I want to second the emotion of one thing another poster wrote: copies.

Make lors and lots of copies of transcripts, teacher liceneses, birth certs, passports, marriage cert, etc. Have digital copies and apostille cis (if needed).

It just seems to be needed over and over.

Learn the local language and use it as much as you can. It is easy, in most places, not to do this, and I think that is one of the most important ways to make your experience international.

Make a point to really understand your insurance. You will likely need to use it. Ask a lot of questions.

Take the time to travel. Don't always go home for breaks.

Rely on others and let others rely on you. A powerful bond-maker.

I know all the big fairs go on in the next few months and I just wanted to--selfishly--throw out there that I hope some of you post fair diaries like others have the past few years.

They have made for wonderful reading and I'm sure are helpful to others recruiting too.

Please and thank you!

From reading plenty of discussion over the years, and participating in the UNI fair myself, I believe both the Queens and UNI fairs are fairly open to noobs.

The way you find out which ones have science openings at a given fair is to sign up, then you get access to their databases, openings, experience requirements.

You can always check school websites and Tieonline(for a small fee, which is worth it, especially for a new teacher) for openings too.

Thanks, wntriscoming.

That sucks.

Does Search still give you access to their database, even if they don't accept you as an official candidate/invitee to a fair? I was wondering if you could still pay the 200 bucks for access, as that would be worthwhile as well.

Try signing up for UNI's job fair. By doing that, you also get access to a database.

I am surprised that Search dismissed you out of hand for having the three dependents: non teaching spouse and two young kids. Is this Search policy? I know having three dependents is a tougher sell, and that Search is in the business of getting people hired--that's how they get their money.

I'm just surprised, since you have so much experience, in science, with IB, and international.

I don't, but i have not looked into it at all.

The two spouses who are doing it here are working for companies they were previously employed with.

Sid, i agree.

With so many possibilities of being a native speaker of English in so many different circumstances, i say put the ball in the interviewer's court.

All good points, Bam.

Have you ever just thought about saying you ARE a native speaker of English? Your word against theirs, right?

Or does this then turn into what a native teacher LOOKS like?

That would be even more damning, but I imagine, in some schools, thats part of their advertising too.

A great option these days is online work. Be a consultant, or when you leave the States, for example, see if you can set up some kind of role that doesnt need to be physically present w your current job.

This is becoming more and more common anyways--working from home--and I know multiple spouses here at my current school who are doing it.

They make US money too, which is nice!

The good: the money, the flexibility when changing countries, the no hassle w visas.
The bad: no interaction w locals, possible time difference issues.

My state is as National suggests. It is not an alternative route, it is the route to getting a secondary ed certificate: you major in your area of concentration on your license.

Thanks for all the fair diaries, folks! So informative.

Keep 'em coming.

Also in Mexico:
The American School of Puerto Vallarta and American School of Guadalajara.