Search found 2 matches

by bmciarko
Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:41 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Waldorf Schools
Replies: 2
Views: 5221

Waldorf Schools

What does the international teaching community (specifically directors and heads of schools) think of Waldorf schools?

Could experience in them (in an international setting) be used as a stepping stone to gaining employment in more traditional international schools? Would they value the experience or be turned off it?
by bmciarko
Mon Oct 23, 2017 10:46 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: South America Application Process Help
Replies: 2
Views: 5479

South America Application Process Help

Hello all. This might be a little long, but I tried to break it down nicely.

I'm an American teacher with three years of experience working in an IB school in the states as a Spanish teacher under Language B/language acquisition. I also have certification to teach English but with no experience teaching it in the classroom. I recently moved to Peru with the hopes of finding a secondary English teaching job in a local school here (doesn't necessarily have to be an international school), but I am a little worried because from the ~20 applications I have sent I have not a had a single phone call or email for an interview.

I have a couple theories as to why, but I was hoping those with experience teaching in SA or who are more familiar with the application process could offer some advice. Could it be:

a.) the hiring process is much slower here, meaning that calls for interviews won't come until November/December for jobs starting in Feb/Mar? In other words, I just need to be more patient?

b.) applying from the country I am currently living in (without having a carné de extranjería) somehow puts me at a disadvantage with applicants applying from elsewhere in the world? Or maybe they just prefer local hires with proper documents?

c.) from all the applications I have sent I have not followed up with an email/phone call? I am also open to the suggestion of visiting these schools in person since I have read recently that Peruvians prefer face-to-face communication.

d.) despite my IB experience and being a native speaker, schools prefer to see experience teaching English?

e.) any combination of the above?

After my first year teaching I applied to international schools in Mexico and Central America from the US, and I had more phone calls for interviews and an offer at an IB school to teach English (but which I later turned down). I also have experience living in Spain and teaching ESL there for a year. These things make me wonder if there is something wrong with me as a candidate (something I'm overlooking) or I just have to approach the application process with a different strategy since it is SA and not Mexico? I am open to any suggestions so I can at least have some interviews at the schools I applied to. Any advice thoughts or advice is appreciated.