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Monthly archives for February, 2011

Hsinchu International School

Feb27
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Hsinchu International School is a small, independent international school located in Taiwan. It was founded in 1981 and moved into its new campus in 2007. HIS provides educational services for foreign students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. It is in the process of being accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

HIS has approximately 160 students that represent 20 nationalities. Its teaching staff is comprised of both expat and Taiwanese teachers. Class sizes run from 10-20 students with a student/teacher ratio of 14:1.

Facilities
The school moved into purpose-built facilities in 2007. These include large air-conditioned classrooms, a landscaped campus, play area for younger students, a basketball court, practice rooms for music, 2 science labs, athletic facilities, an amphitheater, a library and specialist rooms.

Curriculum
The school uses an international/American curriculum. This is a college preparatory school with a strong sense of academics while, at the same time, working to instill a love of learning in their students. Classes are taught in English.

Employment
HIS lists open positions on the school website. The school is looking for qualified, licensed and dedicated teachers who are comfortable teaching in a multi-language environment and are able to encourage individual growth in all their subjects. Teaching applicants should be be able to inspire a love of learning in their students, show passion for their subject areas, working cooperatively with students and colleagues and be willing to participate in extra-curricular activities. Teachers who wish to work at the secondary level will need to meet slightly tighter requirements that include familiarity with Understanding by Design, inquiry-based learning, and experience with working in a 1:1 laptop environment among other requirements.

Salaries and benefits are not listed on the school website, but it is noted that they are competitive. Candidates for employment should send a letter of interest, a photo, a completed application form, a resume, recommendations and copies of documents to:

Hsinchu International School
No. 290, Niu Pu East Road Hsinchu 30091
Taiwan, ROC

Tel: 886-3-5388113
Fax: 886–3–5388033

Email applications:
his.school@msa.hinet.net

Please address all applications to Mrs. Rowena Lines

About Hsinchu
Hsinchu is located on Taiwan’s northwest coast. The city is know for its windy conditions and is often referred to as the Windy City (perhaps it should be Chicago’s sister city). It’s about an hour from Taipei and hosts a number of high-tech research institutes and science and technology focused universities. Hsinchu has many restaurants and pubs that serve a variety of cuisines. There are large department stores and modern malls for the expat teachers who prefer to do their shopping in familiar environments.

Posted in asia, international schools, international teaching positions, taiwan - Tagged , , , ,

United Nations International School Hanoi

Feb22
2011 2 Comments Written by admin

The United Nations International School Hanoi was founded in 1988 and has grown in size up to its current student population of approximately 900 that represent over 50 nationalities. Students come from families of diplomats, international organizations, NGOs, foreign businesses and local Vietnamese families. UNIS provides educational services for students from Discovery (3-year olds) to Grade 12.

UNIS is the largest English medium international school in Hanoi and is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. UNIS is affiliated with EARCOS (the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools). UNIS is also an IB World School and is authorized to offer all of the IB programs: Primary Years Programme (PYP) which goes from Discovery to Grade 5, Middle Years Programme (MYP) which goes from Grade 6 to Grade 10, and the Diploma Programme which goes for Grades 11 and 12.

Mission
The UNIS mission is to help students become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens through an outstanding educational program that reflects the ideals of the United Nations.

Facilities
UNIS moved into a new custom-built campus in 2004. Facilities include music and art rooms, a science block for senior students, a library, a canteen, playing fields, basketball courts, computer labs, modern classrooms and an Early Childhood Centre.

Curriculum
As UNIS is an IB World School, it uses an international curriculum based on the IB model which provides for students to learn in an environment that encourages critical thinking skills, respect for world cultures and a connection between the classroom and the world outside of school.

Extra-curricular Activities
The school has an extensive after school program. (Note: almost all international schools require that you take part in some after school activities which usually involves taking over a club like computer club or chess club, or coaching a sports team, or sponsoring some academic team like the Math Team (I did that once). UNIS has teams in swimming, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis. Some of their clubs are Tae Kwon Do, table tennis, gymnastics, ballet, drama, computing, calligraphy, batik, silk screening, and Wolf Clubs.

Most schools also have special days throughout the year that teachers are expected to participate in. Some of the ones that are held at UNIS are United Nations Day, International Food Fair, and school concerts. UNIS also has a student council that you could participate in. And more still. Most international schools have programs where students participate in field trips. Students at UNIS from Grades 5-12 take part in field trips around Vietnam. I’ve been actively involved in field trips in all the international schools that I’ve worked in and while they are very exhausting, they’re great for developing your relationship with students and applying some of the concepts discussed in the classroom to the real world.

