest frustraton level if you are not teaching in the few 'better' schools. Actual teaching hours finish at 12.30 but at least three times a week you are expected to stay back for a couple of hours for meetings/workshops/extra classes etc.

In all of the schools I would say the kids are great.

There are none of the sophisticated attitudes of dislike/negativity/severe discipline issues prevalent in 'western' schools.

There is a decided lack of a coherent discipline policy in most (local/government)schools. You are expected to deal with any issues yourself. (Frustrating at times!)...

The major issue with most local kids is ennui/lack of interest/motivation. A lot of this can perhaps be blamed on a system of spoon feeding and constant exams from primary years onwards. Individual thought / questioning / striving (again apart from the 'better' schools) is rare.

[roamingteacher]

When you say 'long hours', what are we talking about? What is a typical school day in Brunei? JIS does sound attractive, but I wonder how often positions become available. I see their teachers are very well qualified which is encouraging.

Tell me this - would there be an issue with me being mixed-race African/Irish in terms of securing a 'good' job? And are there opportunities for teaching ESL for my partner?

Thanks - you've been most helpful already.

[jsteventon]

Hi

Do check out the thread 'Thumbs Up For Brunei.' Lots of positive comments on Brunei and CfBT ....

Don't want to repeat what is said there, but just to add that you will have far more time with your children in the afternoons if you work in a government school....much more scope for a relaxed, stress-free family life there!

There are - or have been over the years - teachers at all three establishments with similar backgrounds to yourself. I am sure your husband will pick up work - if he has QTS he can apply to CfBT too....

Brunei is a great place for a family - many have stayed for years and find it far from dull!

Good luck!

JS

[roamingteacher]

Thanks JS for your positive comments - much appreciated. I've sent you a PM and if you have the time to respond, I'd be very grateful.

All the best

[celtica]

The school day for the government schools - CfBT teachers - : 7.15 am - 12.30pm. With three days expected 'stay back' for 2hrs extra - maybe for extra class or time spent marking.

ISB and JIS have roughly the same hours. 7.30 - 2.30/2.45/3.00pm. They also expect an afternoon activity once a week , making it maybe 3.30pm - 4.30 pm finish.

CfBT have a spilt weekend - Friday and Sunday.
JIS and ISB have Sat Sun.

The teachers I know at JIS take work home, go in on weekends, do loads more work out of school hours than CfBt.

There are African lecturers at Univeristy Brunei Darussalam..... ....there are a number of Sth African teachers with CfBT - both white and mixed race......

Heresay has it that where you graduated from in UK has a bearing on your relative success at aquiring a job at JIS....I think positions come available almost every year - singles don't tend to stay as long as married teachers.

JS is a wonderfully positive poster.....have yet to hear a negative comment from JS.....but NOTHING is all wonderful.....

[roamingteacher]

Oo - I don't like the idea of split weekends; what about weekend breaks!? Why is that? Surely school have Mon-Fri hours? Or if not, how come JIS etc. do - because they are international and private?

[celtica]

The split weekend follows the muslim day for prayer - Friday .

Yes, ISB and JIS are 'private' (locals who attend JIS from Yr 9 up are heavily subsidised by the government) and take no account of the rest of the country's days off.

[roamingteacher]

On the CFBT info they say they'll fund 2 kids places at school. Would this be at JIS/equivalent or a govt school? And if at JIS how do you cope with the kids having different days off? Is Saturday a normal teaching day then?

[jsteventon]

Hi

You would be at school Saturday morning session...

JS

[celtica]

CfBT allowance for ISB and JIS is the same, but school fees at JIS higher. (many people have moved across from ISB to JIS over the years.....).

Expat children as a rule don't go to Govt schools ...not the standard/style of classrooms/resources we are used to

You learn to adjust to the different days....but at times the six day week does get a bit onerous.....still the school runs to do. BUT on the positive side, many couples enjoy the chance to have a leisurely breakfast out together...coffee...peaceful time together without any need to arrange anything.

Then of course when sat morn...kids at home. If both teaching you need an amah (maid).

[roamingteacher]

[lacsap]

Hi roamingteacher. Can I just point out that with your qualifications you look like a shoo-in for a job in Brunei, certainly with CFBT. If your husband does not have a PGCE however, then there's not much chance of a job for him. Only the PGCE is worth anything here, the other stuff is nice as an extra but not enough on its own. There are plenty of women working with a non-working husband however. Regarding the various jobs in Brunei, there are basically three places to work, CFBT, ISB and JIS. Some other posters here will tell you about some other possibilities such as the "mission" schools but salaries are low, even miserable there. CFBT work in goverment schools, the contact hours are relatively short, salary ok, facilites in schools not always up to scratch. Other threads here will give you a lot more info. ISB is the smaller and less well-resourced International school, salaries lower than the other two, but on the whole a nice place to work, good accommodation etc. JIS is big, well-resourced and very academic. You would work a lot harder there, certainly than CFBT. Salaries not much different, although you would get free schooling for your kids, whereas with CFBT you get an allowance which covers about half the cost, leaving you to find about 400-500 Brunei dollars a month, depending on the age. Many teachers move from ISB and CFBT to JIS, but they all report that they end up working far more than they ever did before. CFBT is fine if you want to have a fair bit of time to spend with your kids. You can often be home by 1.00 in many schools whereas in JIS and ISB that would be unheard-of. The split weekend, (working Mon-Thu and Sat, Friday and Sun off) for CFBT teachers is a pain, but you get used to it. It is quite nice to have a day off on Friday when your kids are at school, although of course on Saturdays, it's the opposite, so you would need child care. Saturday is just another day for CFBT, no early finish. JIS and ISB work Mon to Fri. The holidays would often also be different, and this can be a pain in Jul and Aug when JIS and ISB are off but CFBT are still working. There are summer schools organised by both JIS and CFBT to keep the kids occupied then. Basically it's swings and roundabouts. It's all a trade-off. Brunei is, as many people have said here, the best place around for people with a family. Good luck