Re: Newbie to teaching overseas - response to both guys

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Kings to you, well played, good show. You have a niche position served by a
niche population.

On 1/07/11, D. Thomas wrote:
> Ah, but the pool of qualified SPED(lite) teachers in proportion to the
> pool of all teaching applicants is also very, very small...so we still
> come out ahead.
>
> On 1/07/11, Dave -> Thomas wrote:
>> I shall have to add that to my request that in addition to your coffee
>> mug they change the name. Even so the number of resource teachers in
>> proportion to all teaching vacancies is very, very small.
>>
>> On 1/07/11, D. Thomas to Dave wrote:
>>> Hey! I did say it was learning support. I can't help it that
>>> Search hasn't signed off on our truce and still calls those
>>> jobs "Special Education". Whatver you call it, there are a
>>> shocking number of jobs at really desirable schools this year.
>>> Almost makes me wish I wasn't under contract. 6 positions at WAB
>>> alone!!!!!
>>>
>>> On 1/07/11, Dave -> Thomas wrote:
>>>> Im shocked, just shocked that you've broken our truce. We agreed
>>>> to call special education "Special Ed. Lite"???? Learning
>>>> resources is nothing close to special education, but lets look
>>>> at the numbers. I'll agree there are learning resource teachers
>>>> out there, as you said a school might have one compared to all
>>>> of the other departments thats makes for a very small ratio of
>>>> over all staff, and for every school that has even one resource
>>>> teacher there are several schools that don't have one at all.
>>>> International schools either cater to special needs students
>>>> (which there are schools that due) are they dont want to deal
>>>> with special ed. at all and being private schools they can be
>>>> selective.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 1/06/11, D. Thomas wrote:
>>>>> Well, that would make sense...except that I have never
>>>>> worked for one of the super-elite..or even elite schools.
>>>>> I have worked for a second tier school in Egypt (and only
>>>>> second because there were only two in the city) and very
>>>>> small niche special needs schools in Japan and China. I'm
>>>>> lucky here because my wife is working at a second tier
>>>>> school that happens to want to be first tier and has a
>>>>> package that competes with the super-elite schools.
>>>>>
>>>>> And actually, many, many second and even third tier
>>>>> schools hire SPED teachers to do learning support (maybe
>>>>> it would be easier for you to accept if you don't even
>>>>> think of it as special education).
>>>>>
>>>>> True, in many schools that would be a one person dept. or
>>>>> one person for elementary, one for MS-HS, but the
>>>>> positions are out there. If I read you the names of the
>>>>> many schools looking for learning support this year you
>>>>> would be surprised.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 1/06/11, Dave -> Thomas wrote:
>>>>>> You know it occured to me on the plane that maybe the
>>>>>> reason why you seem so
>>>>>> lucky to me, is becuase your teaching field limits your
>>>>>> selection and thus your experiences. You teach Special
>>>>>> Ed. and most schools except for the big elite ones dont
>>>>>> have special ed programs, so of course you could never
>>>>>> be considered for those lower on the scale schools.
>>>>>> This would skew your perspective. Just a thought, don't
>>>>>> mean to offend you in anyway.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 1/05/11, D. Thomas to Erica wrote:
>>>>>>> Don't worry. You'll see for yourself when your SA
>>>>>>> membership kicks in.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 1/05/11, Erica wrote:
>>>>>>>> You guys are hysterical...in a good way. You both
>>>>>>>> have a lot of knowledge to offer. So far, even
>>>>>>>> though there are differences of opinion, you've
>>>>>>>> cleared a lot up. I think I know the areas where I
>>>>>>>> would like to go because, yes, I do want to have a
>>>>>>>> nice experience, and wouldn't make this leap until
>>>>>>>> I felt pretty sure it would be a good experience.
>>>>>>>> Of course there are so many factors. I do have
>>>>>>>> limited experience, so can't get into an
>>>>>>>> "elite" school, which is the catch 22.
>>>>>>>> However, you've both mentioned that there are many
>>>>>>>> good schools out there. Once I'm in SA and see
>>>>>>>> what's out there, I'll post schools I'm
>>>>>>>> considering, and if you can give me feedback, that
>>>>>>>> would be wonderful.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 20,000 does sounds scarily low, but I guess it
>>>>>>>> would depend on what's offered. Again, I don't have
>>>>>>>> the best sense of the cost of living in these
>>>>>>>> places, so I will have to do a little research, but
>>>>>>>> again, this can wait until I get an offer, if I do.
