Looking for my first intl. job, been a teacher for10+ years. I've got a package offer from one school, and expect another school's soon.
Is salary a take it or leave it proposition? I want to come back with a number at least 5k higher just on principle. Will schools shut the door if you just ask for it? Other benefits seem fine.

Do the large Fairs and/or search services provide vetting for the teacher's credentials? I am contacting schools directly. Have had some strange questions. Started contemplating the problems a school in China may have trying to verify my degree or license. Maybe the schools are more comfortable letting a separate company handle the details.

Found the reviews posted to be very interesting. Was impressed with the apparent honesty: people mentioned the good and the bad. I detected a lot of disappointment in the results. All that money for 4 interviews? I am a new international teacher and thought the job fairs would be the safest route. I'm glad I saved my money. I've been to a couple of U.S./state job fairs and always thought they were cattle calls and very little came out of it. Always got a job through other channels. With ISR, JoyJobs, TES, and Skype- I'm detecting the downslide of Search/ISS/etc..

I noticed something when I was answering an essay question in an application. I have lived in Boston,MA, and Phoenix, AZ, and Miami, FL. The pay I recieved was different, but the cost of living always seemed to be adjusted for prevailing wage. One major theme I noticed is that if you live right downtown in an urban center, it is always expensive. The only time I saved money was when I got a small place on the outside, and then dealt with transportation headaches. I'm trying to follow the same pattern in choosing a school. I turned down a job in Shanghai because it seemed that the pay was a little less than U.S. , and it was right in the city center. I thought to myself, "Could I live an hour outside NY, commute into NY everyday, and save money?" It didn't seem worth it. People's needs are the same all over the world-food, shelter, transportation, energy.... And I'm just not convinced that in Shanghai the market for these things is much different than NY, Boston, Chicago, LA....etc

Found posting for this job through JoyJobs. Sent an e-mail with my CV at about 2AM. I've been staying up at night to filter and answer e-mails from other international schools. John H. cold calls me at 2:30, puts me on conference call with Sam H, and conducts a 40 minute phone interview. This is for a Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Math position. It goes well. The next day I send in scanned copies of my transcripts, certificate, and credentials, and a list of questions about the school, position, and package. (they want to know if I can be there by Feb 23).
Response from them? A couple of pages from someone's syllabus with 3 AP Calculus problems! Sam H. wants me to solve them in 24 hours, and send him my results to check my competency! Is that strange, or is that standard for the international schools racket? I'm a 13 year teacher, by the way, and only certified in Physics.

I belong to and post on a couple of hobby forums. As an example, car enthusiast (mine is a Civic Si).
Break it down by subject.
Science teaching
English teaching... etc
How 'bout Geography?
Asia, ME, South America, etc....
Experienced teachers
New teachers
Salary, benefits
Moving advice
Tax laws in host countries
Lesson planning to non-english speakers
Primary School teachers
Secondary School teachers
If all of this seems superfluous with the search function then just put all into one. Will having broader topics help teachers searching the web find this site?
Just a suggestion.

Bishop Mackenzie IS in Malawi
Raffles IS in Dubai
a vague "IS in Al Ain, U.A.E."
I will assume for my own protection that these schools have lost teachers who broke contract. But there may be legitimate reasons.
I am a 13 year teacher U.S., Phyics with no Int. experience. I am able to leave the U.S. with 2 weeks notice. (I have a passport, and most of my crap is in plastic containers already, my car is in storage...) I see an advantage to getting my foot in the door, but am aware of landmines.
Do any of the experienced posters have an opinion? Is taking a position in January absolutely verboten?
Thanks to all who keep this forum alive (I have spent hours reading posts from 2006!!!?)

Why are there only two divisions to the forum index?
What are the two divisions to the forum index?
Every part of this forum is a gem of knowledge, and useful too.
But I'm just sayin'.....
Is this a professional site, or not?. (I did pay ISR for the reviews, but this forum is free, right?)
Thank you for your kind attentions.

DIPONT SCHOOLS IN CHINA
Didn't find any review of this (chain of) schools in Chengdu, China.
Anyone have any information or even impression?
New to forum, new to teaching overseas, 13 year physics teacher US.