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Sale on eBooks

Sale, Sale, Sale for the entire month of February

The major recruiting fairs for international teachers are coming up soon, and in recognition of that, I’m offering both of my eBooks for 40% off for the month of February. Just click on the links below to find out more about these two books.

Please click on the link to learn more about The Practicalities of Moving to Bali: A Primer for Life in the Tropics. You’ll want to read this book if you plan on moving to Bali, and you can get it during February for this low price.

Please click on the link to learn more about The International Teacher. You’ll want to read this book if you are an international teacher looking for a new position, or if you are new to the profession and want to sample the lifestyle of the international teacher. And, you can’t beat the price for information about how to get a teaching position overseas, as well as reviews of 175 international schools.

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Nagoya International School

Nagoya International School was founded in 1964. NIS is a private, co-educational, college preparatory day school that provides educational services for students from Pre School through Grade 12. NIS is an IB World School and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

There are approximately 333 students at NIS that represent over 26 nationalities – the two largest being the United States and Japan. The average class size is 20.

Mission
Nagoya International School’s mission is to engage students with a challenging curriculum so that they become critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and responsible global citizens.

Facilities
NIS is located on the outskirts of Nagoya and has 7.5 acres of land on which there are three school buildings that are connected by covered walkways, terraces and gardens. The three buildings are: the Early Learning Center, the Raymond Building, and the Wing Building. Buildings have central heating and air conditioning. The ELC building has been fitted with bathroom facilities appropriate for small children. Elementary and high school students use the Raymond Building which has a library, 2 science labs, a multi-purpose room, a technology lab, a health office and a cafeteria. Middle school students are housed in the Wing Building which has a gym, a fitness center, fine arts rooms, a computer lab and a science lab. Other facilities in the school include: two playgrounds, a multi-purpose playing field with artificial turf, a two-story field house, and a Japanese Cultural Center.

Curriculum
NIS uses an American standards-based curriculum that prepares students for university study. The school is structured like a tradition American school with core classes, specialists and exploratory classes. NIS offers ESOL classes to about 10% of the student population. Students that graduate from NIS earn a U.S. High school diploma and may earn an IB Diploma.

Extra Curricular Activities
Teachers are expected to lead after school activities. These include: arts and crafts, academic clubs, and athletics.

Technology
NIS is a wireless school, but also has three computer labs. Classrooms also have computers. Teachers are expected to use technology as a tool in their classrooms.

Professional Development
NIS is a member of EARCOS. The school provides opportunities for professional development and expect teachers to be committed to their own personal growth.

Employment
NIS is looking for teachers that are team players, flexible, technologically literate, student-centered and committed to professional development. Basic requirements for teachers are: a Bachelor’s Degree, a teaching certificate, and a minimum of two years experience.

Vacancies are listed on the school website. Candidates need to send a statement of educational philosophy, a resume, two letters of reference, and a copy of a current teaching certificate to working@nis.ac.jp. Attachments may be added to the email. Initial contracts are for 2 years with follow-up contracts of one year. No information is given on salaries or benefits.

About Nagoya

Nagoya is located in central Japan between Osaka and Tokyo and has a population of around 2 million which makes it the fourth largest city in Japan. Because of the presence of the major Japanese automotive companies, Nagoya is an important economic center. This economic situation has made Nagoya attractive to foreigners, and Nagoya has a developing expat community.

Nagoya has a generally moderate climate although summers can be quite hot.

Some of the main attractions of Nagoya are: the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, the Nagoya Castle and the Nittaiji Temple. Nagoya has an active nightlife with bars, clubs and restaurants that cater to both Japanese and foreigners.

Nagoya has the usual shopping facilities that one would expect to find in a developed country such as malls and large, Western-style supermarkets. The school website has an excellent section on living in Japan.

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The International School Suva

International School Suva

The International School Suva is an independent, co-educational day school in Fiji that provides educational services for students from pre-school through Year 12. The school has authorization to use all three IB programs.

ISS has over 470 students from 35 countries. There are over 50 full-time faculty members.

