image: Erin Silversmith

Curriculum
The British School uses an adapted form of the English National Curriculum to meet the needs of its international student population. The school is organized into three departments: Early Years (this includes Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception), Primary (Years 1-6), and Secondary (Years 7-13). Primary School students often engage in cross-curricular study that is topic based – similar to the PYP approach. Students take the Standardized Assessment Tests or the National Curriculum Tests in English, Mathematics and Science at the end of Year 9.

Extracurricular Activities
After School Activities (ASA) are required for all students who generally take two clubs per term. Among the activities offered are football, dance, drama, arts and crafts, board games, computer, tennis, golf, badminton, community service and more.

Technology
IT is integrated throughout the curriculum, and students have ICT classes as an independent subject as well. All classrooms have interactive whiteboards with internet connections.

Professional Development
While the school does mention that it has a PD program, it doesn’t give the specifics anywhere on the website.

Employment
The minimum requirements for teaching candidates for the British School are a university degree, a teaching diploma and experience in other British schools. The school website says that the package is outstanding, but doesn’t tell how outstanding the salaries are. It does mention a few of the benefits if you sort around through the job descriptions. These are relocation allowance, scholarships for children, housing, annual flights home, medical insurance and an optional pension plan. Job openings are listed online with specific details for each position. Interested candidates can send their resume and a cover letter to hr@britishschool.edu.my.

image: jeCCo

Facilities
The school campus is centrally located in Singapore and has indivual buildings for the three divisions of students: Infant, Junior and Senior. TTS also has a newly-built Six Form Centre that is part of the Senior School. Among the many impressive facilities are: a six-storey Sports and Performing Arts Complex, 4 libraries, multi-purpose rooms, music rooms, drama studios, ICT suites, science labs, health centres, food service areas, a 25-meter pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, playing fields, playgrounds and much more.

Curriculum
Tanglin Trust School uses a curriculum based on the National Curriculum of England that is adapted for use in an international school. The curriculum is organized into Key Stages. Students at the end of Key Stage 4 get the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE); students at the end of Key Stage 5 end up with the A-Levels or the IB Diploma. The school seems to have a strong arts program based on the space it has on the school website. So, if you are a teacher in the arts, this may be a great school for you. I found it interesting to read that the school does random drug tests on students in the Senior School. This isn’t really related to curriculum, but it does give one something to think about.

Extracurricular Activities
Tanglin Trust School has a full range of what they call co-curricular activities (CCAs). These include chess, newsletter production, cooking, arts and crafts, rugby, basketball, rock climbing, gamelan, orchestra, netball, rock band, jazz band drama, community projects and much more. The school has a competitive athletic program for Junior and Senior students. Sports include football, T.Ball, swimming, badminton, basketball, tennis, cricket, netball, and more.

Technology
There is almost nothing on the generally excellent school website about their technology program.

Professional Development
The school’s PD program is called Continuous Professional Development. PD activities include job-a-like workshops, on-site activities, working with other schools, conferences, courses given by the IB and the Institute of Education, peer observation and online learning.

Employment
The school has 185 teachers. There is a staff reflections page which I always find interesting (on the rare websites that have them) because you get a chance to see what a few teachers will pick as the highlights of their teaching and living experience in a school. For instance, one of the teachers on the TTS site, mentions the excellent opportunities for professional development and for an outstanding lifestyle. That right there, makes me interested in working at this school. More schools should have teacher reflection sections.

That being said, there is no information on salaries and benefits, and the information on teaching candidate qualifications is extremely thin. These should be improved. What I did glean from the site is that teachers must have at least two years’ experience using the British curriculum. Specific requirements for individual positions are listed on the school website. Interested teachers should send the school a letter of application that rives evidence of recent experience along with a CV, a passport-sized photo and contact details for three professional referees. These can be send to the school at tanglin@kingpartnership.co.uk. Job openings are listed online.

Mission
The school is committed to offering students an education that provides for excellence in the areas of intellectual and personal development.

image: Yaros

Curriculum
The Elementary School uses the International Primary Curriculum. The Middle School curriculum is based on US standards from the state of Virginia adapted for use in Poland with a international student population. ISK also uses standards from America Education Reaches Out, the province of British Columbia, and the national curricula from Poland, France and Germany. The High School uses standards based on the state of Virginia’s Standards of Learning. Advanced Placement courses are offered for high school students. ISK offers six foreign languages and also has an ESL program for non-native speakers who are in the process of learning English. The school website has a special page for their Fine Arts Department – good to know if you’re an art teacher.

