Hi, i'm entering my second year at an international school. I realize that the expectations will vary wildly, but i want to get an idea of some others experiences.
How many classes are you expected to teach per day?
How many preps?
How much after school work (extracurricular, not grading and planning)
minimum salary?
Like i said, i'm expecting wild fluctuations, so please describe your school a bit.
To give a bit of background, i moved to the philippines with no intention of working. A new international school was opening up in my area, so i put in a resume. The initial group of teachers got hired at a decent salary.
But the new teachers are coming in at what i can't imagine living on. The new head of school insists that you can get quality teachers for the much lower salary. For the first year, i taught 6 classes, four of them needing preps. Then i taught an afterschool test prep class.
This year it looks like they are trying to have us teach 7 classes--all of them unique, so 7 preps. It will at least be 6 classes with 6 preps.
As for salary, initially we were at $36,000 including housing allowance. The new hires are coming in at $22,000 all in, less in some cases.
The combination of high course load, with high preps and what seems like a very small salary makes it seem not even remotely worth the time. Luckily, i'm still on the old pay scale, but that may change next year.
Thanks in advance for any input that you can offer.
expectations
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willinphil
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:56 am
- Location: Philippines
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I would say 5 teaching periods and 1 prep each day is normal. It depends upon your school size, specialty, etc. as to the variation in what you teach, and as a result, how many preps.
Good pay is relative. Good pay for a small South American school would not even pay your rent in Europe.
After school planning also depends heavily upon you. Some people can bust out a great lesson plan/grade papers in minutes. It takes me longer and I don't think as well at the end of school so I take stuff home. I don't mind, but other people do. However other people may be busting their chops after school while I sit and relax - so I don't judge.
It stinks when you feel like you are teaching too many classes with not enough prep time. I honestly think many administrators don't realize how important those times are.
Concerning reviews, please write a review - whether it is good or bad. Not enough good reviews are written and the "pay side" looks like a complaint board with very few positive reviews, yet there are loads of teachers who work at the same schools for years. It can't all be bad! I want to know about the bad schools, but I also don't want to miss out on a good school because someone has an ax to grind and no one offers the other side of the story.
Good pay is relative. Good pay for a small South American school would not even pay your rent in Europe.
After school planning also depends heavily upon you. Some people can bust out a great lesson plan/grade papers in minutes. It takes me longer and I don't think as well at the end of school so I take stuff home. I don't mind, but other people do. However other people may be busting their chops after school while I sit and relax - so I don't judge.
It stinks when you feel like you are teaching too many classes with not enough prep time. I honestly think many administrators don't realize how important those times are.
Concerning reviews, please write a review - whether it is good or bad. Not enough good reviews are written and the "pay side" looks like a complaint board with very few positive reviews, yet there are loads of teachers who work at the same schools for years. It can't all be bad! I want to know about the bad schools, but I also don't want to miss out on a good school because someone has an ax to grind and no one offers the other side of the story.
writing reviews
Other than the obvious, that discontented teachers are more likely to write reviews than contented teachers, is it possible that the happy teachers do not even know the forum exists, as they are not looking to leave their state of contentedness?
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willinphil
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:56 am
- Location: Philippines
- Contact:
thanks for replies
Hey Ichiro,
I did do a write up on the pay side. It was before we got a new headmaster. But things haven't really changed much. I'll do updates as things change here.
The local hire thing, i understand your thinking. But i have a different take on it. The philippine school system skips grades 7 and 8. So you graduate from high school after only 10 years of school. While i'm sure that there are qualified filipino teachers in country, their education is lacking compared to foreign hires, in my experience.
Couple that with the fact that no foreigner, or well-off filipino will accept that they are paying top tuition for filipino teachers. The end result is that except in some specialty subjects like P.E., we don't hire local teachers.
The headmasters position has been that he can easily get 'good' licensed teachers for a very small salary. I suppose that you can do that in some cases. But i've seen what he has brought in so far, and imho, he isn't pulling the kind of teachers that you need to get a school started.
Parents are paying big money, and the staff is on par with a underperforming U.S. school. His theory seems to be if the guy has a white face and a bad tie, then everyone will think that they have a great amount of ability.
The school is a new international school. Next September starts our second year. We are planning for about 50 students in grades k-11 (no 12 till next year). Right now, the students are about 90% Korean. The board of directors is Korean. The headmaster is a Brit. We are using an American Curriculum, which no one seems to really understand. That is confusing me a bit, because there isn't really much to it.
Besides asking us to prep 6 classes in the fall, they also want us to start developing curriculum. Those of you who have been around long enough, know that there is a thrown together type of curriculum that is worthless. And a well thought out and planned type of curriculum, which can guide the school. I'm not big on wasting my time like that. Either I do it well, or i don't like to do it.
But i don't see how i can do 6 classes plus extra-curricular stuff well and write a quality curriculum.
The writing is on the wall. I'll finish out next year, then like you said, i will have 2 years international experience under my belt and i'll start looking for the next post.
22k is a pretty good salary for many parts of the Philippines. Especially if you wanted to live at a local level. But, to have a decent standard of living in a city like manila or angeles and some others, it isn't going to go too far, especially with a family.
Random notes of other topics--
There is no handbook as of yet. Minimal contracts that are one-way, meaning since everything isn't spelled out, they change the agreement as they go. They have paid regularly and on time. That is the only plus as of now. Morale from expat-teachers, local admin and staff is very low. The korean owners are arrogant and clueless.
Thanks for the input from everyone.
I did do a write up on the pay side. It was before we got a new headmaster. But things haven't really changed much. I'll do updates as things change here.
The local hire thing, i understand your thinking. But i have a different take on it. The philippine school system skips grades 7 and 8. So you graduate from high school after only 10 years of school. While i'm sure that there are qualified filipino teachers in country, their education is lacking compared to foreign hires, in my experience.
