To take a break from our regular blogs, this week we hear from one of our candidates who has recently had an incredible achievement and published a fiction book set in an international school! It can be found on Amazon right here, and already has fantastic reviews such as “a sprightly, inventive novel, rich in amusing characters and situations. I enjoyed every word of it.” Read on to hear from Auriel Roe about what to expect from the book, and what inspired her success.

What a fantastic achievement. As fellow international teachers, don’t forget to download or buy Auriel’s book, have a read and let us know what you think by commenting below (and on Amazon). You can also visit Auriel’s blog page and read more of her work here. Keep it up Auriel – we can’t wait to read another one!

Written by Auriel Roe, author of two books; 'Blindefellows' and 'Let The Swine Go Forth'. In the early part of her career she was a teacher of art, drama and English. Somehow, this alchemic mix of subjects lead to a writing career!

Here at Teacherhorizons most of us have been teachers, many of us international teachers and even senior leaders. This means we have a thorough understanding of what makes a school desirable from a teacher’s perspective. Our aim is to travel around as many international schools as possible and visit them in person. This means we can discover the information that teachers will need before making a decision about whether they would like to work there. Here are some of the schools we have visited recently, and what we found out.

It’s important to note about this school, that their jobs come up late in the year. This is due to Dutch law. Keep your eyes peeled! We have placed over 20 members of staff to this school and continue to work closely with them.

How big was the school?

Very small, cosy and friendly. It has various campuses, all of which are old houses/buildings converted into schools.

What were the buildings and facilities like?

OK – they had a little wear and tear but lots of character!

Did you speak to any staff members? If so, how were they finding it?

The Head of one of the campuses who has been with the school for several years. I also said hello to some staff – all seemed very relaxed and happy.

What was the best thing about the school in your opinion?

The close knit warm feeling. Fantastic children, and very multicultural.

We have 2,287 schools in 167 countries, so it might take us a while to get around them all, but we endeavour to! We visit new schools every month, so keep an eye out for more blogs like this one coming soon.

Written by Tiffany Kibblewhite, Teacherhorizons Blog Manager and Recruitment Adviser.

This week, another of our wonderful teachers has written a blog giving advice about your job search. Sarah Morris recently began a Science teaching role in the Cayman Islands, and alongside teaching she runs Brainhappy – a consultancy and coaching service which aims to improve staff wellbeing all over the world. So her advice is certainly worth taking on board… have a read!

I was at an international schools’ job fair in London a few years ago and noticed a disproportionately large queue of people vying for the opportunity to greet the director of a school in Bogotá, Colombia. If you are not familiar with job fair protocol, it is kind of like a summer fair, except it’s usually indoors and conducted on a rainy January day. Schools and teachers fly in from all over the world for a weekend. They set up tables, often with some kind of display or scheduled talk to introduce themselves. You then line up and leave your CV, in the hope that you will later find an invitation for interview placed in your newly set-up pigeon hole. Interviews then take place over the rest of the weekend, sometimes in hotel rooms. It’s a rather odd affair, but can be a highly efficient way for schools to recruit staff and teachers to find jobs.

1. Putting destination first

There was a palpable air of excitement around the Colombian school’s small table, with people pushing to get to the front. I thought I’d better see what all the fuss was about, and so I signed up for a talk about the school later on that day. I must say that I was put off by the extremely large size of the school, poor student behaviour, relatively low student attainment and extremely long meetings, all mentioned by the director. However, when I talked to one or two of the other candidates over some cake and wine later on, they were mightily excited to have been offered an interview. Why, despite the school sounding no different from the local UK school down the road, were so many people still interested? “It’s Bogotá,” was the reply. Bogotá, having partially shed its reputation for FARC rebels and cocaine, had become the new place to be for the latest set of teachers. China and Dubai were out, it seemed. Bogotá, the rainy capital of South America’s second most populous country was in, and people were willing to trade in their work satisfaction in order to be there.
I was puzzled. Maybe the opportunity to live in your Number One Top Destination would be enough to stave off the blues at work for a while, but surely not for a whole two-year contract. A teacher that is only motivated by the chance to live in their favourite country, surely isn’t doing their employer or themselves any favours.

