Funny you brought up lower grades as I was going to even suggest lower into ECE teaching T-k or K. First taking some course work. I think you may find the classes interesting and helpful even if you didn't move to a lower age. To connect with the suggestion about working on methodology, teachers often forget or never really learn how children learn. Ok general statement I know, but we all know more than a few teachers that teach the way they always have and never seem to keep kids and their interests in mind. We learn how to teach them (direct instruction) but without an ECE background some teacher programs may never require taking more than a basic child and adolesence dev class. I've found all of my ECE class work incredibly beneficial in my teach experience from preschool directing (current) to past experiences in 2nd, 4th and yes even at the university level.

You're very right about males not being common in the younger year classes and this is a shame. i have a few male friends who are just amazing in the lower grades, but it's a lonely spot!

I'm taking advantage of my schools masters ( and Ed if I stay on longer) opportunities this next contract. Stateside it would cost me over $30k and 3yrs and it would be a lifetime of teaching before I'd see ANY monetary payback for that investment. From hours and hours researching IS options most schools do appreciate and compensate well for higher degrees.

Update the CV, put feelers out, and I'd even suggest to not trust colleagues to confide in with this situation unless you're absolutely positive they can keep your convos close. Do your best to stick to the rules and routine without giving any reason for her to question your performance. The less you speak of it the better. She can't accuse you of bad mouthing her.

I was in a similar situation and I attempted to resolve the conflict and the director even agreed to work on communication with me and when he returned from a conference away he flipped his decision and went full steam ahead with any and every tactic to isolate me and bate me (I know he wanted to fire me). I found out later from another admin that he was advised NOT to do any work to improve our communication as it would show as a weakness to our governing board...the idea that HE needed to work on communication. My saving grace is that he resigned in February of the year and I survived the last few months and moved on. I did document conversations and interactions with him as I was in a state of shock that it was even happening and I knew I had to keep notes should something come to a head to try and protect myself. He had actively recruited me to work for him and within 6 weeks of starting I knew I'd made a mistake.

So sorry you're experiencing this. Maybe it will help to know there's only 14 or so Mondays left in the school year.

Thank you everyone! Keep the tips and suggestions coming. I've had a few people message me who are also headed to Shanghai and grateful for the info you are all sharing.
I'm planning on some private tutoring before heading out and will hopefully be able to maintain some language classes out there even if it's just to be able to get around. I don't see myself excelling too well in Mandarin but I def want to make an effort.

All good recommendations! Don't shy away from having a supervisor or mentor teacher look as well. I did exactly that and it paid off indeed. Both supervisors were more than happy to assist and it cost me a couple of lunches and postage for thank you notes. Both gave valuable input from formatting to verbage.

Great tips eion_padraig thank you!

I am aware the need for a VPN, need to figure out how and where I find a good one. Know that I will need to pay for one that is reliable. Any tips/suggestions here?

Filters are non negotiable and there's a budget in place to get those once I arrive. I am hoping to buy them off of one of the teachers heading out.

Apps! Thank you! I will look for these.

Transit card...my school provides these for teachers! I am looking forward to not driving a car anymore. I am lucky to be able to ride my bike to work now for most of the school year and one of my requirements was also a public transit friendly city.

@overhere I will DEF play gopher! Awesome visual as well so thanks for the laugh. Hopefully it won't turn into a game of "wack a mole" though.
Any time I've visited a new city I prefer to cautiously get lost. It's been helpful getting oriented faster than normal.

@psyguy
Phone tips are great. Was thinking about saving this phone for China especially if it gets stolen I won't give a crap. I will have to pay for the new phone in full to unlock it, but I've got time to work on this.

Packing....well if theres a Walmart and ikea then anything random that I find I need for this age is attainable! Good to know.

@bludgeoned
I'm planning on a solid weekend if getting 'lost" in my neighborhood so I can guarantee I'll be wondering in and out if markets scoping out stores, vendors, etc. any tips on good street maps to carry along as in getting oriented. Found something on Amazon highly rated, but curious if you used something to help along.

I've been told not to bother with electronics other than computer and an unlocked phone. I'm due for an upgrade here, but have not bothered as I'll get a locked phone and the it's useless until I venture home. Any suggestions on buying stateside vs waiting until I'm there to get a phone? I've read prepaid SIM cards are the norm? True?


@psyguy
Thanks for the meds and prescriptions tip. Finished all of my visa paperwork so medical clearance and things were not as detailed as I'd previously read. I just needed a letter stating I was "fit and healthy to work". I'd already had a physical w my dr here and she just filled a bunch of essential prescriptions for getting me through the first bouts of anything until I get into a dr. Insurance does start day 1, but not likely I'll have time for anything until a month passes.
Tip on specifics med names, not common names, is key and I'll work on that as well. I've read I'll be just fine with medical needs, but will need to get over myself when it comes to getting only familiar meds. Did make me think I need to carry a list of NO meds as I have two major allergies and there are similar drugs used elsewhere that can mean trouble for me.
All vaccines are up to date, no TB (couldnt work in my school with it) or other major issues. I've read that some teachers have been shipped off for physicals in China shortly after arrival to repeat the clearance check so perhaps that's why the letter was all they needed as I'll be poked and prodded again?!
Tip on hotels is great! I'll enjoy figuring out who/what/where are the best spots to get some extra help. I'm in pretty solid cohort for school (already in contact) so hopefully that community will ease some of the craziness and feeling of being totally lost.
Clothes/shoes being a short, petite female has its advantages in Asia, but still planning to pack clothes and shoes to get me going and sustain through winter. Figure by then I'll have navigated the tailor/shoemaker world and can see what goods I can get custom. Their winters (minus pollution) are the same as my home winter temps so I'm hoping what I bring along will be fine.
"Essential"personal items: there's a bag in my closet with those hard to find or expensive items right now.

