Hi all,
I've been a member at ISR for a couple of years and have read hundreds of threads in my process researching about international teaching. Now that I have a few years of stateside teaching under my belt, I'm hoping I can get some advice about being a first time international teacher.
My background:
Masters of Education
Senior English Teacher (I've taught AP Literature for five years)
7 years of teaching experience at an urban charter school
Head debate coach for 6 years
English Department Chair
AP Reader for two years
Stanford University Teacher Fellow
My "drawbacks":
Minimal international travel (only two short international trips)
Test scores - I teach at an urban school and so my test scores are not as high as a teacher who's worked at a non-urban public school or private school
I work at one of the top charter schools in my state, but I've only worked with an urban population - I have no experience in private schools, either attending or teaching.
Here are my questions:
1) Are there schools/regions that tend to hire new international teachers? Are there any schools that absolutely wouldn't hire a first time international teacher?
2) I'd prefer to live in South/Central America or Europe - would be a competitive candidate with no international teaching experience? Especially at a school that provides a reasonable salary?
3) Is it really affordable to live on one salary outside of Asia and the Middle East? How do you make it work?
4) Any advice that you have for a first-timer?
I recognize this is a long post and I've asked some pretty broad questions, so thank you for reading! Any advice would be helpful!
First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advice?
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shadowjack
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
Hi JN,
your background is solid and will make you competitive. Not all schools offer debate, but giving them the chance to do so is good. Debate also leads to MUN, which is a more viable option.
Teaching AP literature is not the same as teaching IB, but it opens doors. Also, your AP Reader helps. Then there is your STANFORD teacher fellow. That will open a few more doors and sets you up for a bit more recognition.
So to answer your question, as English teachers go, you look good on paper. Nobody cares about your test scores at this point - unless they are horrible.
I would suggest that next year (I believe it is too late for this year) you take a look at schools like Singapore American School, which are not IB, offer AP and are big. You can also try some of the European schools for this year.
The main thing is to get out there, get your first contract at a school you are happy going to, and then finding out more.
Good luck!
Shad
your background is solid and will make you competitive. Not all schools offer debate, but giving them the chance to do so is good. Debate also leads to MUN, which is a more viable option.
Teaching AP literature is not the same as teaching IB, but it opens doors. Also, your AP Reader helps. Then there is your STANFORD teacher fellow. That will open a few more doors and sets you up for a bit more recognition.
So to answer your question, as English teachers go, you look good on paper. Nobody cares about your test scores at this point - unless they are horrible.
I would suggest that next year (I believe it is too late for this year) you take a look at schools like Singapore American School, which are not IB, offer AP and are big. You can also try some of the European schools for this year.
The main thing is to get out there, get your first contract at a school you are happy going to, and then finding out more.
Good luck!
Shad
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
Your resume looks exactly the same as mine when I started IT, if you swap public school for charter school. You will be a competitive teacher, but Europe may be a stretch without IB experience. There are schools in Latin America/China and Korea/the Middle East that will hire you now. It might be challenging to live in Latin America on one salary, but that depends a lot on your lifestyle and your individual financial goals.
I don't think that your "drawbacks" are really that negative. If you haven't had any problems during your long experience in urban public/charter schools, then it can demonstrate to schools that you don't have classroom management issues and can pretty much handle whatever gets thrown your way in an international classroom. Teachers who can handle their own business and don't need much support from admin have value.
I don't think that your "drawbacks" are really that negative. If you haven't had any problems during your long experience in urban public/charter schools, then it can demonstrate to schools that you don't have classroom management issues and can pretty much handle whatever gets thrown your way in an international classroom. Teachers who can handle their own business and don't need much support from admin have value.
Response
I disagree with some of the contentions of the previous contributors. You are considered a career class IT candidate, thats better than entry class but below master class. Your competitive within that class.
Debate isnt worth anything unless an IS actually has or wants to start a forensics/speech/debate team and compete, otherwise its just an ASP like everyone else. Debate is not MUN.
Being an AP reader isnt worth anything, nor is the Stanford fellowship, lots of ITs are readers/examiners/moderators, and lots of ITs have done fellowships, that have no practical value.