Read some more stories from our happy teachers placed in locations all around the world, click here. 

2. Not asking the right questions

But it wasn’t the Bogotá frenzy that was the most memorable event of that job fair, for me. It was an interview with a private international school from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. When it came to my chance to ask questions, I asked them to confirm that the school would provide multiple exit visas so that I would be able to travel out of Saudi Arabia freely during holidays and maybe the odd weekend (in Saudi Arabia, your employer must give you permission to leave the country, through issuance of an exit visa). The reply was that exit visas were offered only once a year as the school didn’t think it was appropriate for staff to leave the country any more frequently. That was my first contact with a school that clearly didn’t value the wellbeing of staff, the benefit to students of well-rounded teachers or simply a person’s right to freedom. I’d love to know if anyone at the job fair took them up on an offer. Only someone not clued up on exit visas, I thought. And what regret that would cause, when the poor candidate arrived to find they would be missing Christmas at home, half term adventures abroad and indeed, any chance of escaping for ten whole months.

Want to join Sarah in the Cayman Islands? Have a look at her school’s profile page here.

3. Being unprepared

Job fairs have the advantage of so many jobs in one place, however, they also have the disadvantage of having so many competing candidates also in the same place. So if you want to bag an interview at the best school, do your preparation in advance. Find out what you can and send a short email to introduce yourself to the school director before the fair, stating that you are looking forward to meeting them. That way, you have demonstrated your enthusiasm and given yourself a slight step ahead of others. Aside from the context of job fairs, make yourself stand out by making a video of yourself, attaching some evidence of outstanding teaching to your application, or adding some ‘reviews’ from students.

Read more advice from our teachers: 10 pieces of advice before making your next move

Thanks so much Sarah. Hear more from Sarah next week when we put out her blog on asking the right questions. Want to join Sarah in the Cayman Islands? Well  sign up, and look at our jobs. Or if you have your own advice to give, please email us on editor@teacherhorizons.com . We would love to hear from you!

Written by Sarah Morris, who enjoys throwing herself into life in new cultures and has taught in Nicaragua, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Cuba and the Cayman Islands. When she is not searching for new adventures, she is often found rescuing street dogs, and runs www.brainhappy.co.uk - a consultancy and coaching provider aimed at helping workplaces all over the world, including schools, improve staff well-being.

Can you believe it’s October half term? How has this time come around again so fast? Schools are beginning to advertise their positions for August 2019 already, and for some of you it’s time to start looking out for new opportunities. We are of course here to provide help and advice whilst you seek out your perfect school, but this year we have asked some of our teachers and our senior leaders for their personal tips on job hunting.  First off, we hear from Jane Greenwood, Principal at Jogjakarta Community School, Indonesia who advises on what to do before making your first (or your next) international move.

Moving and working abroad for the first time can seem a daunting challenge and it took me several years to pluck up the courage to do so. After 20 years of teaching in the UK I finally decided to give working abroad a try. “Just for one year” I thought… that was 14 years ago. Five countries later I still have a sense for adventure, challenge and cultural development. Currently I am working in Indonesia; a country made up of 17,000 islands and some of the most active volcanoes in the world. As I near retirement I have heard people say “she should know better” and others who think it is a terrific thing to do.

Today I am in a position where I hire teachers from around the world; some leaving their home country for the first time and others who are seasoned international teachers. What I have discovered is that no matter how experienced people feel they are at living in different countries, research is imperative. Research the school and its student cohort, study the contract and the package, and find out as much as you can about the city and the country in which you will be working. In the past have employed people who were surprised they were taxed on their salary, others who were stunned that they had arrived in a ‘dry’ state and even those who did not know the country was landlocked!