Extracurricular Activities
The school offers a variety of activities including swimming, karate, basketball, astronomy club, ballet, cultural arts, arts and crafts, tennis, speech and debate, homework help and more.

Technology
ISK has a computer lab with a dozen desktop IBM computers with 21-inch monitors. IT is taught as a separate class and it is integrated throughout the curriculum as well.

Professional Development
No information is available online.

Employment
Teachers must have a Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certification. No other information is available on the school website. Job openings are online. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, a CV, a copy of their teaching certification and contact information for three referees to director@iskonline.org.

About Krakow
Krakow is the second largest city in Poland with a population of around 1.4 million. The city can make claim to having existed since the Stone Age. Krakow is located in southern Poland and has an Oceanic climate. The city of the city that includes the Old Town district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Krakow is a center of culture and education with over 10 universities and academies, 28 museums and several theatres and the Opera Krakowska. Among the museums are the National Museum, the Czartoryski Museum and the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology. The city has an active nightlife with many restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes.

Mission
The school mission is to develop an active and welcoming school community where students are challenged academically and personally, and where they develop compassion and a spirit of innovation.

image: Shizhao

Curriculum
CWA’s curriculum follows inquiry-based, transdisciplinary units of study with the core elements of concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes and action. The curriculum emphasizes connections to real life situation, decision making, problem solving and research. In other words, sounds a lot like the PYP.

Extracurricular Activities
The school is developing their extracurricular program and note that some of the possible activities will be Japanese, French, Chinese Opera appreciation, chess, sports, media club, baking and cooking, arts and crafts, math club, science club, community service and more.

Technology
CWA has computer labs. Interesting that they don’t put any emphasis on their technology program like many of the new schools do these days.

Professional Development
The school has seven to ten professional development days per year.

Employment
This school has only 20 students according to their website, but my guess is that of this writing, there are probably more as the school website says that they are the only English-medium international school in Hunan.

CWA is looking for teachers who are flexible, determined, patient, skilled in using ICT as an educational tool, willing to sponsor after school activities and able to improvise in the unique situation of starting a new school. Teaching candidates must have a minimum of two years experience in an international school, be certified, be computer literate, have PYP or inquiry-based teaching experience, be committed to the school mission, be willing to be ambassadors of the school and have experience with differentiated teaching techniques.

Teachers can expect to put in a lot of work here. CWA has 185 contact days along with 7-10 professional development days and up to 32 teaching periods a week. Plus, supervisory duties, after school activities and meetings.

Job openings are listed online. Teachers who are interested in working at CWA can complete an application that is available online and send it to the school along with a letter of application and a CV.

The salary range is not listed on the school website, but it says that the salaries are competitive and paid in Renminbi. Benefits included visa processing, a re-signing bonus, free tuition for dependents, medical insurance, “position of responsibility” allowances, a furnished apartment with broadband internet, an annual travel allowance, and shipping.

About Changsha
Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province and has a population of around seven million. It is situated on the Xiang River and has a humid subtropical climate with average temperatures running from 17 degrees Celsius in January to 29 degrees Celsius in July. Changsha has four real seasons with hot wet summers and relatively dry winters.

Changsha has a small expat population and in comparison to cities like Shanghai or Beijing, bars, restaurants and social activities that cater to foreigners are limited. However, there are international supermarkets like Carrefour, Metro and Walmart, and the usual Western chains are here like McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks.

I consider myself a fairly smart guy; I have a Ph.D. in an esoteric field (OK, maybe I’m not that smart after all), and I concluded a relatively successful career as an international teacher and administrator a few years ago. I have a few bucks in the bank (certainly not as many bucks as I would like to have), and I live on a tropical island with a wonderful family. But, after reading Andrew’s witty and insightful book, I had more than a few moments of “how could I have been so dumb to have done that with my money,” even though I did what many of my friends did – invest in actively managed mutual funds. Andrew methodically (and humorously) explains why this is not the way to achieving the best results with your money.

But wait, who is this guy Andrew Hallam? And why should you listen to him? Andrew is a high school English teacher in an international school in Singapore who managed to become a millionaire in his 30s on a teacher’s salary. That’s right on a teacher’s salary. In addition to teaching English, Andrew teaches a class on finances for high school students, runs workshops on investing for fellow teachers and writes articles on finance for magazines like MoneySense.

