-Interest free loans are a nice perk
-Free laptop/tablet or interest free computer/car loan
-Transportation allowance
-Free tuition for children

I think one of the nicest perks is a housing allowance in cash where you can choose where you want to live and go under/over your budget accordingly. Some schools will say they give you free housing but it is in school property (usually not great)

[quote="JB"]Thank You do the information!! My next move should be to register for Search or another type of "recruiter". Do you have any suggestions considering my situation of married teaching couple with 4 dependents??? Is one better than another?[/quote]

I would recommend either Search or ISS (or both to broaden your net). They both have a lot of paperwork and hoops to go through.

+1 as well. Admin?

It's going to be difficult to get free tuition for all of them and recruiters might be hesitant to hire you. I know a family with 3 kids finds it very challenging. A quick search on Search came up with lots for free tuition (but need to check with individual schools on exactly how many). Here are some notables:

Luanda International School
Lincoln School
American International School of Vienna
International School of Brussels
Graded School (up to 3)
ISPP (Cambodia)
Shanghai American
HKIS (100% for first 2, 80% for additional)
Int. School of Hamburg
American Embassy School New Delhi

[quote="christyn2"]So I'm reading The poor Teacher and now I get it! I feel I was very naive about the hidden costs of actively managed funds before reading this book. My question is: can I transfer my money out of American Funds into Vanguard without paying some sort of cost? The book kind of leads me to believe that yes I can. I'm not ready to discuss thus yet with my financial advisor because it is very clear to me that I need to dump him so I'm asking here.[/quote]

You will face some significant costs unfortunately. But the money you pay will pale in comparison to the money you pay in fees compounded over the longterm. Some financial companies have huge penalties for getting out early (I paid 40%) but it was the best move I ever made.

More discussion on it here: http://andrewhallam.com/category/expat- ... provident/

Interesting to compare countries for maternity leave. A good read...

[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/22 ... 36120.html[/url]

[quote]The United States, along with Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia and Lesotho are some of the only countries in the world that provide no type of financial support for mothers, according to a study done by McGill University’s Institute for Health and Social Policy.[/quote]

Sweden has the highest with 420 days (at 80% salary).

[quote="Lastname_Z"]Hey all,

I have a few questions about the International Schools Job Market, my marketability, and what is my best bet in terms of finding employment.

I am currently finishing a Bachelor of Education in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Grades 7-12 (12-18 year olds) History and English are my subjects.

I plan on staying one more year in Toronto to attain my Masters in History.

I also plan on taking an Additional Qualification in Special Education during that time.

My only experience teaching is a year of practicum and unrelated teaching like tutoring and teaching kids how to swim.

I know not having two years experience really hurts me as a candidate, but what things can I do to work around this? Does having a Masters help?

Thanks.[/quote]

Masters will help but it all comes down to how well you interview as well. It's hard when you don't have any experience so your first school will most likely not be a top school and you'll have to put your time in a smaller or less reputable school. I would say demand still outweighs supply so you will get offers. After your first contract, you will have no problem finding jobs at bigger schools (provided you are a good teacher).

My first year at a job fair, I had no experience either but was fortunate to have had plenty of job offers. Nearly all were from less reputable schools in S.America and Asia.

[quote="CaliPro"]Which is the best country long term to try and hack into / settle down? Japan, Singapore, or HK?[/quote]

I would say Singapore or Japan if you are looking at "settling down". Very family oriented with lots of parks, etc. HK better for singles.

We are looking at having a child in the next year or two and also changing jobs to one of the bigger schools in Europe (ZIS, ASH, ISP, etc). Does anyone know their policy on maternity leave? How is childcare there? I would like to hear from anyone who has had children in Europe and how they managed. What if one of us worked part-time for a year or two (we are both teachers)? What schools would you recommend for children?

[quote="christyn2"]I just don't understand how reading and writing are actually TAUGHT in PYP schools? Can someone explain this to me? I obviously have not worked at one.[/quote]

The same way that it is taught in other schools through reading/writing workshops, mini-lessons, independent and shared reading.

The only difference is that reading and writing is also integrated into units of inquiry (which is how it should happen anyway in good teaching models). For example, students doing an ecosystem research project are taught context cues, reading comprehension strategies, note-taking and report writing. So the Unit of Inquiry becomes the backbone for all learning (reading/writing/math,IT, etc).

Hope that makes sense.

