I know a lot of teachers at CIS. It seems to be a place for younger teachers...in their 20s. A great place to get started with an international career. The new campus is pretty flashy looking from the street but it was built very, very fast. Most are under the opinion that it will start cracking in the coming years from shoddy workmanship. It also seems to be a place that you keep your head down and do your job. If you want to live in Saigon, you could do a lot worse. Really FUN staff!

More and more int. schools are putting more resources in their EC programs. Some of the best schools in Europe are building dedicated facilities and have used their EC programs as large part of their marketing plans. You can find a job...you will need to manufacture some luck though...be relentless...you gotta be in the right place at the right time for the right school. You can get a job...and for your 1st job...its not a bad thing if you end up at a bad school. You have time to end up where your ideal is. Its sort of cliche, but if you are flexible, you will find a job.

Unless you have not been a student teacher, I would not intern. There are those that finish their teacher program by student teaching/intern abroad. I think that is awesome but I would never do that if you have a Master's. You are better off trying to move to a place where you want to be...start subbing...work your way into an assistant job...a teacher leaves and you are in the right place at the right time.

A lot of this depends on your desire. Go for it!

Not sure if you have ever been to Europe but unless you are in a very small town, you will never be regarded as a circus freak in any city. If you are, ever, its just because you are "there"...in their view...that's all and some cultures tend to stare more than others. You will find some schools that are outside the city but those natives are so used to the expat influx and will mostly welcome you...If you smile, they will smile back...well, uhhhh, maybe not always but a smile can go a long way. Unless you are in some "bad neighborhood", if someone is prejudiced against you, they will likely ignore you...or give you bad service...haha!

Just following your requirements, I have some suggestions...but one thing to note...generally the further South you go in Europe, the salary drops too. Savings potential is difficult in most of S. Europe. If you can buy yourself a Desk Anti-SAD light, there are great options in Germany. Anyway, you could try Madrid or Barcelona, Athens, Turkey, Zagreb, maybe Rome for that Mediterranean lifestyle. There is also Tunisia (Europe close)...but not sure what's going on there right now. I would say its very difficult or near impossible to support a family on one teacher salary in S. Europe. If you are not a teaching couple, and you have a spouse...the spouse usually has another professional job. It can be done but I'm sure you will not want to stay home to save money to live.

I think most cities in Europe are family friendly...this is a perception though...everyone has different expectations. I've taught in Europe and Asia...and I would say that anywhere in Europe is pretty good. Someone will disagree but l would not worry about it. Yes, petty theft happens a lot in Europe but you learn to live with that and be aware of your surroundings.

Good luck finding that job. Maybe you are better off looking in SE Asia...good weather, good salaries, safe etc. etc.

If you are a highly qualified for the position you seek, you will be on the schools radar way in advance of the fairs. If you go to Search and you are a strong candidate, the school will wait to make a decision after they have met you.

Thanks for the info. I'm basically looking for insider info on the school climate at Gubei campus. Are teachers micro-managed or allowed to teach. How do you feel about the "package"? housing allowance or school housing...is Gubei affordable for a teacher to live there outside of school housing? How about scheduling? block or 8 per day? How many teaching blocks per week etc.? I've read a lot about how people are happy or unhappy...I want more nuts n bolts information.

Can anyone give me the latest on YC Shanghai Gubei campus? I've read many reviews with many of them negative. It seems like a high achieving school with a good extracurricular program.

Anyone familiar with what is going on there?

Any new updates on Yew Chung Shanghai Gubei campus? I think there has been some change in admin...what's going on there now? Any info on their sport facilities?

Then I would have to say Frankfurt is indeed the best school. I have worked in Europe for 7 years and have travelled To many schools in Germany due to coaching. Munich and Frankfurt compete at the highest level of int. euro sports. Frankfurt always took us to a nice microbrewery when our teams would visit....just coaches, not players haha! It's probably a close call between Munich and frankfurt. Next discussion might be about lifestyle in Germany. As a whole, I think the lifestyle in Germany is the best in Europe...although Scandinavians are my favorite people.

Depends on what you want. Frankfurt is probably the biggest and pay is good but not the most interesting city. Munich must be great but I can't really speak to that...living in Bavaria would be awesome but I've heard the pay isn't the greatest. Hamburg is in a new building, duesseldorf is solid. Berlin is an incredible city with Berlin brandenburg as an up n coming school. If you want something a little quirky but fun and crazy at times, then JFK is cool for a few years. I would have to say that Berlin is the best city to live in but there again, it depends. Lots of good choices in Germany and I hope to finish my career there.

Anyone have any current information about this school and living in Quito, Ecuador?

Any insight is appreciated? if you know anything about their athletics program, even better.

Many Thanks,

Tommy

Does anyone know the differences between the 2 schools in Phnom Penh? One more N. American or UK? package? facilities? atmosphere?

Excellent answer...Thanks Indogal.

Do you know much about the PE dept.? how many teachers?

What kind of schedule to they run? block?

and last but not least...I had a former Graded teacher tell me that her whole apt. complex got "held up" at the same time. Everyone that was home got robbed. True? Safety a constant concern?

Can anyone give me any information about the conditions at Graded in Brazil?
- school climate - living conditions/safety - money - sport facilities

Any feedback would be great.