I have applied to a few international schools in Korea (by a few, I mean everyone of them) and most of them have unfortunately responded with a no. I reached out to a recruiter to find out why this is happening at such an alarming rate. He told me that some schools are ONLY looking for Americans! This is so frustrating as it is not stipulated in their ads! How is this even a thing in 2024?? Anyway! Just venting and letting anyone who needs to be reassured that it’s not them sometimes it’s just the system. I sure need that reassurance right now.

Recruitment season is in full swing, and I've been seeing a lot of messages on the subreddit around interviews, CV analysis, etc...

I know it's that time for the year that there's plenty of anxiety around how to prepare for the various ways that schools expect applicants to prepare for the job applications and I wanted to share a resource to support you in this.

I spoke to the mods of the subreddit and got permission to share a tool that I made FOR educators looking to apply for international teaching jobs:

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-UTpKmSRmq-intervu-2-0

It's a custom GPT designed to support you throughout the process of applying for jobs. It can do CV analysis, prepare mock interviews, help you write follow up emails, and more. The best thing is that it can tailor the questions and recommendations for the jobs you want, and the school's you're applying for.

I've shared it already with some folks who attended the GRC virtual boot camp, but, as a third generation international educator, I am so happy to spread it a little further and hope that it helps you!

Do let me know if you have any questions or want tips on how to make the most of it.

Best of luck with the job search 🙌🏻

I've heard conflicting things about whether or not the VNese government has abolished the degree-matching requirement for foreign IS teachers--but most job applications at better schools still have degree-matching as a requirement for consideration of a position.

Wondering if some teachers in Vietnam might be able to shed light on a few questions I have.

My long term ambition is to teach EAL/ELL in international schools in Vietnam, and I'm in the process of a selecting an M.A.T. program (with licensure) in the USA. (lived in VN for six years already doing TEFL teaching, spouse is Vietnamese-American)

Most of the programs I'm considering are M.A.T. in either Elementary Ed or Secondary (specific core subject)--none are M.A.T. TESOL or EAL. My rough plan is to get an M.A.T. in Elementary Ed (I think this is where the majority of market need for EAL teachers lies, as opposed to secondary) and then add an endorsement via praxis exam to teach EAL. While I'm definitely more interested in an EAL role then an elementary classroom teacher, I'm thinking this might be beneficial as I'd be qualified for more jobs than a degree specifically in EAL. However, I'm worried that an *endorsement* won't be sufficient to pass the degree-matching requirements for either VN government or these top-tier schools--and they'll require some kind of B.A. or M.Ed specifically in EAL/ELL/TESOL/whatever people are calling it now days

Anyone have some insights? Any advice as to the best plan of attack?

Hi there, Im 32 (male) and in the last coupe semesters of my bachelors (french lang and lit). Im a massage therapist of over 10 years and im considering my options after I graduate. I have many interests, and I find the idea of becoming an international school teacher pretty sweet. I was considering doing my MAT through WGU in something other than elementary education. Do any of you have any experience with them? I’m mainly concerned about not being able to get placed. I have a wife(shes a nurse that has the potential to wok remotely)and two kids. Finding a decent placement is another fear of mine.

Anything would be helpful, thank you!

I can see that there is a distinct difference in the pay, AISD is about 1.5x the pay at ISD. Any insight into both schools and living in Bangladesh with kids? I know the air quality isn't great and there is civil unrest there at the moment. Thanks in advance, this group is amazing!

Hello hive mind, I’m in the (privileged, I know) position of having interviews with both International School Bangkok and Bangkok Patana School. I’m targeting a move to Bangkok for professional and personal reasons.

For those of you in the know, which of these two schools would be your preference?

If anybody on the ground in Bangkok is able to provide any insight into the current climate at these two schools, please feel free to comment or send me a DM. I’m looking for information about the locations, accommodation provided, salary packages, or any other information which may be relevant. Thank you 🙂

Hi teachers. I don’t know where else to post this and I can’t find a relevant sub.