A lack of thorough research can lead to discontentment, loneliness and frustration for some and for others, an extension of their adventure. Although not as common as some people think, teachers do vanish overnight when reality does not meet their expectations. This is one of the worst things a teacher can do. Breaking contract leaves awkward gaps on a Curriculum Vitae and it leaves the school (more importantly the children) without a teacher.

Read another blog where we asked our teachers to give advice to someone thinking of working abroad.

So, when making the decision to move from your home country, here are 10 things you need to consider. In no particular order.

1) Ensure your CV and education statement are up to date and relevant.

Try not to leave gaps and do not make it too long. I have received CVs over 14 pages long – I put the kettle on after 4.

2) Get your references in order

Make sure your referees are happy to still be contacted on your behalf. These should be as recent as you can make them. Many schools will ask for your last employer.

3) Update your photo

Include a current (within 1 year) passport sized photograph and keep it professional – I have received photographs of people sitting on the beach, holding beer bottles and some of the worst selfies you can imagine.

Read our blog on getting your CV and profile photo right.

4) Have a police check handy

Ensure you have an up to date police reference check from the country you are leaving. Also collect letters confirming employment dates that cover up to 5 years. Ensure you have all your certificates. Schools will require these documents to obtain work and residency permits.

5) Consider packages carefully

Weigh up each package. Are you paid in local currency and is it taxable? Do you receive health insurance, housing, free child places, a utilities allowance, start and end of contract flights and/or mid contract flights? Look at the contract length and remember on many contracts you may not receive a salary increase after the first year if you sign up for two. Decide what is important to you and what you are willing to sacrifice against other benefits. Look at the bigger picture – some countries offer lower salaries but the saving potential can still be high in relation to the cost of living.

                                                                                 Read more about salaries and benefits

6) Research the school

Before an interview, research the school. Review the website; its governance, school ethos, the academics, the commitment to extracurricular activities. A lot can be gained from what is and what is not contained in a website.

7) Know what you are looking for

Consider what it is you want from moving abroad; to further your career, to find a better work/life balance, to find a retirement country, to have a social life and meet people, or to travel.

8) Research the city and the country thoroughly

This includes looking at the cost and availability of flights, the social scene, ways of travelling to and from school, or where your accommodation is in relation to the school, amenities and the city.

Read our blog on how to make your applications stand out.

9) Have questions ready

Before an interview list all the questions you want to ask about life and work. Many may be answered during interview. Do not be afraid to ask what may seem to be banal questions – as an interviewer I am completely honest and will highlight the positives and make people aware of the potential negatives. If you do not get the opportunity to ask at interview, ask before accepting an offer.

10) Make sure you have money before you move

Furnished accommodation may not mean the same to everyone and having the ability to purchase items to make life more comfortable is important. Also, the first few weeks will see increased socialising as you get to know the place and your colleagues. Remember, it is like any position you would accept in your home country, you will work a month in hand before you receive your first salary payment.

To round off, just remember that research, planning and preparation are key components to making a move less stressful. I have once made a move I regretted, but I learnt a lot from that experience and was then far better prepared for my next move. Remember, you are never too old to make the change – I made it at the age of 44. It is a fantastic experience. Try it …. just make sure you are fully prepared.

Thanks so much for your input Jane (and for the awesome photos of Indonesia). Who better to give advice on moving schools and countries than someone who has experienced it from all angles! If this has inspired you and you are keen to make the move this year, now is the time to sign up, and look at our jobs. There’s so much out there waiting for you!

Written by Jane Greenwood, Principal at Jogjakarta Community School, Java, Indonesia.

Our teachers are rounding off their first term at school. Hooray! Before we delve into how their experiences have been, we wanted to first share some of their feedback on the Teacherhorizons process…

Gemma was placed in Cambodia.

Selecting schools suitable schools was very easy and the profiles for each school were extremely helpful. TH put me in contact with a recruiter who had experience teaching internationally, so gave great advice. I had a Skype interview with Anisha, so that she could see what schools would be right for me and where I’d like to go. After deciding that I would like to move to Cambodia for the cheap living costs, Anisha sent me a link to a great school in Cambodia straight away. In preparation for the interview she sent some likely interview questions for me to practice. I got the offer email from the school a few days later and couldn’t have been more excited!