Employment

UNIS lists openings on the school website. Interested candidates may send a cover letter, a resume and a list of three contacts to HRAdministrator@unishanoi.org. An excellent new teacher manual is available online. It details life in Hanoi, teacher expectations, dress codes, benefits and much more. Benefits include: a salary supplement (in lieu of a pension plan), medical insurance, settling-in allowance, furniture allowance, and transportation to and from Hanoi at the start and end of the contract as well as other benefits. The school no longer publishes the salary schedule on the website.

Posted in expat employment, international schools, international teaching positions, southeast asia, Uncategorized, vietnam - Tagged , , , , ,

Lahore American School

Feb21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

It’s time to write about one of my favorite schools. Lahore American School is located in Lahore, Pakistan. Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan (2006 government estimate is about 10,000,000 million population) and, in my opinion, the most beautiful. It is located about 20 minutes from the Pakistan-India border. I was employed at LAS for four years as a teacher and administrator, and I loved my time there even though they were very tense years for Pakistan and the world.

Lahore American School currently has over 410 students and has recovered nicely from the difficulties that it experienced during the aftermath of 9/11. During that period most of the international students left Pakistan to return to their home countries, and while LAS was still as wonderful place to work with great students, it did lose its international flavor during that period. LAS has been building its international student population since 2003 when I left to move to Indonesia. The majority of students at LAS are Pakistani along with a small expat population.

LAS is an independent, coeducational day, college preparatory school that provides educational services for students from Preschool to Grade 12. LAS was founded in 1956 and has a demanding academic environment.

Mission and Philosophy
The Lahore American School, in its pursuit of excellence, offers a comprehensive university preparatory education that challenges our students to be continual learners and responsible citizens with a clear understanding of our global society in an ever-changing world by utilizing an exemplary faculty, American principles of education, and a nurturing environment that optimizes students’ skills in decision making, communicating, and logical thinking.

Facilities
LAS has three traditional divisions: an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. Each is located in its own buildings on a four and one half acre property. Classrooms are air-conditioned, large and well lit. There are 2 music rooms, 2 art rooms, a cafeteria, 3
computer labs, 2 science labs, an EFL room, an infirmary, and a library with over 20,000 volumes. Sports facilities include a cover gym, a soccer field, and a heated swimming pool. The school also has a 350-seat theater.

Curriculum
The LAS curriculum is standards based and was developed in association with the Illinois State Board of Education. LAS has 30 Learner Goals that students must meet before they graduate. A sample goal given on their website is: “Read and understand literature representative from various societies, eras, and ideas. A standard for this is: “Can understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.” Then there are performance indicators for various grade levels for this standard.

LAS offers a variety of student programs at all three levels: elementary, middle school and high school. Non-athletic programs include such activities as: Student Council, National Honor Society, Music, Yearbook, SAISA Math, Model United Nations, Debate, Community Service, and much more. I took part in many of these activities and had a great time with the students who are enthusiastic participants.

Extra-curricular Activities
LAS has an active sports program. The team name is the Buffaloes and its colors are Blue and Gold. LAS takes part in the SAISA Athletic Conference. Some of the SAISA sports are Basketball, Volleyball (the Middle School had great volleyball teams during my years there, and I still have a few volleyball team t-shirts), Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, and Soccer. The LAS boys also play cricket against teams from Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. Additionally, LAS holds two weekend athletic conventions with students from the international schools in Islamabad and Karachi. LAS also has many after-school sports events for younger students.

Technology
LAS has 3 computer labs and most classrooms have at least one computer for teacher use. All computers have network and internet connections. The Middle School has a laptop lab. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Most classrooms have smartboards.

Professional Development
LAS takes part in NESA. No other information is available, but I did find the professional development aspect of the school lacking.

Employment
The majority of teachers at LAS are from North America and Canada. The school is looking for teachers with certification, post graduate education, a minimum of two years experience, excellent recommendations and skills to lead or coach activities. LAS attends major recruiting fairs and may also do interviews via Skype. To apply, candidates need to include a CV, scanned copies of certification, a minimum of 2 references and 2 recent photos with the online application.

The school website doesn’t list salaries but notes that they are competitive. Benefits include: an air-conditioned, furnished house; a car with 100 litres of fuel per month; a tax-free salary of which 85% is paid in U.S. dollars; a settling-in allowance; shipping allowance; paid tuition for dependents; a mobile phone with charges paid by the school; retirement contribution; health care; renewal bonuses for each new contract; paid airfare to and from Lahore; battery packs in all houses.