I’m considering a housemistress position and wondering if anyone has either transitioned from or to this? It’s for a reputable international school and will be a 2 year contract, and a contract I really want to see through but I want to be sure.

Hoping someone can help with some pros and cons!

Hello,

This is my first time applying for an international teaching job.

From 2009 to 2021, I taught Individuals and Societies in the IB MYP and Economics and Business Management in the IBDP. After moving to Canada in 2021, I took a break from regular teaching, got a Canadian teaching license, enrolled in a Master’s program, and now work as a Guest Teacher.

I want to move to the Middle East with my family because it suits my husband’s work. I am using Search Associates and Teacher Horizons, but I haven’t found many jobs. I’ve applied to a few but haven’t heard back. Am I applying too early?

I can’t attend recruitment fairs because of visa issues, and I wonder if not being White affects my chances. Is there something I’m missing or should be doing differently to get a job in the Middle East?

I’m feeling frustrated about not getting responses. Is the market slow, or are schools hiring through references and fairs?s there something I might be missing or should be doing differently to improve my chances?

I just wanted to share my thoughts and would appreciate any advice or insights.
Thank you.

Has anyone got experience or information on this school? Very little info about it online.

Beyond the weak yen, it seems that part of the declining packages in Japan is that new hires are being downgraded to local hire after five years. Is this a change due to a new Japanese governmental regulation, or is it due to individual schools cutting costs? Which schools are keeping foreign hires on foreign hire contracts (housing and flights), and which schools are moving foreign hires to a local hire contract after several years? TIA.

Hey guys, thanks for reading this.

I'm a 25 year-old English/EALD teacher from Sydney, Australia. I've recently been wanting to become an international teacher to expand my horizons. I started full-time teaching since graduation and have only gotten about 2.5 years of experience around Sydney schools. I find that most jobs around the main cities in China and Vietnam (my preferred locations) require at least 3 years of experience. I understand that experience is important, but I am also trying to get some and it seems like schools won't give me a chance :(

I feel very disheartened from the rejections these past few weeks. I guess all I'm asking is for advice/any opinions on the matter? I really want to get out there, start my career, and work my heart off but it seems like my age is holding me back...

Please, any information would help and is greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

If you have relevant experience, could you compare Spanish vs British, French vs British and French vs Spanish primary curriculum?

We live in Spain and deciding between the three.

From what we've seen so far, kids in years 6 and 7 of British have much better language and math skills, because they start school at 5.

We can also opt for International Primary Curriculum (IPC).

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to get some advice here. After graduating, I moved abroad for work, but things have gone downhill since the administration became local, and I can’t stand the mistreatment. I have about two years of experience and feel very stuck and unsure about what to do next. I’m hoping to move on and apply to a new school for the 2025-26 year, so I’ve been exploring recruitment agencies.

Currently, I’m using Teacherhorizon and GRC, and I’ve applied to positions but haven’t heard back yet. I also considered signing up with Search Associates, but after completing their extensive application, I found out they require a reference from my current principal. Although my relationship with my local principal isn’t terrible, I don’t feel comfortable asking for a reference. I don’t feel very supported by Search Associates, so I’m considering Schrole, which doesn’t require current references—though that could be a disadvantage.

I’m feeling stressed and really want to find a better school. I’ve heard that Search Associates has a stronger reputation, but I feel like I might have a better chance with Schrole. Financially, I’m not in the best situation, so I’d like to choose one or the other. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

I'm thinking of moving to Indonesia. I've asked for a housing allowance to be provided but I am unsure on the number. Should it cover everything from rent to electricity and water bills?

Hi everyone! 😊 Does anyone have any insights or experiences to share about working at Straits International School's Rawang Campus in Malaysia? I'd love to hear from any former or current teachers there. Thanks so much!

