You're correct - they're very selective. But I have heard of 1st year (as in their first year abroad) teachers getting through - I suppose it depends on the positions being filled, etc. If you're looking to get your feet wet - I'd apply to 'em all. Cebu is probably one of the more open schools to teachers w/ little to no overseas experience. Chinese Int'l School is also worth a look. As for the 2nd or 3rd tier - I'd avoid the schools in Subic and Pampanga, except for Brent Subic. I've heard horror stories: teachers not getting paid, etc. You want to be at a place that actually applies a real curriculum and provides good PD so future schools can take you seriously.

International School Manila, Brent, European International School, British School - Manila, and Cebu International School are the top 5 in terms of academics, teacher package, reputation, etc. There are smaller schools, some have good reputations and others are really dubious. One of the smaller schools - Chinese Int'l School - is growing and doing well, but mostly local faculty. Cebu just went through a major tragedy a couple years ago, but they seem to be bouncing back. They also don't pay as much as the Manila schools, but Cebu is a nice city w/ great beaches nearby. Most hiring is probably finished for the next school year and it is really competitive to land a position.

Yes to all of the above comments so far. International Model for School Counseling posted above gives a great idea of the role(s) school counselors take on at international schools.

I am an international school counselor and finishing off my first overseas post after 3 years as counselor for Grades K-12. Fortunately, I did not do the college advising which makes the position seem a little less crazy (sometimes). I have my Master's in Social Work (and state certification) w/ several years experience working in K-12 special ed in the US - so I believe my clinical background had me well-prepared for my current role which is largely social/emotional counseling, character ed and working with kids who may have learning support issues that coincide w/ the social/emotional piece. My next position is working specifically with Grades 9 and 10 as well as coordinating the character ed program across the whole school.

Based on my last two fair experiences and making many int'l school counseling friends - you need your master's degree. Either an MA in Psych or M.Ed School Counseling w/ a state certification. It is considered a specialist position and most schools - even the ones willing to hire an international newbie - want someone qualified.

So if you're really serious about it - I have heard good things about the programs at Lehigh, Goddard College, and The College of New Jersey.

Jean was head of ECIS. I didn't put two and two together until a colleague pointed this out.

Besides that - I've learned that, even in the States, people can slip through the cracks with background checks. If people aren't filing police reports then chances are it is not going to show up on your record. Moreover, many countries still handle police clearance letters by hand and not on a computerized system in addition to the red tape people have to jump through just to make a request. It took me two months to get a piece of paper from my current country stating that I haven't done anything against the law.

Run a search for Learning Support and Special Ed - you're likely to find a couple of informative forum posts.

But to answer your initial questions - no your experience at a hagwon is not likely to count for much, unless you're going for an ESL/ELL position. Your qualifications, however, could lead you anywhere. Learning Support/resource positions are becoming quite popular as schools begin to fulfill the needs of a changing population. You might even land a position at a "first tier" school you just never know. In terms of tier - there's no real system of how schools are labeled as such, but people tend to give the rank depending on how well-resourced the school it is, if it's the school (usual in capital city) that attracts all the diplomats'/NGO kids, etc.

Special Ed/Learning Support/resource looks very different in the international schools. Few international schools are equipped to cater to kids who have severe mental handicaps, etc. Even the bigger, well-resourced international schools will be quite up front with parents about which learning needs they can adequately address. You will likely see students who may have mild to medium processing issues, dyslexia/dyscalculia/dyspraxia, ADHD or some mild autistic-spectrum disorders. IEPs are not as long and drawn out as the ones you see in NJ or NY State (where I was before). I like to call it "special ed lite".

The Philippines has similar law to Thailand when it comes to foreign ownership. With that being said, from what I've observed with friends and family who have foreign passports, it is not that difficult to invest in a condo if you have the right realtor, etc. The key is to invest in a reputable real estate developer and one that hopefully follows sustainable development practices.

for Learning Support, IB experience would be helpful since you are helping students try to access the curriculum, but I wouldn't consider it a deal breaker. You do, however, need to have a good Learning Support/SpEd background.

If you enjoy sports - why not the jersey/t-shirt of a team you like? On UN Day one of my friends where's an NFL jersey.

HR Director has been in touch with all new teachers and we've gotten the ball rolling w/ visa forms, formal contract, etc. since the Bangkok fair. She's been up front about having to attend the fairs after Bangkok w/ the rest of her admin team and they just finished the Lunar New Year holiday so it might take time to get back to us if we had any questions. I've also been in touch with my future head of department via email.

Do you have a point person to reach out to? I would email them sooner rather than later. Visa processing, etc. takes time and it's better get it started now earlier on in Semester 2. Before you know it, it's time to leave your current post!

Whoa..20 interviews? NICE! Good luck!

From one New Yorker to another (are we ever really EX New Yorkers? hehe) - best of luck to you. Sounds like you're having a great fair experience with your interviews, etc. As shadowjack said - go with your gut!

shadowjack wrote:
> As a new candidate, with no real experience, other than just finishing your practicum,
> SA or ISS would likely advise you to get two years of experience and then sign up
> with them. While they might want your money, they also don't want to waste spots
> at fairs. So if they DID sign you up, the only fairs you would get to would be the
> second-rate ones.
>
> TIE lists jobs from around the world, costs 39 bucks a year, and lots of new teachers
> find their first IS jobs there. Search and ISS cost a few hundred dollars and run
> job fairs in different cities around the world during recruiting season.
>
> I usually go with a combo of Search and TIEonline.

Ditto to everything shadowjack stated above. I owe a lot more in loans than you posted, but I have managed to keep up with monthly payments AND save money. I even make a little less than what I was making back home in the US, but because we have a decent housing allowance and cost of living is pretty low against the $, I am able to put money away and still travel on breaks, eat out, etc.

1) QSI will not necessarily place you in the location you are hoping for. I would imagine that Phuket is one of their "prized" destinations. As a first-timer, don't be surprised that you'd be offered placement in the ME or in the 'stans - that's not a bad thing, but it's not Phuket. ;)
2) Religious (Christian) flavor to some of their interviewing styles (including my own experience) that can be off-putting - particularly when they ask directly about teaching evolution (which IS science).
3) Overall package - not as competitive as other places, even in the 'stans.
4) Curriculum - left a lot of question marks when I looked through it.

That being said - those that have gone the QSI route have noted it is family-friendly and it depends on where you end up,but most people I know were happy to move on to a different school setting after their experiences.

You can search for QSI here and get all the comments everybody has said about them. I interviewed with them before and I'd take PIADS and BIS-Phuket before them any day. That being said, life on Phuket is pretty expensive - as already stated in the other Thailand post. But these are the two schools with the best reputations and you'd get a decent package, PD, etc.

Mr.C4ke wrote:
> PHUKET INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DAY SCHOOL (PIADS)
>
> For a general idea of news that interests expats living on the island, take a look
> at the Phuket section of the popular Thaivisa dot com website. Lots of money to
> be made on the island, which seems to be fuelling violence and corruption.
>
> I have friends who still live on the island, one who previously worked at BIS for
> many years. The weather and traffic are his only complaints about life there!
Hi - just sent you a PM about living/working in BKK. I just accepted a contract at one of the schools there at the Search BKK fair.