I will have a western kitchen to start, stocked with basic kitchen tools/items, but since I like to cook as well I've been told to pack spices and some good knives but worry about other thibgs there.

QUESTION: what about packing teacher resources and supplies. The school is well supplied but Ill be teaching in the early years & there are always random things we need/use for lessons. Worth the overage charges? Would be easier to plan if I were back in language arts for older kids, but I'm flip flopping back to my roots with munchkins.
Thanks to both. I'm looking forward to madness and compete overstimulation of China and then my breaks to follow.

I had a recruiting agent tell me to break up my work experiences like you're discussing on my CV. I'd separate the summer program from school year especially if it includes a different subject area and age/grade level. I taught writing workshop classes at the university level, but since each semester was a different class/format the recruiter had me list them separately with detailed descriptions.
Just some thoughts!

I'm heading to Shanghai this summer for the start of a contract and would love tips, must do/see, helpful books/blogs and helpful cautionary tips. I did quite a bit of research prior to applying for schools in China, but would love some advise from people "on the ground". I'm not interested in Shanghai/China bashing; save it for your own thread.
If you're currently living in Shanghai or recently lived there (last 3-5yrs) please share.

S

cms989 wrote:
> @Basmad where is this a visa requirement? "Usually" seems a bit
> far fetched given language teachers can generally get a visa with much
> fewer credentials.
>
> @Munybse how did your job search go? Or how is it going? I wonder how easy
> I could get a job in the states after.
>
> As for SPED suggestions, I really don't think I'd make a good SPED teacher.
> I'm just not well suited for it.

It's not far fetched or should I say LYING because "usually" that's what it means. The information has come from the mouths of the international schools for schools I have investigated beyond this site and recruiting sites and has been part of the visas I have obtained. It is a requirement for most schools to have 2-3 years in your area of teaching THAT is the advice I am emphasizing. Take it or leave it.
I can't answer why a language teacher can travel with no previous experience. as I'm not a language teacher. Maybe schools are desperate. Don't care really.
But hey thanks for calling me a far fetched advice giver. Consider my tips bunk and good luck with your search.

The teaching stateside and gaining that experience is something the schools want to see but is also usually a VISA requirement of 2-3 years teaching experience in the degree/credential/age level you have. Try and get experience teaching all levels. I went into the recruitment season having taught or trained all ages preschool through university level.

I have my Certs for preschool through 8th and I'm holding off on my English Lit secondary as I know the spots are harder to grab internationally. I took advantage if the shortage of ECE teachers and got a spot as a transitional K teacher. Quite a few school aged teaches apply for those spots to get "in" but lack the ECE training.

I'm not sure what type of teacher prep program you're looking at, but I have read and heard from recruiters they aren't a fan of online teacher prep programs. I've had friends do them for convenience and struggle in CA and TX to get jobs. The schools are not taking their Certs as seriously as brick and mortar programs. They're great teachers, just finding hesitant administrators. I know in CA you can also get certified in different levels of secondary Ed. For example I'm not a math wiz, but I could get certified in lower level math instruction (7-9th grade) which I'm just fine in and I like the middle school age anyway.

The suggestion to look at SPED I'd a good addition to have In general. You can get hired stateside faster and with higher pay.

Glad you've fallen in love with teaching! It is a great field if you can keep that love going!

ISS is offering another ifair in April. There were also schools attending that are expanding and directors did say they would be hiring again in fall for January starts. One of those was the Raffles school in S Malaysia. I don't know much about the school beyond some basic research and the presentation.

I was super picky this year and seriously applied to only 5 schools. Then added about 10 more apps to schools I was semi interested in. I wasn't going to settle for anything less than I made in take home here, and I needed no red flags along research and the interview process. My interviews were with the director via Skype, then we met a couple of times in person just prior to the conference, but were in email contact up until then. He was just as serious at keeping me involved as I was in getting the info I needed. Our final meeting I felt like I was interviewing him and he obliged. Contract signed. I actually met with a few of his candidates at the conference as he wanted to see how we might work together.

Totally unexpected experience, but maybe its the right timing for me. I think if you have a good spot at home, don't rush anything. I'm just now giving notice to my school because I wanted to make sure I kept my position. I kept my intentions on the down low with only one colleague and close family/friends as I didn't also want a huge production to walk away with nothing. Even now I'm telling them "until I have a visa, plane ticket and even my apartment/classroom keys in hand" nothing is set in stone! Anything can happen from what this forum has taught me.

Stay positive and perhaps this isn't the year! Why rush something and get stuck in a potentially bad contract.

SF seemed to have low attendance and many schools cancelled prior to as they'd filled jobs. There were plenty of ECE and HS science/language jobs open.
I did see a lot of candidates who seemed frazzled and unprepared and heard quite a bit of recruiters share that sentiment.
I did hear that jobs would open later In the season as some teachers do resign later in the school year and so positions do open.

That doesn't seem right at all to me, but my years were honored in full. I was actually surprised and expected only 3yrs in my specific area, but they counted them all.