PIADS is still quite new and I know nothing of QSI.

BIS had a shake up after the new head joined the other year. A number of teachers left after drug testing in the school. Made the local news (http://phuketwan.com/tourism/top-phuket ... sts-16135/). I personally know two teachers who were affected.

I too am interested in Korea, as well as wanting to stay within IB. I also currently see it as a no go because of the strong Christian presence in the IS market.

Hope things change as it looks a very interesting country and the food looks great :)

The OCC (Online Curriculum Centre) is where IB teachers can download official IB documents, get IB teaching guidance for their subject(s) etc. There are also forums for teacher discussion.

I'm currently in between IB schools so haven't had access for 6 weeks. You need login credentials - it is very useful and I agree you should try and get your school to set you up.

Principal of Newton International School Lagoon is leaving and going to Mongolia (although the website hasn't been updated yet).

She was formally Principal of Newton D Ring School, which now doesn't have a message from the principal on the website, only a welcoming message from the Senior Management team - have they replaced her there yet? I don't know.

Another member of staff I know there is also leaving and going to Mongolia.

May have changed the name but it's still in the middle of nowhere!

Also it's currently advertising on Ajarn dot com, the main TEFL site for ESL teachers in Thailand, which doesn't bode well as to the credibility of the said school.

@panta_rhei

I hear exactly what you are saying, I wish I could let it go, life's too short I know! :(

Paying for skilled work is no problem, paying someone to do menial work that I just don't want to do myself, is my 'issue'. I put it down to my working-class upbringing, where hard work is seen as good for you!

Anyway getting back on topic, I too will be working overseas until I retire. I miss a few things about home as I'm sure we all do but the great lifestyle and saving capabilities that teaching in schools allows is ample compensation :)

[quote]I'm not a huge fan of the maid/nanny/driver lifestyle[/quote]

I feel absolutely the same, which is why I have not enjoyed the past two years in Jakarta.

Not all countries are like this. Choose your location carefully and you can have as western (by that I mean doing things for yourself, cooking, cleaning, buying food) or as priviledged (the opposite of the above and more) lifestyle as you like.

I'll be having none of that when I start my at my new school in Bangkok this summer. I have been thinking about sending out my work shirts to be washed and pressed because it's cheap and easy to do but my conscience won't even allow me to do that. I have visions of friends back home mocking me for becoming a member of the petite bourgeoisie!

[quote]I like to stick to the most original form of English....hence, the " British system " of spelling is what I practice.[/quote]

Are you sure you 'practice' the British form of spelling? Looks American to me :wink:

[quote]I know someone who bought a house in Thailand through his corporation. It doesn't seem to be an problem. No sh1t involved.[/quote]

This is commonly done, however HIS corporation is in fact minimum 51% Thai owned.

[quote]It's good to hear of Dorje Gurung's release. It's probably a good thing that he has the contacts he's made over the years at St. Xavier's, Grinnell, UWC, etc. I wonder if it would have played out different if he didn't have those contacts.[/quote]

I was thinking the same thing. Levels of support would vary for different individuals but the principal in a case of this nature, which I believe has been the driving force behind so many teacher's support, SHOULD stay the same.

[quote]I order mine from a veterinarian supply company that specializes in pachyderms.[/quote]

With the amount of abuse you receive on this forum I always figured you must be an extremely thick skinned individual PG...

I remember reading about these schools on Thaivisa (dotcom) when I previously lived and worked in BKK. If you search "Lerthlah School Bangkok" on the site you will find a fairly recent thread there started by BKMBKK. Here's one of the posts to give you some idea of what to expect:

"From my personally experince with this school, I just can tell you: stay away from this zoo!
My both kids stay at Lartlah Navamin (the one mention about) about 2.5 years now.
The foreign teachers quit very often, due they disagree with the way of teaching the management force them to teach. The foreign teachers are getting just short term contracts with very low salaries compare to other schools. Therefore they are all so unhappy and frustrated as they told me. They will show you also nice brochures i.e. about healthy food they serve to the kids, but in fact the food has a 3rd world quality, rice with maggi souce or even noodles with fish or pork balls. Finally you pay quite a lot for a below average standard in each point. There are some others schools near by, like Pattana you should check out. By the way, most of their Thai teacher are not skilled either and even not qualified for this job as we employ one former teacher of our son like a nanny for just 13T Baht/ month. I think you can imagine what this means! Overall Lertlah is a typical example of Thai showbusiness."

Which campus are you considering? I'd be wary of the west Jakarta campuses (Jakarta Barat), it is a cultural waste land, although does have the highest concentration of IS.

I'm just finishing a two year stretch in Jakarta Barat and have fortunately been released on parole for good behaviour!

This is the third capital city in SE Asia I've lived and worked in and I couldn't recommend anything about this city. I will however be taking with me kilos of a particular brand of local coffee, which I absolutely love, but try and find a good coffee on the street and you will be sadly disappointed. Locals sit on the kerb drinking sachets of instant from plastic cups.

Apart from the coffee, it's just two IB experience that I'll be leaving with, nothing more...

Although you are probably looking for something else, the best advice is stay flexible and keep trying.

You are right, the PGCEi will get you in some solid Tier two schools so it's maybe your lack of experience of 'being a teacher' that is counting against you right now.

Last minute jobs come up every year, some in quite good locations, so sign up for TES etc. and keep your eye out. Because you are not currently tied into a teaching contract you'll be able to start up in a post a lot quicker than many other, which will work in your favour.

No, I'm talking about Anglo Chinese School (Independent).