Teaching AP Lit, is a lot like teaching DIP Literature (Language A), the book list is different, but not drastically so within the Anglo cannon. IB as an institutional philosophy and ethos is different than what you find in an AS.
What you find is a lot of NC (BS/AS) ISS in the lower tier and the upper tier (elite) ISs with IB bridging the two in between. A lot of ITs never get into elite tier ISs because they dont successfully bridge that gap within a comfortable portion of their careers.
International travel doesnt mean anything, traveling overseas as a tourist and living overseas as an expat are not the same experiences, not even remotely, that weakness, isnt a weakness. Lack of IS experience is a small weakness (but everyone lacked IS experience at the beginning of their career).
Your HOD experience brings some marketable value, if an IS is in need of a candidate with TLR experience.
The weaknesses I see are:
Your test scores and your background. Behavioral management isnt much of an issue at an IS, even bad ISs have less drama than you will find in an at inner city DS. They will have no problem with you managing a classroom. What they are going to have concerns about is can you facilitate learning in high achieving, highly motivated students. Did you really do a stellar job taking your students from nothing to successful AP scores, or did you just keep the class together, and teach to the test enough to get your students pass the finish line.
Your lack of breadth. You taught AP Lit for 5 years, which is fine at a large IS, but large ISs are usually upper tier ISs where an IT can teach just AP or just a few upper grades. At smaller ISs you may have to teach a much larger part of secondary, maybe even all of 6-12, or maybe only lower secondary (because they are IB or a BS, their senior IT has preference, etc.)
Your lack of flexibility. At smaller ISs ITs usually have to cross teach two or more subjects, the most common pair is Literature and Humanities, especially at lower secondary. You are just a literature IT, which is fine if thats all an IS is looking for, but you wont be an acceptable candidate to those ISs that need dual or cross curriculum positions, this makes the pool of ISs even smaller.
Literature isnt in very high demand, there are a lot of literature ITs, and a lot of them want to go to WE (Europe). I dont see you being competitive for those appointments for a couple years. S.A. and L.A. is a hardship region,a nd its one of the three that many ITs start in. You could reasonably find a dual AS/IB curriculum IS in a floater (top of the third tier) IS or lower second tier IS.
S.A. and L.A. dont compensate very well, you can live well on the economy at a number of ISs, but thats living in country on the economy. It doesnt equal very much when you leave or travel, or send your coin out of country.
The Middle East, the Asian Lions (China, etc.) and S.A./L.A. are the three main hardship regions. They have problems recruiting due to organizational issues, have high/rotational turnover, and/or low compensation.
There arent any ISs that would not hire you, some strange stories exist, but you arent competitive for an upper tier/Elite IS. They just dont need to compromise or settle.
If by outside Asia and the ME you mean Europe, It is difficult to live on one salary in parts of WE. Taxes are often high, and you spend much of your remaining income on monthly expenses. You dont get a lot of economies of scale. Working/Teaching couples have it best, one persons salary pays the taxes and monthly expenses, the other persons salary is discretionary. Its when you start adding children that those economic benefits begin to drop and drop fast.
You make it work by having a Uni student mentality. Separating your needs in the various facets of your life and daily decisions from wants:
A) Do you need a gym membership if all youre going to do is run (regardless of whether its a machine or track)?
B) Do you need a 2LDK when all you are going to do is sleep, shower, cook some meals and watch a DVD, or do you want one to potentially impress someone in the future.
C) Does checking your email and texts become easier with a new mobile every year or so, or does the 4/5 year old iPhone do the same thing?
D) Are you going out at night with a purpose, or is it just to go out. Happy hour is cheaper than cover and drinks at a night club.
E) Are you delusional, what are your romantic relationship expectations. A lot of late 20s and early 30s woman think some multimillionaire is going to save them.
F) What are your long term plans, do you have a stateside pension your vested in, whats your end game. Everyone has a dream post they picture themselves in, can you realistically get there? Not everyone ends up at TASIS, or ASP, etc.
Debate isnt worth anything unless an IS actually has or wants to start a forensics/speech/debate team and compete, otherwise its just an ASP like everyone else. Debate is not MUN.
Being an AP reader isnt worth anything, nor is the Stanford fellowship, lots of ITs are readers/examiners/moderators, and lots of ITs have done fellowships, that have no practical value.
