Question from a fresh International School Teacher
Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 9:49 am
Hi, I last asked a question a little less than a year ago. Since then, I've become certified in K-12 math through the Teacher Ready program and taught math at an international school in a Tier-2 city in China. To give more background on myself, I have a B.A. in Psychology, and completed 2 years of a joint PhD/Master's program, during which I served as a TA, thus gaining teaching experience and receiving my post-graduate education for free. Following this, I took some time doing other things including substitute teaching. After a few years I headed for China with the idea of beginning a teaching career and learning Chinese.
In my second placement in China I was asked to tutor math (in English) to the school owner's daughter, then subsequently assigned Math Language classes in that school. I used that to acquire my current position prior to certification: teaching middle school math at an international school, with the plan to acquire a math teaching certification, which I did. I chose math because it is an in-demand subject, and although I have never majored in it, I have always been exceptionally good at the subject when learning or being tested on it in the past.
My goal is to attain a better position and gain experience each year, and so for next year I've been looking for IB and/or high school teaching positions for math, and have found both. I've been offered a few different positions thus far, including a freshly accredited (2015) IB school, which I would join the math department of. They are a K-12 school, and I would teach one middle school math class and 2-3 high school math classes. The pay is less than I would have hoped for, and the same that I'm being paid currently. However, so far this is the only IB school who has offered me a position, and thus I'm looking at this as an opportunity to add IB experience to my resume. Thinking realistically, I must acknowledge that as my degree is not in Math I need to accumulate a few years of successful experience teaching math to prove my ability of teaching it effectively.
I've been offered some other opportunities next year, such as a Chinese school with an international department in which I would be teaching Pre-calc/Calculus, and paid quite a bit more than the IB school. I should clarify that the original position I was offered at this school was Grade 10 Math Language. The intent is for these students to study in Australia, but I think that when they are admitted to the program their English level may be insufficient. The plan is for them to be taught Math in English exclusively after their first year.
I've visited both schools, and although the Chinese school seems well-equipped, the IB international school seems to have better facilities and resources. That said, the foreign teachers at the Chinese school are all from English-speaking countries, while the foreign teachers of the math department at the international school are from Pakistan and Slovenia.
One question I asked the schools is how many of the students are admitted to English-speaking countries' universities following graduation. I have a small impression that regardless of the capability of the individual, students that can afford to attend an international school versus just an international department are in a better position. I wonder whether it may be easier to teach the students at the international department, as I think they are likely better students, but I think that it will probably look better on my resume to teach the students at the international school, and a majority of them will be admitted to schools at a variety of Universities in English-speaking countries.
With this information in mind, what do you think of my career plans? What do you think of these two school offers in particular, and which would be more valuable for my credentials and future?
I appreciate any and all feedback I receive. Thank you.
In my second placement in China I was asked to tutor math (in English) to the school owner's daughter, then subsequently assigned Math Language classes in that school. I used that to acquire my current position prior to certification: teaching middle school math at an international school, with the plan to acquire a math teaching certification, which I did. I chose math because it is an in-demand subject, and although I have never majored in it, I have always been exceptionally good at the subject when learning or being tested on it in the past.
My goal is to attain a better position and gain experience each year, and so for next year I've been looking for IB and/or high school teaching positions for math, and have found both. I've been offered a few different positions thus far, including a freshly accredited (2015) IB school, which I would join the math department of. They are a K-12 school, and I would teach one middle school math class and 2-3 high school math classes. The pay is less than I would have hoped for, and the same that I'm being paid currently. However, so far this is the only IB school who has offered me a position, and thus I'm looking at this as an opportunity to add IB experience to my resume. Thinking realistically, I must acknowledge that as my degree is not in Math I need to accumulate a few years of successful experience teaching math to prove my ability of teaching it effectively.
I've been offered some other opportunities next year, such as a Chinese school with an international department in which I would be teaching Pre-calc/Calculus, and paid quite a bit more than the IB school. I should clarify that the original position I was offered at this school was Grade 10 Math Language. The intent is for these students to study in Australia, but I think that when they are admitted to the program their English level may be insufficient. The plan is for them to be taught Math in English exclusively after their first year.
I've visited both schools, and although the Chinese school seems well-equipped, the IB international school seems to have better facilities and resources. That said, the foreign teachers at the Chinese school are all from English-speaking countries, while the foreign teachers of the math department at the international school are from Pakistan and Slovenia.
One question I asked the schools is how many of the students are admitted to English-speaking countries' universities following graduation. I have a small impression that regardless of the capability of the individual, students that can afford to attend an international school versus just an international department are in a better position. I wonder whether it may be easier to teach the students at the international department, as I think they are likely better students, but I think that it will probably look better on my resume to teach the students at the international school, and a majority of them will be admitted to schools at a variety of Universities in English-speaking countries.
With this information in mind, what do you think of my career plans? What do you think of these two school offers in particular, and which would be more valuable for my credentials and future?
I appreciate any and all feedback I receive. Thank you.