I want to thank everyone for their replies. This was a tough decision. I kind of knew which way I wanted to go anyway, but reading all of your replies and answering your questions helped my decide which offer to take.

I've decided to take Offer 1.

The savings potential and everything else were secondary to the difference in preps. I'm not particularly interested in bar hopping or social events every night, but a work-life balance is important to me, and Offer 2 is going through IBO accreditation right now.

At this point in my career I'm not sure if I have the skillset to successfully manage 6 different preps while going through accreditation and do a good enough job to get a positive reference, while maintaining a work-life balance that is sustainable. I want to have a long career in IE, so hopefully this will start me off on the right foot.

Thanks again.

PsyGuy wrote:
> Need more Information:
>
> 1) If IS 1 isn using AP or IB, are they offering IGCSE or is it just a host
> nation curriculum?
> 2) How do you know IS 1 really is organized? Is IS 2 lessor amount of
> organization mean its disorganized? What are you basing this on?
> 3) How far is IS 2 from a major city?
> 4) How important are social opportunities to you?
> 5) Which is more important to you saving and financial gain or your
> destination goals?
>
> Many ISs even upper tier ISs in WE dont offer good OSH packages.
>
> The comments on organization levels may be differences in formality and
> casualness of the ISs ethos. What you classify as less organized may be a
> reflection of an IS that has a more casual environment vs. the organized IS
> may be more rigid and formal.
>
> That 1 year probationary contract may be because you will be granted tenure
> after that year and have a permanent appointment thereafter, this is common
> in European ISs.
>
> Being in Europe makes it easier to move around in Europe. The IB experience
> will allow you to move up the tiers more readily. Coin is coin, if that
> your priority, the best choice is self evident.
>
> Disagree with @senator, no amount of training equals any amount of
> experience but that IB training is going to also include a year or more of
> IB experience, and that has utility, especially if its DIP or PYP.

The only reason I thought they were more disorganized was the fact they were a new school and had trouble answering some of my questions, I get the feeling the only reason I got an offer is because it's quite late in the hiring season.

Offer 1's school has been around for a long time and is fairly established. Offer 1 does AP but I will be teaching middle school. Offer 2 is the same but the MYP.

Financial gain isn't most important - but still important at least until I can get debt free. The other issue is the preps. I'll be teaching 6 different preps at Offer 2, but only 4 for Offer 1.

I'm leaning towards Offer 1, but the allure of IB is strong.

senator wrote:
> You don't provide enough information for me to offer any suggestion or
> opinion.

To put it more simply - is getting initial IB experience worth putting up with all of the other cons I mentioned, given the goal of eventually working in WE/Japan. There's less pay, less savings potential, etc. but if it would really keep my options open and improve my CV considerably more than the other school I'd consider it.

I'm new to IE. 2 years of experience teaching in the US and a full teaching license. This recruiting season I was offered a spot at two good, but very different schools.

Offer 1: In Asia.
Pros: Good OHS package, good savings potential in a relatively developed country in a relatively large city. Two year contract. School seems to be organized.
Cons: Doesn't offer AP or IB curriculum.

Offer 2: In northern Europe.
Pros: IB curriculum
Cons: Very small rural city, small settling in allowance, no OHS, only 1 year probationary contract (can be extended if they want to). Less savings potential. School seems less organized.

Now, I started teaching later in life, and I'm single, and late 20's early 30's. I have some debt I'd like to pay off from student loans. My ultimate goal is to get to WE or Japan, but I'm ok with waiting and saving for a few years first. Which offer would you choose and why?