Teaching AP Lit, is a lot like teaching DIP Literature (Language A), the book list is different, but not drastically so within the Anglo cannon. IB as an institutional philosophy and ethos is different than what you find in an AS.
What you find is a lot of NC (BS/AS) ISS in the lower tier and the upper tier (elite) ISs with IB bridging the two in between. A lot of ITs never get into elite tier ISs because they dont successfully bridge that gap within a comfortable portion of their careers.
International travel doesnt mean anything, traveling overseas as a tourist and living overseas as an expat are not the same experiences, not even remotely, that weakness, isnt a weakness. Lack of IS experience is a small weakness (but everyone lacked IS experience at the beginning of their career).
Your HOD experience brings some marketable value, if an IS is in need of a candidate with TLR experience.
The weaknesses I see are:
Your test scores and your background. Behavioral management isnt much of an issue at an IS, even bad ISs have less drama than you will find in an at inner city DS. They will have no problem with you managing a classroom. What they are going to have concerns about is can you facilitate learning in high achieving, highly motivated students. Did you really do a stellar job taking your students from nothing to successful AP scores, or did you just keep the class together, and teach to the test enough to get your students pass the finish line.
Your lack of breadth. You taught AP Lit for 5 years, which is fine at a large IS, but large ISs are usually upper tier ISs where an IT can teach just AP or just a few upper grades. At smaller ISs you may have to teach a much larger part of secondary, maybe even all of 6-12, or maybe only lower secondary (because they are IB or a BS, their senior IT has preference, etc.)
Your lack of flexibility. At smaller ISs ITs usually have to cross teach two or more subjects, the most common pair is Literature and Humanities, especially at lower secondary. You are just a literature IT, which is fine if thats all an IS is looking for, but you wont be an acceptable candidate to those ISs that need dual or cross curriculum positions, this makes the pool of ISs even smaller.
Literature isnt in very high demand, there are a lot of literature ITs, and a lot of them want to go to WE (Europe). I dont see you being competitive for those appointments for a couple years. S.A. and L.A. is a hardship region,a nd its one of the three that many ITs start in. You could reasonably find a dual AS/IB curriculum IS in a floater (top of the third tier) IS or lower second tier IS.
S.A. and L.A. dont compensate very well, you can live well on the economy at a number of ISs, but thats living in country on the economy. It doesnt equal very much when you leave or travel, or send your coin out of country.
The Middle East, the Asian Lions (China, etc.) and S.A./L.A. are the three main hardship regions. They have problems recruiting due to organizational issues, have high/rotational turnover, and/or low compensation.
There arent any ISs that would not hire you, some strange stories exist, but you arent competitive for an upper tier/Elite IS. They just dont need to compromise or settle.
If by outside Asia and the ME you mean Europe, It is difficult to live on one salary in parts of WE. Taxes are often high, and you spend much of your remaining income on monthly expenses. You dont get a lot of economies of scale. Working/Teaching couples have it best, one persons salary pays the taxes and monthly expenses, the other persons salary is discretionary. Its when you start adding children that those economic benefits begin to drop and drop fast.
You make it work by having a Uni student mentality. Separating your needs in the various facets of your life and daily decisions from wants:
A) Do you need a gym membership if all youre going to do is run (regardless of whether its a machine or track)?
B) Do you need a 2LDK when all you are going to do is sleep, shower, cook some meals and watch a DVD, or do you want one to potentially impress someone in the future.
C) Does checking your email and texts become easier with a new mobile every year or so, or does the 4/5 year old iPhone do the same thing?
D) Are you going out at night with a purpose, or is it just to go out. Happy hour is cheaper than cover and drinks at a night club.
E) Are you delusional, what are your romantic relationship expectations. A lot of late 20s and early 30s woman think some multimillionaire is going to save them.
F) What are your long term plans, do you have a stateside pension your vested in, whats your end game. Everyone has a dream post they picture themselves in, can you realistically get there? Not everyone ends up at TASIS, or ASP, etc.
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joanveronica
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:14 pm
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
@psyguy
Do you have a list of abbreviations somewhere? I can usually figure them out but what is TLR?
