Of course
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:29 am
Your time working with English Language Learners is valuable. It may not have the credibility and currency that regular classroom teaching has, but those who contend that it is something you almost need to feel embarrassed or ashamed about have zero idea what recruiters look for. If you were to tell me that you'd spent three years working in a situation where you are trying to help young people learn to communicate in English, and where 20% of the students in my school are in that same process, would I really be so stupid as to say "all of your ELL experience is irrelevant"? Duh.
So let me tell you - and I have recruited hundreds of teachers in my time - I look for the kind of hinterland you talk of. You have clearly been a successful classroom teacher; you are comfortable in a multi-lingual environment; you can assimilate into a different culture.
You need to be wary on this site. There are several self-proclaimed pundits - and Dave PsyGuy is the worst of these - who speak with absolute certainty about things that are way, way beyond their experience.
As for which fair is best for you...well the big advantage about Bangkok is that that is where you will find most vacancies. The disadvantage is that most recruiters who go there, myself included, only take their first picks simply because there are several fairs to follow. So if you are a really good candidate and you go to Bangkok you will get offers. If you are a pretty good candidate, you may well not get offers.
You also need to know that if your goal is a job in Asia, well it makes sense to go to Bangkok, since nearly all the top Asian schools are there. If you want Europe you would certainly choose go to London. That said, there are many Asian schools that go to Europe and some at least European schools that attend Bangkok. The original premise still holds good though: if you want Asia and nothing else, go to Bkk; if you want Europe and nothing else, go to London. Factor into that decision where you think you are in the pecking order of an administrator's wish list, and that should tell you which fair to attend.
If you want me to cast an eye over your resumes, I'm happy to do that. Post an (anonymous) e address here, and I'll get in touch. But know that I am a cruel editor...
So let me tell you - and I have recruited hundreds of teachers in my time - I look for the kind of hinterland you talk of. You have clearly been a successful classroom teacher; you are comfortable in a multi-lingual environment; you can assimilate into a different culture.
You need to be wary on this site. There are several self-proclaimed pundits - and Dave PsyGuy is the worst of these - who speak with absolute certainty about things that are way, way beyond their experience.
As for which fair is best for you...well the big advantage about Bangkok is that that is where you will find most vacancies. The disadvantage is that most recruiters who go there, myself included, only take their first picks simply because there are several fairs to follow. So if you are a really good candidate and you go to Bangkok you will get offers. If you are a pretty good candidate, you may well not get offers.
You also need to know that if your goal is a job in Asia, well it makes sense to go to Bangkok, since nearly all the top Asian schools are there. If you want Europe you would certainly choose go to London. That said, there are many Asian schools that go to Europe and some at least European schools that attend Bangkok. The original premise still holds good though: if you want Asia and nothing else, go to Bkk; if you want Europe and nothing else, go to London. Factor into that decision where you think you are in the pecking order of an administrator's wish list, and that should tell you which fair to attend.
If you want me to cast an eye over your resumes, I'm happy to do that. Post an (anonymous) e address here, and I'll get in touch. But know that I am a cruel editor...