>>>>>>>> Time will tell!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 1/05/11, Dave -> Thomas wrote: You have an
>>>>>>>>> oven AND A gourmet store, I'm starting to hate
>>>>>>>>> you (just kidding). I basically agree, if your in
>>>>>>>>> Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai, Goungzhou, Hong Kong,
>>>>>>>>> Taipei, Seoul, Bangkok, Rome, Paris, Moscow, take
>>>>>>>>> your pick. There are lots of "local"
>>>>>>>>> tourist and cultural things to do. Easy to make a
>>>>>>>>> day trips out of, but if your not in one of those
>>>>>>>>> places traveling on the weekends becomes a
>>>>>>>>> daunting process.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I agree shoping MAY not be that hard in reality
>>>>>>>>> several schools I worked at (mostly university)
>>>>>>>>> had little malls on campus where everyday things
>>>>>>>>> were readily available. Again, I don't like to
>>>>>>>>> oversell and your a bit more on the
>>>>>>>>> "optimistic" side. It did take me
>>>>>>>>> months in GZ to find a shower rod, and I gave up
>>>>>>>>> looking for an english alarm clock (that ran on
>>>>>>>>> local current), and until you told me i didnt
>>>>>>>>> know ANYONE who had an oven. The little things
>>>>>>>>> that you can get at Walmart that you take for
>>>>>>>>> granted in the USA can be a treasure hunt abroad.
>>>>>>>>> I mean here in italy it took me months to find an
>>>>>>>>> apartment in my own city, mainly because of the
>>>>>>>>> language barrier and time constraints. Contact
>>>>>>>>> lens solution I had to get at an optometry store
>>>>>>>>> (mainly because I wanted a known brand B&L).
>>>>>>>>> Prescriptions also were a painstaking process in
>>>>>>>>> GZ I had to have them filled at the international
>>>>>>>>> clinic. Cheeze was easy to find but only because
>>>>>>>>> other people before me had done the legwork.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Yes things CAN be easier but my experience is
>>>>>>>>> your just lucky....
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I waOn 1/05/11, D. Thomas wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Can't disagree with too much. No matter where
>>>>>>>>>> you live in the world, for us working folk,
>>>>>>>>>> most of the week is about work, what do you
>>>>>>>>>> want to do for dinner and we need toilet paper
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Except..
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Depending on where you live, shopping may not
>>>>>>>>>> be that difficult. We have a western
>>>>>>>>>> friendly/gourmet grocery store in the basement
>>>>>>>>>> of our building and are with walking distance,
>>>>>>>>>> 5 minute taxi ride from 3 other large
>>>>>>>>>> grocery/dept. stores.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> And you can see/do quite a bit on weekends. In
>>>>>>>>>> Tokyo there was temple cities, hot springs, the
>>>>>>>>>> 2nd largest Budda, skiing, etc, all within day
>>>>>>>>>> trip, o/n trip distance. In Egpyt we had a
>>>>>>>>>> Roman theater, catacombs in the city. Cairo was
>>>>>>>>>> a two hour train ride away. Great beaches were
>>>>>>>>>> 4 hours by car.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Here, there is everything in the city:
>>>>>>>>>> Forbidden City, T Square, Parks, Hutongs,
>>>>>>>>>> markets, temples. And within day/o/n trip
>>>>>>>>>> distance there is the Great Wall, villages,
>>>>>>>>>> etc.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Sure, major traveling will be for holidays
>>>>>>>>>> (which is ok, since we get A LOT of
>>>>>>>>>> them!!!!:D).
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> stores.On 1/05/11, Dave -> Erica Continued
>>>>>>>>>>> wrote: 6) As far as travel goes, your not
>>>>>>>>>>> going to be able to
>>>>>>>>>> travel
>>>>>>>>>>> outside the area you are in on the weekends.
>>>>>>>>>>> The reality is you cant make teaching
>>>>>>>>>>> ANYWHERE abroad a working vacation. The
>>>>>>>>>>> stresses and extra effort time needed to do
>>>>>>>>>>> daily things (it took a week to figure out
>>>>>>>>>>> what the buttons on the washing machine did,
>>>>>>>>>>> as they were all in italian) is not going to
>>>>>>>>>>> afford you leisure time. Consider the
>>>>>>>>>>> following Daily Schedule
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> You wake up in the morning and head to the
>>>>>>>>>>> campus school cafeteria and grab some tea and
>>>>>>>>>>> a pastry (chinese biscuits are fried dough
>>>>>>>>>>> balls sprinkled with sugar, or you have a
>>>>>>>>>>> bowl of Congee [rice poridge).