[quote="Walter"]It's been a while since I visited, and the discussion at the time was just about bringing in DP.
In the meantime, I like your list, Snowbeavers. Here's another one of schools in Asia that choose not to do PYP: IS Bangkok; ISKL; Taipei American; ASIJ; IS Beijing; Singapore American; IS Manila; Jakarta IS. Meantime, when people try to come up with a list of the best schools in Europe, two that always feature are AS London and IS Brussels, neither of which do PYP. No one could convince me that these schools aren't top performers and that their ES programs are somehow inferior to those you named.
But I don't want to get into a list fight. I accept that PYP is a way of providing a framework for ES education, but that's all it is: a way. Sadly, its disciples often claim that it is the way, the truth and the life, and that is nonsense.
The OP should focus on getting a job at a really good school, and not be so bothered about the ES curriculum framework.[/quote]

Not be bothered about the curriculum framework? Not be bothered by how the curriculum is taught and how you will be a delivering the single most important aspect of your job-teaching and learning?

Personally, I put more value into teaching, learning and philosophy of the school then I guess you do rather than just getting into a good school and collecting a big paycheck. If I wanted that, I would have gone into a different career.

I've worked at a couple of these so called good schools and the reality is very much different than the perception. I have many good friends who work at them as well. They are struggling with many issues, including curriculum (some of those schools don't even have one). In the end, classifying a good school comes done to what you value as a professional and personally.

I know you don't want to get into list wars but you mentioned 2 schools in Europe that don't but I could list 10 top schools that do.

[quote="Snowbeavers"][quote="Walter"]Not quite sure about this advice. The top three schools in Singapore are probably SAS, UWC and Tanglin Trust. SAS and Tanglin don't do PYP and UWC are dropping it. Shanghai American is the top school in Shanghai and they don't do PYP and neither do Concordia or Dulwich. In Hong Kong, Chinese International School and HKIS and the ESF schools don't do PYP. As a general rule, the best schools in Asia stay away from it. If you want PYP, you need to come to Europe. But why do you want it anyway?[/quote]

Except for: WAB, NIST, Yokohama, Canadian Int School of HK, Tokyo Int School, ISPP, Nanjing Int School...

The list goes on and on. Most of these are fantastic schools.

Why would you want it anyway? Inquiry-based learning, constructivist pedagogy, collaborative teaching and learning, exhibition, a common framework, language and attitudes, just to name a few. Obviously this can be done in non-PYP curriculums but it is nice when the whole school adopts it and has a common language. I've taught in both and it is not the same.

It is by no means perfect but is a nice philosophy for elementary students and personally would prefer it to non-PYP schools.[/quote]

[quote="Walter"]Not quite sure about this advice. The top three schools in Singapore are probably SAS, UWC and Tanglin Trust. SAS and Tanglin don't do PYP and UWC are dropping it. Shanghai American is the top school in Shanghai and they don't do PYP and neither do Concordia or Dulwich. In Hong Kong, Chinese International School and HKIS and the ESF schools don't do PYP. As a general rule, the best schools in Asia stay away from it. If you want PYP, you need to come to Europe. But why do you want it anyway?[/quote]

Except for: WAB, NIST, Yokohama, Canadian Int School of HK, Tokyo Int School, ISPP, Nanjing Int School...

The list goes on and on. Most of these are fantastic schools.

Why would you want it anyway? Inquiry-based learning, constructivist pedagogy, collaborative teaching and learning, exhibition, a common framework, language and attitudes, just to name a few.

It is by no means perfect but is a nice philosophy for elementary students and personally would prefer it to non-PYP schools.

[quote="christyn2"]What do you mean by 'actively' managed?

I have money in an American Funds account, which a lot of teachers I know also use. Is this the type of company you consider 'actively managed'. I definitely pay a small percentage when I contribute money, which I am not thrilled about, but I am not a financial expert, and I am too busy doing my day job, to inform myself in buying stock, bonds, etc.

With that being said, I am also going to get a chunk of money next year, and would prefer to diversify and NOT put this money into my American Funds account, since I already contribute a few hundred dollars a month to it.[/quote]

That "small percentage" might not sound like a lot but compounded over 20+ years, it will be up to 2/3 of your profit and hundreds of thousands of dollars. To illustrate, go to any free online compound calculator and put in the difference between 7% and 5% over 25 years.

Sadly, like you said, many people are too busy doing their jobs to notice this which is exactly what the fund industry wants. It is not complicated and spending a couple of hours reading one of the above books or documentary and you will understand everything you need to know.

What I would recommend is getting your money out of that fund and investing it yourself.

What are the taxes like? How much are you able to save per year?