I found that the Asian students ( particularly Japanese and Singaporean ) where I have had extensive experience also fare out better in Sciences and the Arts. Strict work ethic along with very high expectations have been ingrained in these students all the way from Nursery age. There may be a lack of creativity in their approach to English-Language Arts but when it comes to Math and Science, they are creating projects and experiments that are generally two to three grades above their current level, which would be considered as " highly gifted " in North America. At my school, Grade 2 students ( most of them are actually Americans, Europeans and half-Japanese - those with dual citizenship ) are operating on a Grade 4 level of mathematics ( being able to do carry out algebraic concepts quite easily and using mathematical language ). The highly gifted in the class are operating on a Grade 5 / 6 level of mathematics. In regards to the Arts, with my experience in an IB school in Singapore, ownership of art, along with ethical concerns are already being introduced at the primary grades....with kids developing amazing works of art that most would confuse as Grade 4 students' level.

It's really sad and pathetic that people would actually listen to a guy like Psyguy ( especially the newbies ).

I've watched this forum for a few years under different aliases and it has only been this year that I have seen a great amount of stupid, erroneous and offensive OPINIONS from someone who is supposedly an administrator but yet seems to have all the time in the world to dedicate to a forum under an anonymous name.

Just the other day, someone from QIS Kazakhstan asked him for advice...to which he replied, " I don't know much about the Middle East ". News flash : Kazakhstan is NOT in the Middle East!!! It's in Central Asia.

Psyguy, I have to wonder about the validity of the sleuth of information you are putting on here....when you think that Kazakhstan is in the Middle East. It's in Central Asia.

I'm in a premier school in Tokyo where expectations are extremely high. I tend to work on weekends as well ( by choice though ). I do all my lesson planning and such on Friday evening and Saturday. By Sunday, I'm back at the school printing everything out, making all the materials I need to actually teach the lesson. I use my preps and lunch as quiet times throughout the day....because I think they are important to take as breathers during the hectic day. My day starts at 7:30 am ( by choice again - since we're not expected to be at the school building by 8:30 am ) and ends at around 4:00 - 5:00 pm ( kids are out of the school by 3 pm, but high school tends to stay longer at 5 pm - 7 pm because of club / sports activities ).

This was how it was for me, 10 years ago, on my first year of teaching. This will be my last year of teaching as next year, I am up for an admin position at the current school I am at. However, surprisingly, this 10th year of teaching is actually as busy as my first. Not really sure why.

If you really want to know, the 3rd - 7th years are the easiest. After the 7th year, things start to get busier again ( new turn around times for professional development due to new theories, best practices offered at the faculties of education which sends premier international schools to professional development overdrive mode ).

I work at a " Tier 1" school now ( for the sake of ease, let's stick with the whole "mythical" tierdom ) and I can attest to the fact that even though they pay extremely high, you will earn every single penny as the expectations are to the level of burnout. So yes, it's not always " peachy keen " to work at a Tier 1 school, especially if you are very young / new to the teaching field and international school field.

In fact, one of my most rewarding, amazing teaching experiences was at a "Tier 2" school in Asia. It was relatively small ( 600 students ) and the expectations were not as high....but the students ( all nationals ) were amazing and worked very hard, the staff was friendly, laid back ( and not competitive or power hungry like most teachers at Tier 1 schools ), with a lot of free time to put into lesson planning. I stayed there for three years. It was a for-profit school, but the administrative staff were very caring and supported the teachers wholeheartedly from parents who were a bit bullyish.

I think the many years of lying that administrators have spent on the "high salary" has definitely outdone itself...now every single new person in the international education field seems to think that the only place where you can make money is the Middle East.

Missy, I read some of your posts. Are you set on the Middle East?

[quote="calciodirigore"]No I don't. Most of his advice is either incorrect or entirely based on his limited experience, and so coming from a misinformed perspective most of the time.[/quote]

True, true. I can't imagine people relying on the advice of ONE person in a largely anonymous public forum for a fairly big field as international education. Although it is made " small " by way of connections of heads, administrators, principals and such, in general, there are hundreds of international schools around the world, each with a different character, providing different situations for many individuals.

[quote="HistoryEducator"]Thanks Bkonality for the response!

Was it difficult for you to obtain a job in Japan being a "newbie?" I'd be interested in spending a couple of years at least in Japan for the experience. $60,000 tax free sounds really good, but I do understand that the costs of living would be higher than I'm used to. I would imagine that the pressure to perform well as a teacher would be overwhelming in Japan. I have had Japanese friends for a long time (they still live in Japan and have visited us in the states several times). I have heard nothing but good things about Japanese students. My mother's friend that lives there says that there are jobs in Japan where you just walk in the classroom and read a children's book in English to the kids. They pay you really well just to hear your voice reading to them in English. Not sure if her friend is exaggerating or not.[/quote]

No, it wasn't too hard for me at all to get into my first international school in Japan. I had obtained two qualifications then ( Junior/Intermediate - Grades 4 - 8 & Senior Grades 9 - 12 ). I also specialised in English-Language Arts. Within 2-3 years, I obtained professional development in IB Math, then gained IB experience in Math for 2 years. The next two years was a return to English with PD for IB English and then another two years of IB English. This year, I have to decide on whether I want to stay with Math or English-Language Arts. I suppose it all depends on what you can teach and what the school is looking for. English and Math always seem to be prioritised.

As far as your friend's mom's statement about reading English books in Japan, that might just be an exaggeration....or it might be an ESL school she is talking about. ESL and international schools in Japan are quite different.

As usual, Psyguy provided some really good, extensive, reasonably accurate information in regards to your questions. However, I do have to correct one tiny thing :

Japan may be really expensive but the salary is pretty high. My first international teaching experience was in Japan and that got me 4.7 million / year ( tax free ) = $ 60, 773 USD. This is the STARTING range for a 2nd tier school with 0-2 experiences ( I had none when I started because I was a newbie then ). The standards of living are not as high as people make them out to be. In fact, prices are quite comparable and remember that the yen is more often than not, quite strong, thus demanding a fair bit from other currencies when you exchange money. Just last week, I exchanged 25, 000 yen which brought over $ 310 USD / $ 315 CDN. This is my 3rd international teaching experience at a premier school in Tokyo. I now have 8-10 years of experience. My salary right now is at the 6-digit range. I find that I can save 60 % of my salary (and this is me traveling 3-4 times a year both outside and within Japan for vacations ). Accommodations ( subsidised ), round trip flights, medical and national taxes are covered by the school. The prices of things are comparably higher than let's say NYC, LA, Toronto, London or Paris.....BUT, the salary is quite high enough.

But Psyguy is correct in stating that it is highly competitive to get into Japan. There are many reasons for this :

a) The country is one of the easiest places to live at. The people are just lovely, highly accommodating, work hard to make things easier for everyone.

b) The students are model students. At my school, we have mostly Europeans, Americans and Canadians, but also a fair bit of mixed Japanese nationals and some really wealthy Japanese nationals. All have the " work ethic " ingrained in them.

c) As for my first school that I worked at, where it was mostly Japanese or mixed Japanese nationals, the students were just as amazing. Very dilligent, participatory, caring, conscientious and well, brilliant in academics.

d) The salary is extremely high. Turn over is low in most Japanese international schools. You will find that most of the staff have been there for years ( 5 - 10 years ).

e) There are plenty of national holidays and vacations that Japanese international schools abide by bc of culture.

I'm surprised that this school is still in operation! I wonder what it takes for a school to actually get " closed down ", if that's even possible.