Do you have a list of abbreviations somewhere? I can usually figure them out but what is TLR?
Reply
@joanveronica
TLR = Teaching and Learning Responsibility. Responsibility for duties that fall outside the normal scope of a class room teachers instructional tasking, that includes additional compensation, as such these tasking contributions are significant to the ITs overall duties and work load. Compensation can be in the form of coin or release time. They can be categorized as follows:
TLR2: Classifies those tasking duties that are longitudinal (prescribed to be carried out over an extended period of time, typically annual or yearly appointments. These assignments typically involve: 1) the creation and design of curriculum, 2) require professional expertise, 3) Contribute to PD (Professional Development of staff).
An example (in IE) would be an HOD (Head of Department/Department Chair) who is responsible for organizing and directing department meetings, communicating leadership instructions and directives, and serving as the point of contact for students, faculty and parents that apply to the academic aspect of the department.
TLR1: Is a higher category that includes the tasking of TLR2 but requires the IT to exercise supervision over other professional staff.
An example (in IE) would be an HOD who does the same as TLR2 but in addition evaluates the instructional staff in their department, and submits recommendations to leadership, while also being empowered by leadership to provide binding guidance on the staff they supervise.
TLR3 is similar to TLR2 except the nature of the assignment is temporary or of short duration, typically the assignment of a particular project, and ends when the project is complete.
An example (in IE) may be leading a project required for accreditation/inspection involving the collection, organization, evaluation and presentation of department or school wide curriculum. When the inspection is over, so it the project/assignment and the compensation.
TLR = Teaching and Learning Responsibility. Responsibility for duties that fall outside the normal scope of a class room teachers instructional tasking, that includes additional compensation, as such these tasking contributions are significant to the ITs overall duties and work load. Compensation can be in the form of coin or release time. They can be categorized as follows:
TLR2: Classifies those tasking duties that are longitudinal (prescribed to be carried out over an extended period of time, typically annual or yearly appointments. These assignments typically involve: 1) the creation and design of curriculum, 2) require professional expertise, 3) Contribute to PD (Professional Development of staff).
An example (in IE) would be an HOD (Head of Department/Department Chair) who is responsible for organizing and directing department meetings, communicating leadership instructions and directives, and serving as the point of contact for students, faculty and parents that apply to the academic aspect of the department.
TLR1: Is a higher category that includes the tasking of TLR2 but requires the IT to exercise supervision over other professional staff.
An example (in IE) would be an HOD who does the same as TLR2 but in addition evaluates the instructional staff in their department, and submits recommendations to leadership, while also being empowered by leadership to provide binding guidance on the staff they supervise.
TLR3 is similar to TLR2 except the nature of the assignment is temporary or of short duration, typically the assignment of a particular project, and ends when the project is complete.
An example (in IE) may be leading a project required for accreditation/inspection involving the collection, organization, evaluation and presentation of department or school wide curriculum. When the inspection is over, so it the project/assignment and the compensation.
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
JoanVeronica,
I have been in international education for thirty years now, and I have never heard of TLR or TLR1, 2 & 3. I think you may safely place that information in your junk file.
As for the OP, of course being an AP reader, a Debate junkie and a Stanford Fellow are valuable. Those are things that catch the eye, and in the tumultuous environment of a recruitment fair that is of prime importance. Nor is it true that lit teachers aren't in high demand. You're talking core subjects here, and I can't remember a time when I have been recruiting and haven't been looking for HS English candidates. Get yourself out there. If you interview well you'll get a job. My advice is to sign up to say you're interested in every region, and then make a choice.
I have been in international education for thirty years now, and I have never heard of TLR or TLR1, 2 & 3. I think you may safely place that information in your junk file.
As for the OP, of course being an AP reader, a Debate junkie and a Stanford Fellow are valuable. Those are things that catch the eye, and in the tumultuous environment of a recruitment fair that is of prime importance. Nor is it true that lit teachers aren't in high demand. You're talking core subjects here, and I can't remember a time when I have been recruiting and haven't been looking for HS English candidates. Get yourself out there. If you interview well you'll get a job. My advice is to sign up to say you're interested in every region, and then make a choice.
