The number of schools offering international programs

The number of schools offering international programs continues to grow in the country's major cities, particularly in Jakarta.

The increase in the number of these world-class schools not only offers parents a wide range of options to provide high- quality education for their children, but also creates attractive job opportunities for would-be teachers.

Teaching at international schools, with students of different cultural backgrounds, can also be quite challenging. Are you are interested in this particular job?. If so, you need to get the answers to these questions (below) before applying for a job. These tips are part of many useful tidbits provided by International School Review on its website www.internationalschoolsreview.com

How does the director and the board of this international school treat the faculty?

Are administrative decisions that directly affect faculty and staff based on fair evaluations of a situation and with the academic integrity of the school and welfare of everyone in mind? Or, are the needs of faculty, staff and students neglected, with administrative decisions based strictly on a desire to make money? You will want to avoid the "for-profit" international schools that put you and education last and the owner's pocketbook first. This type of information about an international school is not usually spelled out in an interview.

What's the general attitude of the faculty at this international school ?

Is the faculty at the international school a cohesive group that works well together or is this international school a hotbed of gossip and back-stabbing? Working with a group of teachers that exchange ideas and move forward as a group can be the most rewarding experience of one's teaching career.

Getting stuck in a quagmire of people exercising their personal agendas can be the most frustrating experience. International schools have personalities that come out after you've been there for a while. Getting the inside word from teachers already there is information well worth having.

Is the international school an academic institution with high academic standards or is it made up of kids from wealthy families essentially paying for grades?

Getting trapped at an international school where everyone is supposed to get an "A" is a nightmare. If you are new to the international circuit, and find yourself at such a school it may come as a surprise the first time a very wealthy parent addresses you as a servant paid to provide high grades to their over- indulged and under-motivated child. Worse yet, the administration may support this parent. On the other hand, landing at an international school with high academic integrity and a motivated student body is a dream job.

Here the challenge becomes keeping the students challenged. What could be better? At such a school you grow professionally and get to experience the joys and satisfaction of teaching.

Is the director an educator, and therefore familiar with curriculum or is he/she essentially a business manager who has little interest in the academic functioning of the school?

Teaching at an international school where all effort goes into outward appearances with little energy focused on academic standards is frustrating at best! Beautifully painted buildings and well-kept grounds attract some parents, but are no substitute for a real international school.

On the other hand, when a qualified director takes an interest in what is happening in the classrooms and keeps their finger on the educational pulse of the school they can help to initiate and guide programming and motivate teachers and students alike. You will want to know what other teachers have to say about a school you are considering. Our international school reviews bring you that information.

What is the attitude of the local community towards foreigners?

Do you feel uneasy and somewhat threatened while out in the community, or are you at ease and able to relax and enjoy yourself? Are you endlessly harassed by people begging for money or can you efficiently go about your day as one of the crowd? Do the locals you meet get to know you because they actually take an interest in you, or are you just a trophy-friend for locals to flaunt? What is it like day-to-day in a particular living situation?

What is the level of technology at this international school?

Is there a decent connection to the internet and does it work on a regular basis? Does this international school have up-to- date equipment and software or is it masquerading as an international school with a computer program.

Beyond the implications this has for the students, the Internet is imperative for international teachers who want to keep in touch with family and friends and handle financial responsibilities such as banking and mortgage payments online. A poor connection that rarely works correctly can be unacceptable to many international teachers and this may not be revealed at the recruiting fair.

What is there to do on weekends and after school in the community?

Some communities host a variety of culturally interesting things to do while others offer absolutely nothing and you spend your weekends wishing it were Monday morning. For many people a culturally dead area can be worse than a sentence. In some locations you can do everything there is to do during your first weekend. Link -- www.internationalschoolsreview.com