About Lahore
Lahore is known at the City of Gardens because of the extensive gardens found around the city which is part of its heritage from the Mughal Empire. If you are a history buff or an amateur archaeologist, the city and the surrounding areas are a treasure. Despite the lack of upkeep on some of their historical buildings, there is plenty to explore in this fascinating city: the Lahore Fort, the Shalimar Gardens, the Diamond Market (the red light district), the tombs of Jehangir and Nur Jehan, the Bahshahi Mosque, and the Old City.

But, Lahore isn’t just history. The residents of Lahore (known as Lahoris) are famous for their love of eating, and Lahore is the home of an incredible diversity of eating establishments from the little roadside stands to the Western chains such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and Dunkin Donuts. One of my favorite places to eat was Coocoo’s which is a converted brothel and has incredible food and a very interesting clientele. During Ramadhan, the fasting month, the restaurants are packed as the fast ends around sunset.

If you’re looking for technology try Hafeez Center, one of my favorite haunts during my time in Lahore. It’s an old decrepit building (this was five years ago so it may have been renovated since then), but it’s filled with the latest technology with friendly and knowledgeable shopkeepers. And books…Lahore is known as the cultural center of Pakistan and there are many wonderful bookshops with the latest books, as well as some back alley places that sell some classics from pre-Partition times.

Lahore also has fine medical and dental facilities. I had a great dentist, Dr. Khan, who was trained in the UK and had the latest equipment. There are also some modern medical facilities as well. I had emergency surgery there and was very impressed with the doctors and the hospital.

Posted in expat employment, international schools, international teaching positions, pakistan - Tagged , , , , ,

The American International School of Johannesburg

Feb16
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

The American International School of Johannesburg was founded in 1982. It is a private, co-educational day school that provides educational services for students from Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. AISJ is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school has approval to offer the IB Diploma Program.

AISJ has approximately 850 students that represent 63 nationalities. About half of the teaching staff of 103 are from the United States with 37 from South Africa and the remainder from other countries.

Vision
The AISJ vision is: “Together we dare to imagine, inspire to succeed, and courageously make a difference.”

Facilities
AISJ has two campuses: the Johannesburg campu and the Pretoria campus. The main campus is the Johannesburg campus that houses the Elementary, Middle and High Schools. It is a 58 acre campus and includes 66 classrooms, 7 science labs, 3 computer labs, 2 libraries, a large gym, 3 soccer fields, 3 outdoor basketball courts, 3 tennis courts, a Fine Arts Centre, a lecture hall, a swimming pool and a cafeteria. The Pretoria campus is a five acre site with students from Pre-kindergarten through Grade 8.

Curriculum
AISJ uses a mixed curriculum that is similar to those found in the United States with modifications appropriate to the school’s international student population. The curriculum uses standards and benchmarks that reflect the knowledge and skills that students need in order to be academically successful. AISJ is organized similar to most schools in the U.S. As well as many international schools with students in the elementary grades studying in self-contained classrooms with a homeroom teacher who is responsible for the core classes and specialist teachers for art, music, technology, physical education, library and Spanish. ESL support is offered for students who need assistance with the English language. Middle school and high school students have specialist teachers for all courses. Graduates can opt for the American Diploma Program, the IB Diploma, IB Certificate courses or all of the above.

Extra-curricular Activities
After school activities are offered for all students throughout the year. These include: language classes, cooking, music, arts, sports, student council, community service, drama, yearbook, Model United Nations, National Honor Society and much more. Older students can participate in competitive sports. Tournaments are hosted by the International Schools of Southern and Eastern Africa. The school also has friendly competitions with local schools.

Technology
AISJ has 3 computer labs. Computers are also located in individual classrooms. Students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 take technology classes. Technology integration is part of the schools professional development program.

Professional Development
Unlike many school websites, AISJ’s website has an excellent section on professional development. They explain why PD is important to them and what types of PD the school offers. These include: weekly PD time when students are released early, new faculty orientations, curriculum review, workshops, collaborative unit planning, mentoring for new teachers, on site workshops, IB training, peer reviews and funding assistance for offsite training. Additionally, the school is developing a centre for teaching and learning.