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wrldtrvlr123
- Posts: 1173
- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
- Location: Japan
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
TLR is primarily a UK thing. You also would find it in use at int'l schools with a British flavour such as ESF in HK.
Although ESF's TLR is not set up like PG lays out. It's basically TLR 1-4 in responsibility and pay and increasing up level 4.
I also agree that people carried away with the whole if it's not Science or Math then you are a dime a dozen. Every school has multiple English and History/Social Teachers and they need to recruit them virtually every year.
Although ESF's TLR is not set up like PG lays out. It's basically TLR 1-4 in responsibility and pay and increasing up level 4.
I also agree that people carried away with the whole if it's not Science or Math then you are a dime a dozen. Every school has multiple English and History/Social Teachers and they need to recruit them virtually every year.
Discussion
@JoanVeronica
Any vacancy a n IS is searching for is "in demand" to that recruitment team, and while there are lit vacancies every year, there are far more Lit ITs than there are trig/calc ITs, ICT, Design Tech, Chem, Physics ITs.
@WT123
ESF has its own implementation of TLR.
You find TLR used in Euro ISs as well, there just isnt an AS equivalent. HODs (Department Chairs) in the states rarely have tasking or supervisory authority over faculty, they get a few hundred to $1K to attend admin/leadership meetings and pass on the highlights to faculty by email (the exception being SPED, they tend to have more tasking and supervisory authority, though many states have or are in the process of creating various administrative credentials and licenses specifically for SPED administrators).
Any vacancy a n IS is searching for is "in demand" to that recruitment team, and while there are lit vacancies every year, there are far more Lit ITs than there are trig/calc ITs, ICT, Design Tech, Chem, Physics ITs.
@WT123
ESF has its own implementation of TLR.
You find TLR used in Euro ISs as well, there just isnt an AS equivalent. HODs (Department Chairs) in the states rarely have tasking or supervisory authority over faculty, they get a few hundred to $1K to attend admin/leadership meetings and pass on the highlights to faculty by email (the exception being SPED, they tend to have more tasking and supervisory authority, though many states have or are in the process of creating various administrative credentials and licenses specifically for SPED administrators).
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
Thank you all for the thoughtful responses!
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
http://internationalschoolsreview.com/v ... ilit=guide
You've probably already seen that thread if you've been lurking, but if not it's pretty comprehensive.
Truthfully, there are lots of schools out there and tremendous variety in regards to who will hire whom, how much they will pay, cost of living, etc. You really have to put in the time to research very carefully and choose based on your needs and desires.
You can live off of one salary in most places. The question then becomes how much you want to save, travel, etc. and that depends on you, your status, your age, your debts, etc.
I think your qualifications make you a desirable candidate in many places, even if it's true that there is a high number of candidates in your field. Schools are more reluctant to hire first year teachers than first year international teachers with a number of teaching years under their belts. That said, I did once have a school refuse to interview me because I had not previously taught abroad. It was what most on this forum would consider to be a Tier One school.
Are you planning for 2016-2017 or the following year?
You've probably already seen that thread if you've been lurking, but if not it's pretty comprehensive.
Truthfully, there are lots of schools out there and tremendous variety in regards to who will hire whom, how much they will pay, cost of living, etc. You really have to put in the time to research very carefully and choose based on your needs and desires.
You can live off of one salary in most places. The question then becomes how much you want to save, travel, etc. and that depends on you, your status, your age, your debts, etc.
I think your qualifications make you a desirable candidate in many places, even if it's true that there is a high number of candidates in your field. Schools are more reluctant to hire first year teachers than first year international teachers with a number of teaching years under their belts. That said, I did once have a school refuse to interview me because I had not previously taught abroad. It was what most on this forum would consider to be a Tier One school.
Are you planning for 2016-2017 or the following year?
Re: First Time International Teacher - Recommendations? Advi
@martalin
Thank you for the link to the post.
I'm planning on the 2017-2018 school year. My fellowship is through the end of the 16-17 school year, so I'm committed to my current school until then. I'll also likely apply for a Fullbright for 2017-2018 as well.
Thank you for the link to the post.
I'm planning on the 2017-2018 school year. My fellowship is through the end of the 16-17 school year, so I'm committed to my current school until then. I'll also likely apply for a Fullbright for 2017-2018 as well.