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> You have lunch on campus or maybe a local
>>>>>>>>>>> fast food restraunt (is you live somewhere
>>>>>>>>>>> really wtropolitian) at lunch.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> You finish your day between 4 and 6 depending
>>>>>>>>>>> on tutoring and extra curriculars. You dont
>>>>>>>>>>> have a car so you have to take public
>>>>>>>>>>> transportation to do all your shoping. So you
>>>>>>>>>>> either shop daily or every other day close by
>>>>>>>>>>> or your spending time on public
>>>>>>>>>>> transportation, or your eating on campus
>>>>>>>>>>> again.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> You get back to your apartment at 5pm, and ou
>>>>>>>>>>> decide to go shoping to Gailou (meaning
>>>>>>>>>>> white) Plaza, this is where all the shops are
>>>>>>>>>>> likely to be and where Trust mart (Local
>>>>>>>>>>> version of walmart) is. So you take the bus.
>>>>>>>>>>> You need contact lens solution so you go to
>>>>>>>>>>> Watsons (Walgreens). Then to trust mart for
>>>>>>>>>>> toiliet paper, soap, shampoo and conditioner.
>>>>>>>>>>> Thats 2 to 3 bags right there. You could go
>>>>>>>>>>> to Ren-Ren-Lou (Grocery store) but your tired
>>>>>>>>>>> so you get some fruit and noodles at trust
>>>>>>>>>>> mart. Its now getting late and you have 5 or
>>>>>>>>>>> 6 bags so you take a cab back home. After
>>>>>>>>>>> going to your apartment. You make dinner, and
>>>>>>>>>>> watch some Pearl TV (the one local english TV
>>>>>>>>>>> station) where they are showing last seasons
>>>>>>>>>>> lost and desperate housewives. Then you take
>>>>>>>>>>> a bath (because you still havent found a
>>>>>>>>>>> shower rod). You then go to bed. Tommorow you
>>>>>>>>>>> will do the grocery store, and the campus
>>>>>>>>>>> convenience store for some orange juice and
>>>>>>>>>>> milk (milk is sold in the little boxes, and
>>>>>>>>>>> orange juice is 1 liter minute maid plastic
>>>>>>>>>>> bottles) you buy 2 or three of each and there
>>>>>>>>>>> kind of heavy, plus you have to put money on
>>>>>>>>>>> your campus card.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Basically you can only really travel over
>>>>>>>>>>> holidays. If you live in a rural or suburban
>>>>>>>>>>> area the school will probbaley arrange a
>>>>>>>>>>> weekly bus or van on the weekend to "the
>>>>>>>>>>> city" for you to do things (get your
>>>>>>>>>>> hair cut, a massage, starbucks, a nice
>>>>>>>>>>> restraunt).
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/04/11, Erica wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> I have taught both at the high school and
>>>>>>>>>>>> middle school in my district. Decent pay
>>>>>>>>>>>> for me would be in the 50,000 range,
>>>>>>>>>>>> although this is flexible as cost of
>>>>>>>>>>>> living, housing, taxes, etc, are accounted
>>>>>>>>>>>> for. You need 50,000 to survive in NY, but
>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't know if this applies to an asian
>>>>>>>>>>>> country. I would like to live in a suburban
>>>>>>>>>>>> setting and maybe work in an
>>>>>>>>>>>> urban...overall I like to live on the edge
>>>>>>>>>>>> of a city and don't mind commuting in. If I
>>>>>>>>>>>> had to live in the city, I could deal with
>>>>>>>>>>>> it. I haven't thought about weather. I
>>>>>>>>>>>> don't mind seasons as I'm used to it, but
>>>>>>>>>>>> don't want to teach in an arctic condition,
>>>>>>>>>>>> brrr!