We love Cambodia! Read our many many blogs about Cambodia here.

Ali was placed in Vietnam

The TH website was really useful and user friendly. The email updates were always welcomed and of all the recruitment sites I have used this has been the most useful and personal. Laura in particular has been an absolute super star. She has taken the time to get to know my requirements and helped me through the process. Thank you.

Want to join Ali? Have a look at schools in Vietnam.

Jennifer was placed in China

I first heard about Teacher Horizons a couple of years ago when I was looking around at my options for the future. Last year I decided to get serious about searching and found that some of the best options showed up on this site. Using TH is so easy and the staff are so helpful. They are also upfront and honest – if you aren’t right for a position they tell you instead of wasting your time. They provide help and guidance every step of the way and are quick to follow up and provide any advice needed. Knowing that a lot of the schools have been checked out adds confidence in the decision on where to go. I’m so happy about my new school and the opportunities to come. I highly recommend using their services!

Check out the schools we work with in China.

Monica was placed in Russia

I came across TH while searching for a position and saw a posting that appealed to me. I contacted Laura at TH and she initiated contact with the school. From there, it was a Skype interview and then I was hired! I really liked having TH “vet” me for the school – it’s good to have a recommendation from the recruiter. I felt the service was more personal than with other recruiting agencies.

Read more about our schools in Russia. 

If you’re inspired, then why not browse our latest jobs in South America, Asia or Europe? Visit more of our happy teachers blogs to read more testimonials and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.

Written by Tiffany Kibblewhite, Teacherhorizons Blog Manager and Recruitment Adviser.

This week we hear from Simon Armstrong, an inspiring teacher and entrepreneur who has set up a service for international school trips, called CAS Trips. He explains where the idea for CAS Trips came from, and with his wealth of knowledge, he gives some great advice on how to enhance your experience of travelling with students.

As a former international school teacher, I know exactly what it is like to travel with students. At the tender age of 23, I set sail for my own teacher horizons journey, as I embarked on a teaching career that would take me to international schools in Indonesia, Switzerland, Brazil and Canada before settling in Prague, Czech Republic. During these years, I helped organize and chaperone various school trips – and we all know that job doesn’t come lightly. It is more than just responsibility. You need to find that delicate balance between fun, meaningfulness, budget and safety to ensure that students accomplish learning outcomes whilst enjoying a fantastic travel experience yet following the rules and guidelines set forth.

My own experiences in the classroom and my never-ending passion for travel inspired the concept of CAS Trips, a tour company focusing on educational travel with students aged 12 – 18 years. Through the years I have learned many valuable lessons from both sides of the trip planning fence and I thought I’d share some of my wisdom – both from a teacher and tour operator perspective – to make traveling with students a little easier.

Here are my top 5 tips that will enhance both your and your students’ experiences when travelling abroad:

1. Have fun!

Yes, you are working and trying to teach your students about the history of World War II or how the Ottoman Empire came about – but you’re on a school trip to explore beyond the textbook. Have fun, use local tour guides to bring in a new perspective on topics, and don’t forget that your students will absorb the most information when all their senses are fully engaged.

2. Prepare for a new culture

Make sure you research and understand the culture with your students before embarking on your journey abroad. This can be a truly engaging and curriculum-relevant classroom activity. Have previous political regimes left a lasting impact on your destination? What is the historical context of the food you will eat? Are you visiting a country that requires students to cover up more so than they usually do back home? Explore the context of the who’s whats when and whys with your students in advance to educate and prepare them in terms of culture and customs at your destination.

3. Accept accountability

This is always a challenge, but as a teacher you need to accept accountability for the entire trip from the moment students leave their homes until they are picked up by their parents again upon return. You’ve organized every part of the trip to run smoothly. Practically speaking, that might always not be the case. Whilst the responsibility lies with you, make sure that your students and their parents are aware that they are also going to be held fully accountable for their individual actions and any mischief when travelling abroad.