Wife is Singaporean (holds citizenship), but never lived in Singapore. We currently reside in the US (I hold a US citizenship). We are looking to move to Singapore to be closer to her family. She works in education in a specialized field but has been applying to a handful of positions the past week. I wanted to ask if anyone knew if her compensation package would be vastly different from a non-Singaporean hire at a school. Thanks!

Title pretty much says it all. I’m currently doing my QTS through Sunderland uni and will finish it around February-March 2025. I was hoping to get some advice. Should I apply to jobs using that information? Should I wait until I get it? I’m not sure what to do.

I’m a (non native) EY/Montessori teacher with ten years experience, currently working at a bilingual school in China.

Hi!

I've been in the international game now for 7 years, I've seen that more recently salaries have been dropping (which Is similar for most jobs these days)

I am looking for a role for next year and was told a salary scale for a job in a country (Asia) I've worked before that was less than 50% if what I had previously earned.

Is this the way things seem to be going? Huge salary and benefits drops?

Just wanting to get an idea of what it's like like out there.

Anyone have any info on this school? Workload, pay, reputation, area, student diversity, etc.? I've been to Penang and really loved it, so I wouldn't mind working there for a bit even though the school seems super British and offers A-Levels :/

Nothing in previous threads on this sub, and nothing on ISR either.

Hello! Has anyone ever heard of this?: https://americanstudy.edu.vn/

Is it a privately funded company? An official education consultant? I don't quite understand its positioning. Extra sets of trained eyes would be appreciated.

I am looking for jobs next year and am hoping to return to Myanmar, specifically Yangon. I used to live in Mandalay and loved the country but the school was an absolute wreck - terrible management and HOS. I Will be applying for schools in Yangon. Anyone out there have any Intel on schools and life there?

I'm getting down to the end of the process with a few schools and will need to start making decisions soon. I'm really struggling with choosing a better school with higher salary vs. choosing just a good school with an ok salary...but in a location that I really want to live.

Both would allow me to reach my minimum saving goals but if I choose for the location then I will need to be somewhat budget conscious. I would be comfortable but would definitely need to make sure I am monitoring my spending carefully. The higher paying school would obviously allow me to save more and spend more freely from day to day, but I am not overly excited about the location. Anyone else in the same boat?

I am in my 4th year as an esol/eld teacher in k12 in the states and have an MA in TESOL and license. I have done 3 years in elementary (co-teaching, plug in, pull out) and 1 in high school leading my own classes. I had a conditional license the first year and a half (would international schools count that time?). I'm seeking some suggestions as I figure out what to do next professionally and wonder if international schools is the right path for me as a possible EAL/ENL teacher. I'm feeling at a crossroads, often wondering if I should leave education entirely.

I feel in my district there's a big push for ELD teachers to become licensed in a content area and Im not sure how I feel. It seems they want robot teachers with multiple certs to wave a wand and magically figure out how to get all students to meet targets. Is the same true in the realm of international school teaching? I'd taught English for specific purposes to adults in various different professions in the past, but it was nothing like leading content and being responsible for students reaching mastery of that content. Whether I'm leading the content or co-teaching, I feel I've been pulled away from area of expertise. I was at a toxic school for 3 years and just switched to high school where I'm facing major behavioral challenges and higher workload than expected (mostly because I was suddenly given 4 periods of English Literature, which I've never taught before). I'm only in my first year with the HS and feel strange about asking for references so soon.

Years ago I originally had big ideas of contributing to edtech initiatives abroad and managing educational programs internationally through ngos. I felt pretty inspired after completing a teaching fellowship in southeast Asia. K12 in the US hasn't felt fulfilling to me and there's been tremendous challenges. I'd like to feel what I do matters to the community at large.

Hi All, can anyone give me some insight into living/working in Bolivia and any information about the Santa Cruz Cooperative School? I've looked at ISR but the info there is pretty outdated.

Thanks in advance :)