Employment
AISJ wants dedicated and talented teachers who are committed to their students, work collaboratively, and will actively participate in professional development activities. Teachers must be certified, and have a minimum of two years experience. AISJ attends three international recruiting fairs where they interview candidates: International School Services, Council of International Schools and Search Associates. Openings are posted on the school website. Teachers who are interested in working at AISJ can send a resume, a letter of interest and supporting documents to recruitment@aisj-jhb.com. Make sure to mention the position that you are interested in in the subject line of the e-mail.

image: Kemptonreporter

AISJ gets extra points for posting salaries and benefits on their website. Salaries start at $31, 525 for a teacher with no experience and a BA and top out at $70,150 for a teacher with a Ph.D. And 20 years of experience. The school will give new teachers credit for up to 10 years experience. Benefits include: housing, medical, life and disability, pension contribution, annual home leave allowance, settling-in allowance, car loan, tuition for dependents, basic furnishings, shipping at the start and end of employment, and a two-year contract. Sounds excellent.

About Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of approximately 3.2 million people. English is commonly spoken in the city. While the city has a high crime rate, it is generally considered to be safe if people take the usual precautions that are common in any large city with a substantial part of the population living at subsistence levels. City temperatures are pleasant with average temperatures running from 25 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius.

Shopping is excellent for expatriate teachers with large new malls, as well as more traditional markets. Similarly, the city is home of many excellent restaurants serving local and international cuisine. Pub enthusiasts will find the city as excellent place to have a few drinks after a hard week of work.

Within driving distance of the city is the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site where archeology buffs can take tours of the caves where early hominid fossils have been found that played a key role in our understanding of primate and human evolution.

Posted in africa, expat employment, international schools, international teaching positions - Tagged , , ,

The International School of Macao

Feb11
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

The International School of Macao (TIS) was founded in 2002 to provide a Canadian curriculum for both local and expatriate students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. The primary language of instruction is English. TIS is accredited by the Alberta provincial government and students graduate from TIS with an Alberta High School Diploma. TIS offers boarding facilities for students from Grade 7-12.

40% of TIS students are local (Macao, Hong Kong, China) and 60% are from 40 other countries. There are 60 full-time teachers and 2 administrators. The average class size is 18. The school currently has 850 students with a capacity of 900.

Mission
Every school these days has to have written somewhere on their website their commitment to lifelong learning. TIS is no exception. They follow up this homily with five things that they want to teach students: Judgment, Critical thinking, Meaningful literacy, Collaboration, and Service. It’s good to see that they have some concrete words to back up their clichés.

Facilities
The school moved into a new purpose built facility in 2006. TIS has three buildings that consist of a five story classroom block, a three story central core, and a to story wing that has a multi-purpose hall attached to it. So maybe that makes four buildings. There are three science labs, two computer labs, open common areas, two libraries, and visual art and music studios. They also have playgrounds, a football stadium, a playing field, and three basketball courts. Of course, there are also classrooms that are sufficient for 900 students.

Curriculum
TIS uses the curriculum from Alberta, Canada. The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment is given to students at TIS. The program works from a language arts base along with the integration of technology. The academic curriculum is blended with excellent educational resources, a creative staff and varied extra-curricular activities. Students that graduate from TIS easily fit back in to their home educational system.

Extra-curricular Activities
TIS has a wide variety of activities in three sessions annually. Activities include clubs, visual arts, performing arts, music, student council and athletics. Students can participate in competitive sports such as basketball, soccer, badminton, tennis, swimming and track and field with schools from around China.

Technology
TIS is another school that has come to understand that technology is an integral part of education in the 21st century. All the classrooms have computers that are connected to the school network. There are computer labs and wireless laptops that can be used in the classrooms that have wireless access.

Professional Development
The school has two PD days per year. Teachers have a PD allowance that they can use for conferences, courses, and other PD opportunities.

Employment
So what about teaching at TIS? Some of the professional benefits include: daily collaborative planning time, small class sizes, extensive Canadian resources, state of the art technology and a new school facility.

Benefits include medical insurance, sick days, professional development allowance, a housing allowance, and more. The school website lists all positions that are open for the coming academic year.

About Macau
Macau is a multicultural city with a fast growing economy. This is a former Portuguese colony and is one of the two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) along with Hong Kong.

Macau’s (or Macao) economy is heavily geared towards tourism, especially gambling. Macau is expected to receive over 24 million tourists in 2007. Other industries include banking, and export-oriented textile manufacturing.

Macau has a population of just over 500,000, and yet is one of the most densely populated places on the planet. The weather is temperate with an average around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. I’ve always wanted to visit Macau; what better way to get to know it than to teach there.

Posted in China, expat employment, international schools, international teaching positions - Tagged , , , ,
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