4. Ask your students what they want

Do things a little differently from the rest. Ask your students what they want, rather than giving them a fully planned itinerary. There might be specific sites or activities they would like to visit and take part in at your destination. Providing options is also a great way to get your student involved before the trip even starts. Would they prefer exploring a castle or participating in a street art workshop? Students that feel like they are actively involved in the decision-making process will result in a more dynamic group eager to learn and explore.

5. Use a student tour operator

I may be biased here, but using a student tour operator can really enhance your educational trip. Working with a student tour operator secures you the best deals and ensures an expert opinion with lots of experience. Tour guides (like our CAS Trips guides) are trained in specific areas, such as history for example, providing your students with knowledge that might not be found in textbooks. Another very clear benefit of using a student tour operator to plan your trip, is that you can sit back and relax a little while the experts handle all those pesky logistics of travel. We at CAS Trips have even created a 7-step checklist on how to book a student trip.

So why did I create CAS Trips?

Well, like many of you, I had been on one too many underwhelming school trips myself – both as a student and as a teacher. From my own travels and extensive knowledge of the International Baccalaureate program, I knew there had to be a better way.

At the IB’s core, CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) is an obligatory extracurricular modular designed to push students out of their comfort zones and bring about character development. In reality though, many schools I worked with struggled to inspire students to make the most of CAS on top of their heavy academic IB timetables.

Then, it hit me. Why not use the power of travel to tackle Global Issues in foreign countries using a framework of Creativity, Activity and Service experiences?

A frantic brainstorm and several hundred emails later, CAS Trips was born in 2013. Five years later, we at CAS Trips now offer dynamic student travel experiences in 10 different cities, across four continents – with more to come in the future! CAS Trips offers an all-inclusive travel experience for students and teachers, from providing transport, accommodation, food, Service Challenges and on-site tours – we handle it all. Our trips are 100% customizable, creating unique itineraries based on your school curriculum and travel preferences.

This year, we have embarked on the mission of incorporating an average of eight UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) per destination. Students learn about the UN SDGs through frameworks and tools taught by our trained tour guides, before collaborating with charities and NGOs to tackled the goals head on with our innovative and dynamic Service Challenges. Reflection workshops and the Changemakers Challenge – a long-term sustainable project that is organized by the students, aiming to make a positive change in the world – are also vital components in the CAS Trips formula.

Through our experience as teachers, students, tour guides and parents, we hope that we truly understand what it means means to travel with students. If you are interested in learning more about CAS Trips, please do not hesitate to reach out to me here. I look forward to being in touch and helping you redefine educational travel for your school.

Thanks Simon! Do get in touch with Simon, and definitely follow CAS Trips on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube to discover the exciting things they are getting up to, and get inspired.

Written by Simon Armstrong, Simon Armstrong was born in York, UK and grew up in the Northern English Counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire before studying at the University of Liverpool and University of Central Lancashire. Following his graduation, Simon worked as a Sports Journalist at the Press Association but at the age of 23, determined that his future lay in a foreign classroom and succumbed to his desire to teach and travel. Working as an ESL, English Language and Literature teacher and Coordinator, he worked at international schools in Indonesia, Switzerland, Brazil and Canada before settling in Prague, Czech Republic. In the Ancient Czech capital, Simon also discovered tour guiding as a means to satisfy his thirst for history and showmanship on the weekends. This foray into the travel and tourism industry, combined with his extensive knowledge of the International Baccalaureate program led him to establish CAS Trips in 2013. Simon just recently moved to Lisbon, Portugal.

We have all read reports of devastatingly heavy rain and winds in North and South Carolina from Hurricane Florence, and seen photos of the horrific damage to China, the Philippines, Guam, and the Marshall Islands by Typhoon Mangkhut. Are you wondering what you can do to help? We were!

