Things could change in a nanosecond. To return to Thailand, after our holiday, (looking in in my 80yo mom) and getting the whole troop, (me and 3 kids from 12-18) vaccinated, costs a small fortune. We’re going thru Phuket b/c ASQ in BKK with three teens would really be smelly. It was always a bit of a a gamble with the crazy Covid roulette game we’re playing.
So, you get the COE and, BAM! you or someone in your . tests positive inside your 72 hour window of departure. Or, you get all the way to Phuket and someone on your flight tests positive.
Other than having no other (Covid) hiccups, as I travel with three secondary kids, I chose B., I’d rather have made it to Thailand instead of changing my flights again. It’s not the money, it’s the toll that this is taking on my kids, who miss home and friends in Bangkok.

I’m sure you already are aware that our reopening date has been pushed to June. By that time, we’ll only have 20 teaching days left. I think the biggest deterrent is the quarantine. Then, the induction will be entirely over Zoom, which sucks. Not having an induction period is a terrible way to start a job at a new school in a new country. No matter how well this third wave is dealt with, you will still be required to quarantine on arrival.

There was a second wave that started mid December so we were online after Christmas break until the beginning of February. Now, we are in a third wave. This time centered in Bangkok. Schools have had parents test positive and teachers test positive. A lot of complacent, naughty behavior is to blame considering the establishments at the center of this problem.
My school’s holiday ends today and we will be teaching online from tomorrow. The initial hope is for us to go back in person by May 3.
No one planned this, it just happened. However, it’s interesting that we follow other countries’ waves about 3 or 4 weeks later. Also, currently, the UK strain has been detected. So, Thailand is doing well, but it’s not perfect. Although the government says it’s vaccinated 4 or 500,000 people or more, I certainly haven’t and no other teacher I know has been vaccinated. Cross fingers we can get the jab soon.

I am happily using proboards. Nice to see familiar names.

What is happening to the teachers and international schools there?

It’s the beginning of pollution season here in Bkk. It’s been around 100 every morning this week. This will continue for a few months. On the upside, it’s a lot cooler now. 25 degrees Celsius on average.

I take home about 130,000 THB a month. Our family of five has a budget of about 10,000/week for everything not including rent. We save my partner’s pay which is a bit higher than mine as their years of experience are more. We are also at different schools in Bangkok.

It's nothing like what happened after the US bombing of the Chinese Embassy building in 1999 when the CIA deliberately targeted Chinese intelligence operatives who were believed to be giving intelligence to Serbians. That ended up being a dangerous time to be a Western foreigner in China, when the government stirred up protests against Americans.

I was there then. It was scary. The university I was at in Shanghai was blaring horrible things over the campus loud speakers to get the students riled up. No one came to my classes. Students were yelling that if they saw an American, they would stab them. I almost repatriated. However, things calmed down eventually.

Something I’ve been thinking about recently. I have a friend from Africa, who’s a British citizen, who’s school has terminated her contract saying that they don’t have student numbers to keep her. She works for a big organisation but they haven’t helped her to find another position in their wide network. However, they have done it for at least one other teacher I know of who’s offer was rescinded but was immediately offered a job at another location. I don’t know if it’s racially motivated e.g. she’s more expendable because she’s black. This organisation’s CEO has recently made an announcement to say they are putting together a working . to look into diversity in their organisation.
So, what are your thoughts on international schools, diversity and inclusiveness in their curricula, admin and teaching staff?

I would support it. My kids went to a PYP school and the math teaching was a bit anemic. In year 7, kids from a more National curriculum school entered with much higher math skills, it was talked of all the time.

I don’t know what to say. Other than, Psyguy, your knowledge of EAL support is very superficial. CELTA is for language schools. Sorry, but true. It does look good on the CV to people who have no idea what EAL,or ELL support is, really. Those few of us that dedicate our lives to it are very much used to being boiled down to some cliche or sound bite.

I read an article predicting a 24% increase in international schools in the next couple years, mostly in China.

CELT is not really a support type course. I am an EAL lead at my school and have 20 years experience teaching. I am always learning and looking for training. Have a look into Virginia Rojas. She is a specialist EAL teacher trainer. I attended her workshop on coaching for EAL support specialists. Many of the attendees were also participating in her online course for EAL specialists.

What are your thoughts and experiences? What if foreign teachers in your school include the teachers from the Philippines or China? How much should they be paid? Does your school have different pay scales according to geographic origin?

CanChi4 wrote:
> So, some of us go to new schools not just as teachers but as parents as
> well with all the parents' worries about the new school. As merely a parent
> I would fire off an email right away to ask questions but as a future
> cohort of the staff I have to think about this carefully. I don''t want to
> come off as someone asking for special requests. For example, one of our
> children is an exceptional cellist and made it into a very special ensemble
> where we are now. He is absolutely furious that he won't be able to
> participate since we are moving. I would like to ask the future music
> teacher about possibilities for this child at the new school (I have been
> told the music program at the school is medium quality). I have other
> questions for the staff as well.
> Helpful and positive advice welcome!!

I would look for facebook groups in your new locale. They can be a great forum for kid/parental type questions. Then you can avoid ruffling feathers at the school.