Thanks for your replies. Very helpful.

Thanks for your replies. I was hoping the ISR community could respond to 3 more questions:

If it matters my wife is certified to teach, and has taught, middle school Maths and Science. She has also taught primary school Math and Science. Would schools look more favorably at Singaporeans teaching these subjects as opposed to, say, the Humanities or English?

Another concern is that a search of teaching staff of several IS shows that, while they hire some Asian teachers, the vast majority have degrees from western universities and are likely 2nd generation Koreans, Chinese, etc. However, my wife is fluent in English (no Singlish accent lah!), so we figure if she can just get to the interview stage, she has a good chance. Is this a realistic assumption?

There is also the issue of application strategy. I am quite qualified and experienced, if I may be so modest. Should I apply for better schools solo, and then once accepted angle for the school to hire her, or she applies in the teaching market where I've been hired? Or should we apply as a couple, in which case schools may reject both of us if they deem her Singaporean-ness unappealing?

Cheers

I've noticed that some schools request that only teachers from Anglo-Saxon countries apply, due to visa rules. What status do Singaporean teachers fall under? My wife is Singaporean, studied in the medium of English at the top university there, and has only taught using English, including at an international school. Is anyone out there aware of how Singaporeans are treated in the global IS job market, and whether they are easily granted work visas? Any info is appreciated.

FYI on Singapore housing: rents have been falling for a year now. Typical 2 bedroom condo flats in many areas of Singapore are going for £1,300 - £1,600 per month. When rental agreements come up for renewal, various friends and colleagues have negotiated rents down about £150 - 200. They could fall further.

My buddy was teaching ESL at hogwans and then at a university in South Korea for 18 years. He was able to transition out of ESL by taking The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Teacher Education program while he continued teaching. They offer a mix of Distance Ed and face-to-face classes in places like Bangkok and Majorrca.

His new position will be at a bilingual school in Shanghai. He'll be teaching English Lit and History - granted to ESL level students. But it's a start. He did this in his late 40's AND he has two kids AND a non-working spouse. So as a single 30 year old, you should be optimistic.

You mentioned that you've been in Korea for almost 6 years and that you can't afford "the opportunity cost" of leaving work. If you could reconsider, another option is to quit your hogwan gig, go to a brick and mortar university, and do a Teacher Education Program in one year. Studying part-time for 3 years while still toiling at the hogwan can be a real slog. Friends and acquaintances have found the experience dire. Whereas, with the one-year program, you could be working as an IT 2 years earlier. This is the route I took and it worked out. Still, it is pricier and incurs the risk of unemployment post-program, at least in the short-term. I would think the vast majority of ESLers would take the part-time distance option, but this is another route worth pondering.

If you're teaching a superstar student that gets 44 points because they got a 6 in your class, then yup, it may draw attention from parents, head of department, and admin. Last year in my HL class I taught the student council president, a House Captain, and a gifted student. I was under some stress as I felt that they if any of them got a 5, then it wouldn't reflect well on me (because it's all about me).

On the flip side try to ensure your weakest students don't get a 3. If they fail IB with 23 points and they got a 3 in your class, then yeah, people will notice that too.

In terms of managing expectations, don't grade prelim exams generously. If in doubt, mark them down. Make sure they have past papers and past student responses that gained top scores. Provide study strategies. Anyway, for the month before exams many of them are stressed out zombies. As much as "preparing" them I'm giving impromptu pep talks and amateurish counseling.

Big error above. I meant "Most of Pudong looks like the section of ..."

Puxi is by far a more interesting place to live, particularly the former French Concession and Jing-an. It has loads more character with art deco architecture, tree lined streets, charming cafes, and a huge variety of restaurants, bars, and live music venues. It has its own sense of place. Most of Puxi looks like the section of any other recently developed (albeit affluent looking) Chinese or even Asian city. We would never live there.

We're parents too, but we also want to have a good quality of life, and an interesting life. There are options there for kids to have a good lifestyle as well.

Am teaching in SG. I have never made so much money, and I have never spent so much money. Sure you can save loads if you eat at the "Kopitiams" (outdoor food courts) where much of the food is salty, oily, and sits pre-cooked in metal trays. "Food Paradise!" they say. Want some international food? Last week had Eggs Benedict and a coffee: SG $32. Fancy a half-decent pint of Stella or Erdinger?: SG $16. Want to release some of that IT stress with a night on the town? Bought 8 shooters for my teaching mates: SG $142. Six months ago I paid for 8 antibiotic pills: SG $75.

I saved more in China. Maybe time to buy some air filters and head back.

Singapore is all efficient and clean but lacks joie de vivre. It's missing a sense of vitality and spontaneity. The culture is very money focused, likely because there's a lot of money to focus on. Have taught in SK also. But would I leave SG and return to Seoul with its crazy traffic, brutal winters, obvious xenophobia, and insular mind-set? But also it's tasty food, nearby mountains, and, well, vitality? Not sure. Keep in mind there are no real international schools in Korea. The teachers are the international part - the students are mostly ethnic Korean birth-tour kids.

What's up with the salaries in Japan? They seem low. Is it the case that salaries are low because so many ITs want to go there? The supply outstrips demand scenario?