Couple that with the fact that no foreigner, or well-off filipino will accept that they are paying top tuition for filipino teachers. The end result is that except in some specialty subjects like P.E., we don't hire local teachers.
The headmasters position has been that he can easily get 'good' licensed teachers for a very small salary. I suppose that you can do that in some cases. But i've seen what he has brought in so far, and imho, he isn't pulling the kind of teachers that you need to get a school started.
Parents are paying big money, and the staff is on par with a underperforming U.S. school. His theory seems to be if the guy has a white face and a bad tie, then everyone will think that they have a great amount of ability.
The school is a new international school. Next September starts our second year. We are planning for about 50 students in grades k-11 (no 12 till next year). Right now, the students are about 90% Korean. The board of directors is Korean. The headmaster is a Brit. We are using an American Curriculum, which no one seems to really understand. That is confusing me a bit, because there isn't really much to it.
Besides asking us to prep 6 classes in the fall, they also want us to start developing curriculum. Those of you who have been around long enough, know that there is a thrown together type of curriculum that is worthless. And a well thought out and planned type of curriculum, which can guide the school. I'm not big on wasting my time like that. Either I do it well, or i don't like to do it.
But i don't see how i can do 6 classes plus extra-curricular stuff well and write a quality curriculum.
The writing is on the wall. I'll finish out next year, then like you said, i will have 2 years international experience under my belt and i'll start looking for the next post.
22k is a pretty good salary for many parts of the Philippines. Especially if you wanted to live at a local level. But, to have a decent standard of living in a city like manila or angeles and some others, it isn't going to go too far, especially with a family.
Random notes of other topics--
There is no handbook as of yet. Minimal contracts that are one-way, meaning since everything isn't spelled out, they change the agreement as they go. They have paid regularly and on time. That is the only plus as of now. Morale from expat-teachers, local admin and staff is very low. The korean owners are arrogant and clueless.
Thanks for the input from everyone.
Number of Preps and Pay for Induction
I thought I was the only who thought it ridiculous I was expected to teach 7 course with 7 different preps.
I have a follow-up question to your initial questions:
My new school expects new teachers to attend an induction/orientation that begins 6 days before the contract actually begins. Therefore, new teachers will not be paid, nor receive health insurance during that time. While the school is planning several social excursions, housing and car searches during this time, they also are conducting the normal introduction to school IT, policies, procedures, reviewing handbooks, etc. Am I wrong to expect to be paid for this time? I'd appreciate anyone who can weigh in with insights.
I have a follow-up question to your initial questions:
My new school expects new teachers to attend an induction/orientation that begins 6 days before the contract actually begins. Therefore, new teachers will not be paid, nor receive health insurance during that time. While the school is planning several social excursions, housing and car searches during this time, they also are conducting the normal introduction to school IT, policies, procedures, reviewing handbooks, etc. Am I wrong to expect to be paid for this time? I'd appreciate anyone who can weigh in with insights.
Really? Teacher training time without pay is normal? What schools have you been at. My previous 2 schools held new teacher orientation during the contract period, not prior to it, and every job I've ever held did on-the-job training as part of the contract/pay. I don't have problems with the showing up before returning staff. I have a problem with mandatory meetings while not on salary.
I must say, I'm surprised by your response. But, thank you for your viewpoint.
I must say, I'm surprised by your response. But, thank you for your viewpoint.
arriving early
I currently work in Southern California as a staff developement specialist, with 24 year experience in education. New teachers here are required to report to work up to a week early for inservice training. This is part of their contract and do not recieve extra salary. My husband and I are moving to our first international teaching job and were asked to report to work a few days early. I always thought that this was the norm. I am surprised that people would expect to get paid extra.
Couple weeks
When working at SAS in Singapore, they brought us in in late July- well in advance of the other staff. With all the support services they gave- it was just expected- and welcome. I agree with Ichiro- if you're offered a job at a top notch school- welcome the extra support and time. The organization, service and assistance given all carried over to an extraordinary experience in the classroom. While the school expected more, they gave more as well.
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willinphil
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:56 am
- Location: Philippines
- Contact:
how about elementary teachers?
In chicago, we were paid for every day that we were in the school. Some of you are calling it 'extra' pay. It doesn't really seem extra to expect to be paid for the days that you are working.
Back to expectations, how about at the elementary level? We are trying to plan out a schedule for next year. I asked how many preps we should build into the elementary schedule. The headmaster said 3 per week.
We have a 7 hour day. This means that the elementary teachers have their students in front of them 32 out of 35 hours that the school is open. That doesn't really seem that productive. In the U.S., the friends i have that teach elementary school typically teach 25 and have other activites for 2 periods a day--PE, art, music, language, or whatever else.
All of the teachers are new to the school, so they for the most part don't have experience with the texts or imaginary curriculum that we are following.
And back to the service days at the beginning of the year, our report date is 1 day before the year starts. No assistance with housing, transportation, insurance, nada, zip, zilch. For those of you at a better place, be glad.
Back to expectations, how about at the elementary level? We are trying to plan out a schedule for next year. I asked how many preps we should build into the elementary schedule. The headmaster said 3 per week.
We have a 7 hour day. This means that the elementary teachers have their students in front of them 32 out of 35 hours that the school is open. That doesn't really seem that productive. In the U.S., the friends i have that teach elementary school typically teach 25 and have other activites for 2 periods a day--PE, art, music, language, or whatever else.
All of the teachers are new to the school, so they for the most part don't have experience with the texts or imaginary curriculum that we are following.
And back to the service days at the beginning of the year, our report date is 1 day before the year starts. No assistance with housing, transportation, insurance, nada, zip, zilch. For those of you at a better place, be glad.