There are indeed many schools in Saigon, and, unfortunately, most are aggressively for profit. Heed the warnings in the reviews; yes, some are written by disgruntled teachers but others are motivated by genuine concern for teaching colleagues. It is a pity, because living in HCM is amazing, but, like many international destinations, your school will be a big part of your life, and those who are uncomfortable with the concept of using education as a means to make money will struggle in many of these schools.

I would also advise doing some research as to where you can live with a dog in HCMC. I know people who have struggled to find places that will let them have a dog, and most apartments will not allow pets. Good luck.

ISHCMC et. al. is moving in a different direction, but what that is anyone's guess as the entire leadership is changing, and there will be many new teachers. Rumours abound, and given the uncertainty it would probably be wise to hold off on that teaching scenario until things settle. Do the research, and check out other school reviews owned by the same company. BVIS probably is ok, the Vietnamese students are generally great to teach, and you may be able to move into BIS later on. ACG is going through many changes, too, and the jury is out on that school at the moment.

True, many teachers and all administration are leaving, which will mean a bit of chaos regardless of a "neutral administration". School will be undergoing accreditation. Black market exchange has virtually disappeared as the government seeks to keep the dong at their rate. Salaries are at one fixed exchange rate per year and therefore not protected in the event of hyperinflation. Airfare allowances are very low and cost of travelling in and out (and even around) VN is high. HR is ok about reimbursement as long as you have the proper documentation. Housing costs have increased. Read the review on Stanford American School in Singapore. If you are ok working for that IShCMC might be ok for you. But more than 50% are leaving and there are very good reasons why.

Some might consider it the top school. Certainly it is one of the more established schools and the first to have the IBDP. Salaries are probably the highest in the country but do not include housing, which is expensive. Electricity is also very expensive, and you need a car to work on the island as public transportation is limited and unreliable. The school is mostly Bahamian, both in terms of student body and faculty. It has many good traditions and can be a good place to work, but students can be quite unmotivated and bullying and cliques are not unknown.

This is in no way a for-profit school. This is clearly stated on their web site and I know this first-hand as well. The school's philosophy is very child-centered and emphasizes social, physical and emotional well being, as research supports the benefits in school settings. The Head is very experienced and a good man. They actively seek teachers who will embrace their philosophy and who are willing to work collaboratively. I am happy to see that people with some experience of the school are jumping into this discussion to refute some of the claims that have been made by someone who is clearly uninformed.

Living in Nassau is very, very expensive. You would definitely need a car. Rent will run high and you are unlikely to be able to afford to live on the beach. Travel within and out of the country is expensive, as is food and eating out. One school offers a housing allowance (LCIS) but the school itself is quite isolated in a gated community at the west end of the island. The other school (SAS) does not offer housing and its student population is mostly Bahamian (not that it matters, but it doesn't really feel like an international school). Crime has risen quite a bit in the last few years, both violent and petty. Teaching loads at both schools are quite heavy, although the classes at LCIS are smaller. Parents at both have a strong voice, especially at the Primary level. The weather is very nice and the water and beaches some of the most beautiful in the world, but it is not an easy place to live, especially on a teacher's salary. Read the reviews; these will give you a good idea.

It is part of the Cognita network.

The COIS (CIS) website posts job openings and you can access those for free. It is better than TIE in some ways because it gives more details about the posted positions. Many of their listings are for reputable international schools that are members of CIS.

I have just accepted a job offer, informed Search that I would not attend the fairs for which I had registered, and they were delighted. Not only will they get their finders fee, my withdrawal from the fairs means that others on the. Wait list can attend. There are no negative repercussions from accepting a job before the fair, as long as you acknowledge if Search has been a part of the process.

It will not hurt, but it will not be a deal-breaker. However, given that there are many schools that want to break into or continue to be involved in the IB world without spending the money to hire qualified and experienced IB teachers it could help your marketability.
Having said that, reports on the quality of the online courses are not encouraging, but if you have the funds and the time it will not be disadvantageous to you as a stop-gap measure. Good luck!

Ask for an invitation now and then decide later; you can, I think, rescind closer to the job fair date. Good luck!

I am a World Lanuages teacher whose 1st language is English and I have been teaching (Spanish, French and English) in the international school circuit for many years. It is helpful to be a native speaker but it is even better to be an effective teacher. I have known many great language teachers who were not native speakers, and not so good language teachers who were. Often non-native speakers can address the difficulties faced by a student as they might have experienced them as well. Try not to get discouraged by the advice of those who think that they know every thing. There are always a number ( more than 4-5) of second language offerings every year. All IB schools require a second language, and French is a good option, particularly in SE Asia. By having a well-rounded portfolio you are opening up many options, so keep going and good luck to you.