shadowjack wrote:
> It matters depending on the schools. Ir you did two years at a top tier and
> then two years at a slightly lower level tier, and then were applying
> again, I'd be wondering about you.

Why? What if you took a job and it wasn't what you thought it'd be?

To piggyback off this discussion, I'm curious to know how two 2 year stints would look to start your international career, even if you have great references?

How are EU passport holders treated in terms of taxation at international schools in Europe? If you're a dual citizen and use your EU passport to work at an international school in Europe do you not receive the same tax-free status benefits as other Americans? Anyone with experience know how that works?

I have the ability to get an EU passport and am trying to figure out if it would hurt me financially in Europe.

Simple answer: Christianity is huge in Korea and followers of the faith are incredibly devout.

Best, most rewarding decision I ever made. I make triple what I made in the States when you account for housing and tax loopholes, have limitless travel opportunities (which I can actually afford now), teach great kids who are eager to learn, and can't help but feel like life is my oyster given the endless possibility of schools and destinations from which I can choose in the future. Basically the opposite of my experience in the States, which I enjoyed as well but left me feeling trapped and unfulfilled.

There are negative people in every profession. Education is no different. International education is no different. That said, in general the people I work with internationally are much happier and more open-minded than those I worked with in the States. Perfect example, when I go home and visit one of my old schools, all I hear from my teacher friends is complaints about students, pay, and life in general. In my experiences, those complaints have been few and far between abroad. It helps to work at a good school. Naturally, people complain at bad ones and they do exist internationally. No shortage of bad ones in the States though.

I had never worked at a school where the majority of teachers weren't complainers... until I moved abroad.

Difficult to say if you gain an advantage with one over the other, but I definitely prefer to use the Search database. That's what I've always used, main reason being I want prospective employers to have easy access to all my information, especially my references, and messaging through Search ensures instant and easy access. My message to the school is more or less my cover letter and then they can easily check all my pertinent info without having to go to the Search page and look for my name. I just assume easier for them is better for me.

Best of luck.

I'd say the fact that you are in the minority really says more than anything. Nobody here is being sensitive. We're just trying to inform readers. If someone gives an out-of-date, biased, or misinformed opinion of a school, they are corrected. Same here. Information is important. That's why this forum exists.

Yeah, I don't buy this notion that international school teaching is a superficial, capitalistic sham. There are good and bad schools and admins in US public schools, much like there are internationally. Neither venue is perfect, but the potential for pay and saving in ITs is significantly higher than it is in the States, which allows you to go and travel anywhere in the world without having to pinch pennies. That isn't possible teaching in the States. Not without a joint income.

It's all a matter of perspective and priorities. I loved my last school in the States, but where I lived it was the exception and not the rule. My other schools were incredibly dysfunctional and teacher morale was very low. Teacher morale in general was very low in my State, as it is in many States. I would assume that teacher morale is significantly higher for IT. Doesn't mean there aren't difficult or dysfunctional posts, but at least in many of those cases the pay makes up for it.

Kudos to anyone who carves out a comfortable life anywhere in the world, but one person's reality doesn't necessarily reflect that of everyone else's, especially within a country as large as the States.

Which schools in Subsaharan Africa allow for a relatively high standard of living, good social opportunities (for a single), while not being overly remote or isolated?

Essentially, I wouldn't want to be in isolated in the middle of nowhere, overworked, bored, or constantly frustrated with day-to-day living conditions.

Not too late at all. There'll be decent jobs available into May, though lots of the good ones are going right now. Just go into it with the expectation that it could be next year before you land something and there's a decent chance you'll be pleasantly surprised. I applied with Search this time last year and received several interviews and eventually a job. It's all about keeping your expectations in check and an open mind, but there will be really good jobs available through the Search fair in Boston, and even after that into May there'll be jobs well worth considering, though they will be limited and generally more flawed the later into the year you get.

If one were inclined to live and teach in Europe, would the BK or London fair be the best option? I'm thinking ahead to next year and want to put myself in the best position possible to land a great gig. The London fair seems like the best option, but I'm concerned that some of the better European schools will fill their positions at HK. Odds are I'm not a candidate for Europe's truly elite schools, but with an EU passport, IB experience, a couple years abroad and really good references, I think I'm a competitive candidate in the region. Suggestions?