Thank you! I'll pass on your advice.

A friend of mine is graduating next year with a PhD in History (emphasis in Mid East and World). However, the post-secondary market is awful.

Do any international schools hire PhD's without teaching credentials? She had a teaching credential many years ago, but it's long lapsed. She lived abroad for 20 years in the Mid East and has a non-teaching spouse but no children. She has published scholarly books and taught undergraduate history classes for the past 5 years.

Is this even an option? She's interested in Asia, but anywhere in the world, really.

Whew! It's been a busy week of holiday prep...thanks for all your comments!

@sevarem: Thanks for the alternate opinion on Singapore. I've heard both sides from friends of mine, so yeah, we'll probably go check out the city this summer to see our take on it. I do love great museums and cultural events! :)

@Choirguy: Thanks for your recommendation on Bangkok...another city on my list to visit. Many who live there just love it! Would you be willing to post publicly a list of the schools that you would feel comfortable sending your daughter to there? If not, I'll email you for that list. What is it abut Beijing you don't like? Just the air pollution, or something else?

@hallier: I'll definitely take your recommendation for AISG into consideration. I've heard several people say that Guangzhou is a very livable city. I hadn't really considered any mainland China cities originally, but I'll put it on my list, now. I'm part of a teaching couple, not a single parent, but a great package is a great package. :)

Very helpful, everyone! Thanks!

Love both lists above; wish I'd had them my first time interviewing!

I would also ask about curriculum: how flexible it is for individual teachers, verses following curriculum maps or common assessments or unit plans already written.

Also, one administrator advised me to ask "What is one mistake you've made as an administrator, and how would you have handled the situation differently?" That question is meant to show you if you'll be working for someone who is self-reflective enough to know they're not perfect, and that they want to be growing.

I'm looking for a school with really good administrators. Yes, I know administrators change often, but they really make a big difference.

I'm also looking for a medium to large city, for the same reasons others mentioned--to have more to do to get out of the school bubble. On the other hand, I don't want to live in some of the places with the worst air pollution, and I do want to be able to get out of town for hiking without too much trouble.

Also, I agree, pay attention to the climate and make sure you are going to be okay with it. I've had friends who just hated the gulf because it was too hot to go outside for a few months every year.

Last, do take the taxes and cost of living into consideration. They vary greatly from country to country.

There are lots of ESL positions in Taiwan. It's also not too hard of a country to survive in for a first-timer overseas, with all the usual East-Asia fascinating culture and scenery.

I concur with those above who said just come as a single and work out the logistics of his visa yourselves.

What schools in Asia and the Mid-East have great Visual Art Departments?

Things like multiple electives offered, good supplies, a kiln, graphic arts programs in their computer labs... Ok, they don't have to have all of those things, but at least most of them.

Thanks, JISAlum and hallier for your encouragement! No harm in sending out the applications, I guess, even if we aren't the most desirable couple for those top tier schools. I'm trying not to get my hopes too high.

Yes, Psyguy, we've visited Japan and loved it there --if we could make the finances work, we would totally take an offer there. I haven't been to Singapore yet, but we're not at all "mall" type people, so I'm not sure that it would be our type of lifestyle.

I don't really need a town that's super clean and organized, like Singapore or Tokyo, though. As long as it's not overly polluted, I don't mind cities with a lot of "character". I know you hated Cairo, Psyguy, but I lived there for 6 months and loved it. Would move there in a minute if it weren't for the pollution. Loved it when single, but won't put my kids' lungs through that.

A big priority for me is a well-run school with a mix of expat kids where our kids could get a great education.

@mysharona--The data on Shanghai is that it's bad, but less than half the air pollution of Cairo, so maybe within reasonable limits? It's hard to decide what are reasonable limits when it comes to your own kids! And I definitely have heard that things like air pollution harm kids more than adults.

@Ddd--Thanks for the great list of schools! I will definitely look into all of these. I'm interested that you didn't include Rumaradee in the Bangkok list...is there something I should know?

@JIS Alum--Thanks! I would love to work at one of those schools, but I'm afraid we aren't that competitive yet. Teaching couple, English and Art. I have 5 years' international experience teaching English and doing Curriculum Coordination, but my husband only has 2 years' full time experience. I just keep hearing how cut-throat the competition is for those top tier schools...do you think we have any chance?

Thanks! What are the best schools in Shanghai?

Can anyone speak to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or any Mid Eastern cities? These are all places we're considering but have never been.

Though I do concur that you aren't as competitive as a teacher with similar qualifications and fewer family members, don't give up hope just because you have 3 dependents. Just expect that you might need to take a job with a second tier school. There are still many great ones out there; just read up on them to really understand what you're getting into.

Also, you'll probably need to go somewhere where one salary could support you all. That means Europe and Japan are out since their cost of living is high.

Expect to really have to sell yourself. If you can figure out how to get another endorsement from your State, then do that to make yourself more marketable.

You still have a chance!

I lived in Jordan and loved it there. Lots to do if you're interested in history: Crusader castles, Roman ruins, and of course Petra, where Indiana Jones was filmed.

If you're an outdoors person, there's Wadi Rum for hiking and the Red Sea for diving.

I second the "great winter weather", and the summers aren't as hot as the gulf.

When I lived there more than a decade ago, Western women/girls had to deal with street harassment in Amman. Not as bad as Cairo, but still annoying. Anyone with more recent experience in the Mid East, could you chime in on whether that's still a frustration?

Also, what are the best schools in Oman? Any schools to stay away from there?

I lived in Amman for a few years and loved it there.

ACS is definitely the first tier school in the region; most of the UN and diplomat kids go there, for what that's worth.

There is a lot to see and do in Jordan: crusader castles, snorkeling and diving in the Red Sea, Roman ruins, and of course Petra, where that one Indiana Jones movie was filmed.

The climate is milder than the gulf M. E. countries, too.

I'm trying to find out what are good cities to raise our young kids in. We have taught at a second tier school in Taiwan for a few years and have loved it.

We're looking for:

1. Cities that are safe and don't have awful levels of air pollution (hence HK is out).

2. Reasonable cost of living. Probably Asia or Middle East.

3. Schools with a mix of expat kids, so our kids won't be the only expats in the class.

Any opinions appreciated!