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Basically, this is how I see it. I am going
>>>>>>>>>>>> to a foreign land to teach, yes, but I am
>>>>>>>>>>>> also going to the foreign land to explore
>>>>>>>>>>>> it and enlighten myself. I don't know if
>>>>>>>>>>>> this is the romantic aspect to teaching
>>>>>>>>>>>> abroad, but I see myself traveling around
>>>>>>>>>>>> lets say the countryside of Japan or China
>>>>>>>>>>>> in spare time, sightseeing and just living
>>>>>>>>>>>> the experience. I see it more as a
>>>>>>>>>>>> traveling vacation but with work, does that
>>>>>>>>>>>> make sense?? I would only want to go to an
>>>>>>>>>>>> area where I feel safe and am able to
>>>>>>>>>>>> explore, that's more important to me than
>>>>>>>>>>>> saving a ton of dough, although that would
>>>>>>>>>>>> be nice. What would get to me is becoming
>>>>>>>>>>>> isloated and feeling alienated because I am
>>>>>>>>>>>> a foreigner. I would need a support system,
>>>>>>>>>>>> some instant friends so to speak, and feel
>>>>>>>>>>>> connected. Hopefully I would be able to
>>>>>>>>>>>> achieve this, but won't know until I get
>>>>>>>>>>>> there.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/03/11, Dave -> Erica Response 2
>>>>>>>>>>>>> wrote: A couple question? So you already
>>>>>>>>>>>>> said you want housing included (don't
>>>>>>>>>>>>> blame you if your fresh off the plane its
>>>>>>>>>>>>> something you don't want to have to deal
>>>>>>>>>>>>> with):
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1) What grade have you been teaching
>>>>>>>>>>>>> during your two years experience?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2) What do you consider "decent
>>>>>>>>>>>>> pay"? More exactly how
>>>>>>>>>>>>> "well" do you want to live? 3)
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Do you have any geographical preferences
>>>>>>>>>>>>> (urban, rural, sub-urban, metropolitan)?
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Weather preference (hot, warm, cold, dry,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> humid)?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4) Do you have any deal breakers?
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Something that you have to have, such as
>>>>>>>>>>>>> a chronic medical condition? Maybe a diet
>>>>>>>>>>>>> requirement (allergies)? Something
>>>>>>>>>>>>> personal (like you HAVE to get a manicure
>>>>>>>>>>>>> and pedicure every week)? Do you have to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> shop? Do you need a night life? Is your
>>>>>>>>>>>>> religion really important to you (you
>>>>>>>>>>>>> have to go to mass every week)? Really
>>>>>>>>>>>>> think of the things you do every week and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> if one of them stopped how would it make
>>>>>>>>>>>>> you feel? .
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/03/11, Erica wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am Secondary English, 7-12. I have my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> masters and 2 years experience. I don't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> think I am super competitive, but do
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have a leg up on people fresh out of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> school. I thank you for your input on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Japan and China...it clears up the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> differences between the areas. Of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> course I would ultimately prefer
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Europe, but I think I can like China or
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Japan and feel safe.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My goal, is to receive housing and a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> decent pay. If it's not worth it, I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> probably won't make a commitment...I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> would just keep teaching here and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> perhaps try the following year.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, I don't know what's out
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there job wise for English teachers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> There are few job sites to check, and I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> know I can go to each school's website,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> but I am currently teaching, and don't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have that much time on my hands.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What I would really like to do is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> compile a list of schools I would
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> consider, and see if I can meet them at
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the fair in February through SA...and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> maybe there will be a job for me! Who
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> knows...I only just started researching
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this, and I didn't realize just how
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> competitve teaching abroad is. Now that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you know more, if there is any other
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> advice you can give me, I'm all ears. I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> would love to teach in Italy!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/02/11, Dave -> Erica wrote: I wouldn't
>>>>> shy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> away from ESl unless thats something
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you DONT want to do. There are a lot
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of very highly respected and regarded
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> schools that cater to the local
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> population as opposed to an
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> international one. Being open to an
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ESL position will make you open and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> available to more options. ESL has a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> very mixed reputation. There is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "professional" ESL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> education, and then there is the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "other" ESL teaching. The
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> first is as I said in well reputed
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> schools with good salaries and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> bennefits, if your certified in ELA,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you would probabley be considered
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> certified to teach ESL as well. These
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are the schools that require a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> degree, professional teaching
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> experience, and certification. The
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> other kind of ESL teaching is for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> recent graduates with no experience,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and who arent certified. The
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> differences are very, very
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> significant.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> As far as the curtain rod goes,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there's actually a bathroom supply
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> store thats among a whole row of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stores one that sells piping, one
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that sells toiliets one that cells
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sink bowels one that sells shower
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> heads, and one that sells shower
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> curtains and rods. The whole store
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> was 10'x10' a stall in a long row of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> store stalls.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A couple questions: 1) What's your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> degree and major in? 2) What's your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> certifications in? 3) How many years
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of experience in teaching do you have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and what subject/ grade levels?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My opinion, without knowing more is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this: China is easier. Why is China
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> easier. It pays well, costs are
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> lower, housing is almost always
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> included. Which if your a newbie,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> having a place to move into after
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> getting off the plane really cuts
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> down on the stress. Japan is more
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> authentic. People go to Japan to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teach because they have some form of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Japanese obsession, and you dont get
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that experience anywhere else. When I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> taught in Japan I lived in Kyoto and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it really did come close to my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> expectations. Japan is a lot more