Mission
The mission of ISS is to provide an excellent education in a multi-cultural environment where they develop the skills and values necessary to become positive and responsible global citizens.

Facilities
The International School Suva is located in Laucala Beach Estate which is just outside Suva. The school has modern classrooms, a library, 3 computer labs, a science lab, a full time counselor, a uniform shop, an ESL Centre, a multi-purpose hall that includes an 800 seat theatre, drama and music rooms and sporting facilities such as badminton, etc.

Curriculum
The International School Suva uses a mix of curricula. They have all three International Baccalaureate programs, and the PYP is the entire basis for the primary curriculum. The middle years curriculum has two components – the IBMYP and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education which the school notes complements the MYP. Secondary students have the IB Diploma Programme as well as the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) program. Students receive the Year 12 ACT Certificate if they follow the ACT.

Extra-Curricular Activities
The school offers a wide variety of extra curricular activities. Teachers sponsor these activities, and they take place either at lunchtime or after school.

Technology
ISS believes in integrating technology throughout the curriculum. The school has 1 computer for every 2 students, and each classroom has at least 2 computers. The school has fast broadband, and it is working on getting wireless broadband throughout the school. Students take regular computer classes through Grade 8; after that further technology classes are electives.

Professional Development
No information is available.

Employment
The school lists openings on its website. No other information about employment is available.

About Fiji
Fiji is one of those places that those of us who are enraptured with the tropics dream of as the ideal place to live. Fiji is an archipelago that consists of about 106 inhabited islands, including Viti Levu and Vanua Levu that account for most of the population.

Suva is the capital of Fiji. It has a population of around 140,000. Visitors to Fiji need to be aware of pickpockets and scams – isn’t that all too familiar these days in tropical paradises?

There are a variety of cuisines available in Suva, especially Indian food due to the large Indian population in Fiji. If you are a Western fast food junkie, you can find McDonalds and Kentucky Friend Chicken.

Fiji has a tropical marine climate with slight temperature variations throughout the year. The cyclone season is from November through April.

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TASIS: The American School in England

The American School in England is an independent, coeducational college preparatory school providing educational services to students from Nursery School through Grade 12. It is located just outside London and was established in 1955. The school has boarding facilities. TASIS is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

There are over 750 students that represent 40 nationalities. Of this 750 students, 600 are day students and 150 are boarding students. There are 100 teachers of which about 75% are Americans; the rest are British.

Mission
The mission of the school is to provide an outstanding international education and instill the values of responsibility, compassion, truth, and justice.

Facilities
The campus is 18 miles southwest of London; take a look at the photos on the school website. The whole place looks like my idea of an international school. Facilities include: sports fields; tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, gyms, a theatre, computer and science labs, three libraries with internet facilities, music rooms, modern classrooms, boarding facilities, and much more.

Curriculum
The curriculum is a mix of English and American curricula with some IB thrown in. The elementary curriculum is based on Core Knowledge. The school is a college prep school with high standards and high expectations. TASIS England offers the American high school diploma with Advanced Placement courses, as well as the IB Diploma. There is an ESL program.

Extra Curricular Activities

The school has many competitive sports teams for senior students including basketball, rugby, soccer, cross country, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, cheerleading, golf and dance. Other activities include drama, art, music, and special interest clubs.

Technology
TASIS England has a complete network that links all parts of the school together. There is wireless coverage around the campus including in the boarding facilities. The IT program focuses on creativity and communication; students learn about technology in the context of projects for classes such as math or history. This is a school that understands and employs an integrated approach to IT.

Professional Development
Teachers are expected to complete professional growth requirements yearly.

Employment
TASIS The American School in England is looking for teaching candidates that are skilled, experienced, and highly qualified. Teaching candidates need to have at least three years’ full-time experienced with at least a BA, although advanced degrees are preferred. Teachers who do not hold an EU passport need to have at least three years of consecutive teaching in an American curriculum school in order to qualify for a work permit.

photo by mewiki

The school is especially looking for teachers with IB, AP and boarding school experience. Teachers at TASIS The American School in England are expected to also serve as advisors, coaches, sponsors of activities and chaperones for weekend trips. Additionally, about 20% of the faculty serve as faculty residents in the dormitories. Detailed teaching responsibilities are listed online.