So, just what is it that Andrew has done to get to a comfortable financial position while he’s still so young?

The short answer – nothing that any of the rest of us couldn’t have done or couldn’t start doing now. In his book, Andrew lays out a fundamental, conservative, common sense approach to investing and living that resulted in his financial success. Rule 1 of how to get started on the road to financial security is, “Spend Like You Want to Grow Rich.” Simple enough advice there, but how many of us really follow it?

I’m not going to give you all nine of Andrew’s rules – you can buy his book and discover the rest. But, among the financial matters that Andrew explains are:

• how the stock market works
• why gold is not an investment
• why investing in actively managed mutual funds is a bad financial move
• what hedge funds are and what they do
• what an indexed account is and why you should have one
• how to build a balanced portfolio
• what bonds are, how they work and why your portfolio should have some
• how to make your money grow without using a financial adviser

Andrew’s book is not just for Americans; he explains how Australians, Canadians, Singaporeans and folks from other countries can develop a balanced portfolio of indexed funds and bonds. And he concludes his book with a chapter on picking stocks for those folks who just have to play the market. He advises would be investing wizards to keep their buying of individual stocks down to 10% of their overall portfolio.

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or getting close to those retirement years, Andrew’s book can help put you on the path to safe, sane and profitable investing. This book is ideal for international teachers who usually have a fair amount of discretionary income for investing. You won’t get rich overnight, but if you’re looking for what to do in the long run, Millionaire Teacher is a book that will give you a solid financial plan in easy to understand language that is spiced throughout with Andrew’s quirky sense of humor.

Facilities
The British School of Marbella is centrally located in Marbella. Among the facilities that the school offers are well-resourced classrooms with state-of-the art technology, specialist classrooms,an ICT suite, a library, a small theatre, a multi-purpose hall, two playgrounds and athletic courts.

image: Tomas Fano

Extracurricular Activities
The school offers a variety of activities that include sport, clubs, drama and music. After school activities are compulsive for all students.

Technology
All classrooms have interactive whiteboards. The school has an ICT suite.

Professional Development
The school website says that BSM provides professional development opportunities to teachers.

Employment
Job openings are listed on the school website. BSM is looking for teachers with at least three years experience in Foundation Stage or Key Stage One. Additional areas of specialization are a bonus. Teachers who are interested in working at the British School of Marbella should send a CV, letter of application, a recent photo and the email addresses of two referees to recruitment@bsm.org.es. The school website notes that they offer outstanding working conditions and packages, but doesn’t mention what they are.

About Marbella
Marbella is a city on the Mediterranean coast in southern Spain. While it has a relatively small population of around 140,000, it is a main tourist destination in Spain because of its climate and an infrastructure that appeals to international tourism. Marbella has a variety of cultural attractions including museums, archeological sites dating back to the Roman, Carthaginians and Phoenicians. Marbella also has a range of musical attractions. Marbella has been featured in a number of well-known films including Syriana and Munich. Marbella sounds like a cool place to live and work.

Mission
The school mission is to be recognized by international educators as a school that provides an outstanding international education that meets the needs of local and expat students.

Image: Erin Silversmith

Curriculum
GIS uses a modified British curriculum. Nursery students use the Foundation Stage Curriculum. Students in Year1 to Year 6 study the International Primary Curriculum. Students in Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) use a modified British curriculum to prepare for the IGCSE, AS and A Levels. GIS has an English as an Additional Language program.

Extracurricular Activities
A wide variety of activities are offered including animal welfare, arts and crafts, badminton, basketball, band, board games, Brownies, chess, computer club, cricket, book club, Model United Nations, orchestra and much more.

Technology
GIS has over 700 networked computers and several ICT and Design Technology labs. ICT classes are part of the regular curriculum and technology is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Professional Development
The school offers teachers professional development opportunities, but the school doesn’t don’t specify what these are on the website.

Employment
GIS is looking for teachers who: have strong interpersonal skills, are team players, are proactive in finding ways to improve their teaching practices, have a balanced set of personal and professional goals, are flexible and willing to accept change, have a background in student-centered learning environments, have a good sense of humor and have a strong IT background. The school website notes that they offer a competitive salary and benefits package that is particularly good for families.