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> competitive because anyone that wants
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to go to Asia has Japan on the top
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (or near the top) of their list.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Japans cost of living is much higher
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> then China, and housing isn't always
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> included (in Japan if you do get
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> housing you often get a housing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> allowance, which didn't really cover
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all my housing costs). Again nothing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is comparable to the experience of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> living in Japan. That being said
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there are some very good highly
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> compensating schools in Japan.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I really would need to know more
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> about your qualifications to give you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a better idea of how competitive you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> would be.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (tho On 1/02/11, Erica wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks Dave. So you're saying I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> should market myself as ESL? Also,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I love the curtain rod
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> scenerio...sounds like fun! What's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> your opinion on China and/or Japan.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Seems like that's where my focus
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> will be, since Europe is tough to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> get into. I just want to get into a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> good school, and won't go unless
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm working in a good school. Any
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tips for me? Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/02/11, Dave -> Response 1 wrote: Well I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> already gave my opinion on the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> various online recruitment firms.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> That said my only comment on this
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> post is that you really need to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ask your self where you want to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> go first. There are a lot of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> places to teach (Some easier then
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> others) and by asking your self
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> where what I really mean is what
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are the essential deal breakers
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for you? Can you focus on a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> region?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 12/31/10, D. Thomas wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Erica:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You've come to the right place.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Some of us have been through
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this process and our enjoying
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the benefits of teaching
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> overseas.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Search is a good start if you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are serious about
>>>>>>>>>>>> this.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm in Beijing and can highly
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> recommend it for all of the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> things you are looking for (and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Japan for the travel, Egypt for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the money and travel). Schools
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are often looking for ELA
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teachers but it is not as
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> highly prized a field as math
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> or science. You'll have a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> better idea once you are into
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Search's database. Also,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> International Schools Review is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a great place to read reviews
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> from teachers and former
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teachers of schools to get some
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> insight beyond their own
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> webpage and avoid bad
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> experiences.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Many schools offer one year
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> contracts, but those schools
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are not always the biggest or
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of the highest quality. The
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> best thing you can do your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> research and try and get a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> contract with the best school
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and the best country for you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and then commit for two years.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The time really does fly by and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> most large schools/cities will
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have a very large English
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> speaking support system for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Feel free to ask any questions.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 12/31/10, Erica wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi. I've always had the urge
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to travel, and since I'm a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teacher, I think I can do
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> both. I am a female, late
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 20s, secondary English
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teacher with a master's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> degree and a few years
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> experience. I really like the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> idea of teaching overseas,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> both don't know if I can 100%
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> commit, but can anyone? It's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a giant leap and it seems
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> like you just have to do it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and hope for the best...do
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you agree? I'm registering
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> with SA, and will perhaps
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> attend the Feb. Cambridge
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> fair, just to see what's out
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there. I would like to go
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> somewhere safe and a place
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> where I can travel around and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sightsee, etc, oh, and save
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> some money. Here are my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> questions:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What is the demand for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> English (ELA) teachers?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Everything I see is for ESL,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> which I'm not certified in.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Also, where's the best place
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to start out? Are there any
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> programs out there where I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> can get my toes wet? A 2 year
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> committment is serious! God
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> forbid you hate it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm open for all and any
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> advice/input. I really want
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to do this before I have kids
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and really settle, but I am
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> very scared of having a bad
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> experience, especially
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> becoming isolated in a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> foreign country. Thanks.
 

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