Teachers who are US citizens are exempt from British Income Tax for the first two years. Teachers have to pay an 11% tax for the National Insurance Contribution (similar to US Social Security). Salaries are competitive and are determined by the Headmaster based on experience and qualifications. Teachers receive credit for up to 16 years of experience.

Benefits include: private health, dental, long term disability, personal pension, full tuition for school age children, up to £1000 relocation expenses, and all housing and utilities and meals if the teacher is part of the boarding team.

Applications for employment are online. If you are interested in applying for a position, you should send a letter of application, a resume, and the application form to: headmaster@tasisengland.org
or send a fax to: Headmaster: +44 1932 560493
or post to:
Headmaster
TASIS The American School in England
Coldharbour Lane
Thorpe
Surrey TW20 8TE
England

About London
What is there to say about London that anyone who would want to be an international teacher doesn’t already know?

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International School of Dusseldorf

The International School of Dusseldorf was founded in 1968 and provides educational services for students from Reception through Grade 12. ISD is an IB World school with authorization to use all three IB programs. ISD is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

The school has an international student body. The largest nationalities are: German, Americans, Japanese, British and Koreans. ISD has small class sizes that average between 16 to 18 students per class. The student:teacher ratio is 8.38 to 1. Teachers come from over 21 countries and are fully qualified.

Mission
The mission of ISD is to provide students with an excellent academic program and support their personal development as well while preparing them for the future.

Facilities
ISD buildings are modern and spacious. Among the facilities at the school are: art studios, music and drama teaching and practice rooms, a 400 seat theater, technology and design centers, 2 gyms, 3 football fields, elementary playgrounds, and more.

Curriculum
ISD uses all three IB programs. This makes it easier for students to adapt to moving from school to school. You can learn more about the IB in Chapter 2. Curriculum review is on a cycle so that all curricula are reviewed every four years. ISD has an extensive ESL program for students that require assistance with English.

Extra Curricular Activities

ISD has a full sports program and teams compete both locally and internationally. Sports include basketball, soccer and volleyball. The school also has Speech and Debate teams that compete internationally. Other activities include the Model United Nations, clubs and arts and crafts.

Technology
The school has a technology and design center. Most classrooms have interactive whiteboards.

Professional Development
ISD is a school committed to professional development. The director of the school notes, “I spend more money on professional development than most other Heads of School I know. I do this because I recognize that teachers who are learners are better teachers than those who are not. I do this because the science of teaching and learning is advancing at an incredible rate, and we need to keep up.

Professional development activities are one of the cornerstones of the IB programs. Teachers at ISD are required to attend IB workshops in their subject areas at least every three years.

Teachers have individual professional development funds which they can use as they see fit (with the approval of the director of the school). The money can be used yearly or saved for up to three years. After looking at the ISD professional development program, I can say that it is one of the best that I have come across in international schools.

Employment
ISD requires teachers to have teaching certification, a minimum of two years of experience, and a commitment to professional and personal development. No benefits or salaries are listed on the school website.

ISD attends the major recruitment fairs. If you are interested in teaching at ISD, you can send a CV, a cover letter and the completed ISD Application Form to:
Mrs. Marie Willis
HR Department
International School of Duesseldorf
Niederrheinstrasse 336
40489 Duesseldorf
Germany
E-mail: willis@isdedu.de

About Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is the capital of North Rhine- Westphalia with a metropolitan population of around 10 million. It is an important economic center of Germany, and is also known for fashion and trade fairs. In addition to the fashion and advertising industries, Dusseldorf is an important telecommunications, banking and publishing center.

The city is located in the middle of the lower Rhine basin with an average elevation of 28 meters. Dusseldorf has mild winters and warm summers. The average temperature is 10° C.

Dusseldorf has a large foreign population: about 17% of its population are foreigners with the largest groups being Turks, Greeks, Italians and Japanese. Dusseldorf has the highest quality of life ranking of all German cities.

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