My standard answer is that you NEVER know how marketable you are at any given time.

One year you may be overwhelmed with interview requests while another time you get none.

Every year many teachers with almost to zero relevant experience get hired at top schools while others who have all the credentials and experience get zero interviews, let alone offers. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Even admin, if pressed, could not explain EXACTLY what they want at any given time.

Nobody on this forum can gauge your level of marketability.

You just have to be a grownup and be willing to experience rejection or joy. Just jump in and do it. No guts no glory.

Shadowjack,

The point I was making is how capricious and useless these fairs are.

If what you have posted is true, you and your wife are great candidates, certainly worthy of getting at least a first interview at most schools.

My wife and I realized this and decided to screw the fair and make a positive thing out of a negative - and remember I am IB HL math and my wife has a range of elementary experience. School heads don't know what they want or even how to hire people.

The sooner these fairs end the better. No need for them or Search or ISS or...

Good luck with your search.

Shadowjack,

I have gleaned from your posts and stated experience that you and your wife are very seasoned and connected IT's. I am surprised that you would have to go to a job fair, seeing as you seem to be "in the circuit" of known quantities.

And one year my wife and I had very little interest in us so when she suggested we just go see the sights I agreed and had a FANTASTIC day. Maybe you should have done the same, man. Life is too short to always be on stage and hustling.

That's what I thought.

I go back to a question I have asked here a few times: Why would you allow your children to play such an important role in deciding your family's future? Kids always make decisions based on the short-term and have almost no grasp of how something that may be difficult now, can reap infinite rewards in the future.

Do you let your kids pick your car? Decide what food they are going to eat? Give you advice about your work?

Come on, man (or woman). You know what the right decision is. You can give your kids the GIFT of learning about a new culture, speaking a new and exciting language, and meeting people from all over the world.

Yes, your kids may be justifiably nervous or scared, but getting out of their comfort zone is a skill that will serve them well. And one that you have the opportunity to give them.

Let me know when you sign the contract.

Lmartin106,

Is the school the Basis school?

THEY WILL LEARN TO SPEAK PERFECT CHINESE.

They are kids, they will adapt to anything. Now be a PARENT and make the decision you KNOW deep in your heart is the best one for your family: take the job.

Why not choose another place where you don't have to risk your health? I have mentioned this many times before, but what is wrong with some of you!? Pollution, crowds, crazy traffic. You can get the China or India experience in other parts of those countries - the southern parts, mainly - AND have warmer weather, less pollution, and a lower cost of living.

And as an aside, these programs are CUTTHROAT! The coaches that I saw were the typical martinets: yelling at kids, arguing with umpires and refs AND encouraging parents to do the same.

I got so disgusted I dropped out of coaching altogether. Little boys and girls in adult suits so insecure that their entire lives are wrapped up in whether a bunch of high school -or middle or elementary kids- win a silly game. So pathetic.

A LOT of Math jobs.

Then again, there always are: I knew taking the hard courses in college (while my liberal arts roommates slept until noon) would pay off.

Are there actually GOOD schools advertising on sites other than the Big Ones(Search, ISS, UNI, TIE)? By Good I mean good salary and benefits and allowances and good educational practices.

Thanks to all for any help.

I think this has more to do with admin's inability to hire responsible people. They are too often dazzled by things that are not indicative of how good a teacher a candidate is.

You see it at every job fair.

We have all started a new school year, met our new colleagues, and wondered, 'Why in hell would anyone hire this person? I've spoken with him/her for just 5 minutes and know he/she is not ready for this job.'

There are to date, still 35 schools looking for math teachers. And that includes some great schools: SAS, Concordia Shanghai, Am School Dubai, Am School Riyadh, Walworth Barbour, to name a few.

Is this due to plain coincidence or is there some common thread - economic, political - that is causing so many people to leave?

Am I correct to think this is odd?

This new information changes the game. If it is that bad, leave now when it is early.

Then ABSOLUTELY NAME THAT SCHOOL ON THIS SITE including the people who are cheating you.

Do you like the country?

Why not try to teach grade 2, get some very different experience doing that, and see how you like it?

You may be pleasantly surprised.

Have you talked with the other elementary teachers and other teachers in other grades? See what they think of the school/area/country.

It's still only early August.

Have you attended any meetings at school? What is your gut feeling about whether you could stay and teach grade 2?

Get past your very justified anger and feelings of betrayal and see if you can, through your own drive and sheer will and intelligence and optimism, turn this situation into a positive one for you.

I almost left my first international job after 24 hours, but, I waited a bit and enjoyed a fantastic 7 years.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you.

Psyguy,

Yes, financially I am ok. I am looking more into getting some first hand experience from people who might actually have taught both in international schools and in ESOL programs. Also, I realize that a full retirement would make me nuts.

Again, thanks to everyone for your input.