A massive 550 miles wide, Typhoon Mangkhut is the strongest storm the world has seen this year and it has killed 74 people; a number which is still rising on a daily basis. More than four million people were in the path of the storm and over 130,000 people are now sheltering in evacuation centres. In the USA, around 10,000 residents in North Carolina are in shelters and first responders have reported having evacuated 2,200 people. We have many schools in these affected areas and our hearts go out to them as they get through this difficult time. We are keen to help.

So we have been doing our research, and have discovered some amazing non-profit organisations that have been helping with the recovery of anywhere affected by the recent storms. Teacherhorizons has donated to Save The Children, as it’s a charity that is close to our hearts (see below). But so that you can choose one yourself, we have compiled a list of other charities below, with a little information about each organisation and how you can donate.

The Red Cross

This amazing organisation provides everything that an area needs after a disaster. It opens shelters to make sure people have a safe place to stay, a hot meal and access to other support from trained volunteers. They hand out emergency supply comfort kits which contain basic personal supplies needed in the aftermath of a disaster, such as a toothbrush, deodorant and shampoo. Other emergency supplies could include tarps, rakes, shovels, and trash bags to help people clean up their homes and return to normalcy. Red Cross health and mental health volunteers will travel to disaster sites to help people cope. Health workers can provide first aid treatment for injuries, monitor the well-being of people staying in Red Cross shelters, and replace prescription medications or eyeglasses. Other workers specialize in providing emotional support and helping people to cope after a disaster

Read further by clicking here, donate here and volunteer here.

The Philippine Red Cross

This team sent a “humanitarian caravan” of rescue and relief vehicles in anticipation of the storm. The caravan included a water tanker, 10-wheeler trucks, generators, a mobile kitchen, a Humvee with a rescue boat and a water treatment unit. They bring hope to the provinces affected by Typhoon Mangzhut. Not only this but The Philippine Red Cross National Blood Services is one of the major suppliers of blood in the country. The PRC is tasked to provide safe and quality blood through its active role in advocacy, education and promotion of voluntary blood donation, donor recruitment, retention and care, blood collection, testing, processing and blood issuance through its network of 82 blood service facilities nationwide.

Read further by clicking here, donate here and volunteer here.

All Hands and Hearts

All Hands and Hearts are a ‘Smart Response’ charity, who efficiently and effectively addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. By listening to local people, and deploying their unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, they rebuild safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure. This volunteer team is currently on the ground in North Carolina. They will be meeting with the Mayor of New Bern, North Carolina tomorrow at her request for help to set up a Volunteer Reception Center to coordinate spontaneous and unaffiliated volunteers. Assessment, chainsaw, debris removal, and mold sanitation teams are also on standby.

Read further by clicking here, donate here and volunteer here.

Save the Children

This is our chosen charity, and we have donated some of our profits to Save The Children this week. The STC expert teams are already on the ground, assessing the impact on children and their families to provide the support needed to help them piece their lives back together. They are distributing emergency supplies, including blankets; jerry cans; tarpaulin and rope to keep families who have lost their homes safe. They are also providing families with clean water and essential hygiene items to help prevent the spread of deadly diseases. Finally, they are setting up temporary learning centres and donating books, pencils and other learning equipment so that children’s education isn’t interrupted.

Read further by clicking here, donate here and volunteer here.

CARE

CARE is a Non Government Orgnisation founded in 1945 and fighting global poverty. They have been helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. They place a special focus on women and children who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries to reach 80 million people, including more than 11 million through emergency response and humanitarian aid. To support those affected by the typhoon they are working with local partners, Cagayan Valley Disaster Response Center & Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services, to manage relief and recovery efforts.

Read further by clicking here, donate here and volunteer here.

Here are the schools we have in The Philippines who could be badly affected by the typhoon. Your support for these charities will not only enable those affected to keep warm, dry, safe and hydrated but will also enable a better response to the urgent needs of children and adults when disasters strike in future.

If you have been affected by the storms, get in touch to let us know how you are coping, and if we can help. Email info@teacherhorizons.com or your Recruitment Adviser.

Written by Tiffany Kibblewhite, Teacherhorizons Blog Manager and Recruitment Adviser.