Job openings for the primary and secondary teachers are listed online, and interested teachers can apply online, as well.

Mission
The school’s mission is to offer students a British-based international education that prepares students for becoming responsible global citizens by encouraging independence and a love of learning.

Facilities
CES is located in New Cairo just east of Cairo. The purpose-built campus has facilities that include playgrounds; light, air-conditioned classrooms; a sports hall; an Olympic-sized swimming pool; a football pitch; an all-weather track; a dance studio; basketball courts; play areas; 4 science labs; 2 music rooms; a design studio; and design and technology workshop; 2 libraries; 3 ICT suites; a theatre and a school doctor.

Curriculum
CES uses the English National Curriculum that is modified for use in an international setting. Students start with the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and progress through the English National Curriculum to the IGCSE at the end of Year 10 and then have a choice of taking A Levels or the IB Diploma Programme. CES offers the Arabic national curriculum for national students.

Extracurricular Activities
Cairo English School provides students with a variety of activities including dance, swimming, design technology, music, basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball, drama, science club and more. School sports teams compete with other schools in the area.

Technology
Most classrooms have interactive whiteboards and computers. CES has three ICT suites.

Professional Development
The school provides teachers with an annual PD allowance.

Employment
Teaching candidates need to have at least one year of experience as a full-time teacher, teaching certification, a Bachelor’s Degree, experience with the English National Curriculum, an enthusiasm for teaching and learning, flexibility, have strengths to add to the school in addition to their teaching skills, are team players and are committed to multiculturalism and internationalism. Candidates can apply by sending the school a CV, a Letter of Application, email addresses for three referees, and a recent passport size photo. Job openings are listed online.

A salary schedule is not listed online, but the website notes that salaries are tax free and are paid in GB Pounds. Benefits include an accommodation allowance, annual flights home, health insurance, an annual professional development allowance, a settling in allowance, tuition discount for dependents, a contribution to a pension plan, transport to and from school and an annual no absence bonus.

image: Hph

Curriculum
Dulwich College uses a modified English National Curriculum from Early Years through Year 9. Students in Years 10 and 11 use the IGCSE, and students in Years 12 and 13 use the IB Diploma Programme. The school has an English as an Additional Language program for students who need to develop their English language skills.

Extracurricular Activities
Teachers are required to sponsor after school activities. Dulwich College offers students a wide range of activities including music, drama, clubs and sports.

Technology
Dulwich College Suzhoul is a wireless Apple school. Classrooms have digital projectors and interactive whiteboards. In addition to an ICT suite. Dulwich College has a number of MacBook and Ipad carts. Technology is integrate throughout the curriculum.

Professional Development
The school financially supports professional development activities for the staff.

Employment
Most of the teachers at DCSZ are British, but the school also has teachers from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. The school hires specialist teachers in Design Technology, Mandarin, Music and PE.

Teaching candidates need to have a minimum of two years experience, a university degree and teaching certification. Job openings are listed online. A salary schedule is posted on the school website. Starting pay for teachers at Step 1 is approximately $29,000 net. The highest starting point on the schedule is Step 13, which pays approximately $44,000 net. Benefits include medical insurance, visa assistance, Western-style housing, shipping allowance, free tuition for dependents, annual airfare, annual relocation allowance, a one month gratuity at the end of the first two-year contract and additional pay for positions of responsibility.

About Suzhou
Suzhou is located on the Yangtze River and Lake Taihu in Jiangsu province. The city traces its roots back over 2500 years ago. It is the home of Wu culture.

The city has a humid subtropical climate. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters can be cold with snow, but more often cool with rain.

Suzhou is famous for its ancient architecture such as stone bridges, classical gardens and traditional pagodas. Suzhou is often called the “Oriental Venice.” Among the sites for the new resident to visit are: Xuanmiao Guan, Huqiu Temple, Shantang Canal, Yunyan Pagoda, the Gate of the Orient, and the Suzhou Museum.

The city has a GDP per capita of approximately US$15,000 that makes it one of the wealthiest cities in China. More laptops computers are built in Suzhou than in any other place in the world. Other industries are microchips, telecommunications, automobile parts and pharmaceuticals.

Suzhou has a number of Western bars, pubs and restaurants for the large expat population. The city also hosts several of the hypermarts like Carrefour so it is easy to shop for Western food items although your money will last longer if you shop in the traditional markets and eat local.