Teachanywhere heads to Qatar!

Notes from the General Manager by Diane Jacoutot

I was presenting at a conference this week – IPSEF – which is the International and Private Schools Education Foundation and it was quite fascinating to chat with many of the movers and shakers of the international world. Lots of CEO types there. There seems to be quite a lot of activity going on in certain regions such as Saudi Arabia (South Africans with degrees are welcome!), Hong Kong (but the international market is hamstrung there – there’s a huge need for schools but no land to build them on. Stalemate.),China, Qatar and the UAE.  And surprisingly whispers about Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan!  Some tidbits I picked up are below:

•     The number of international schools grew 5.5% last year, down from 7% in 2010. But this figure only counts the number of new physical schools and is misleading because many more schools added capacity so the number of teachers needed was higher than this. It also doesn’t count the large number of state schools notably in Abu Dhabi and China that are opening bilingual streams. Not bad in any case when most of our countries are bordering on negative growth and making teachers redundant left and right.

• -          There is lots of interest in the Far East and continued interest in the Middle East. I met two schools groups from Saudi who were clamouring for teachers for instance

•         Lots of established UK private schools are toying with the idea of building new schools abroad. Not sure if this is because “everyone’s doing it so it must be a good idea” or because they have realised the UK market is stagnant. But there are significant risks as they don’t know what they don’t know, so to speak.

This activity is reflected in the jobs you see on this mailer – lots of stuff going on in all parts of Asia – from the Middle East to China and everywhere in between. If you want to teach abroad and go someplace vibrant, optimistic and growing you can do no better than these.

From tomorrow Teachanywhere will be pretty thin on the ground for a week as we will be in our yearly meeting. This year it’s in Qatar – an area of much opportunity and growth but an area that has been less popular than Dubai and Abu Dhabi because it’s less well known.  So we hope to get to know it.

We will be strategising, learning and of course going on school visits to see first-hand the schools and environments in which our teachers work and also having our teacher party at the Irish pub in Qatar.  I don’t believe any other recruitment company in the world goes to these lengths of bringing the recruiters en masse to schools abroad and it’s something that makes us well qualified to give advice about what kinds of schools are suited to you and what you can expect. Obviously with almost 6000 international schools in the world it’s impossible for all of us to visit them all but I feel that by seeing a range of schools in one country each year, we will be better able to bridge our knowledge when our Business Development Managers who do visit many schools (and are responsible for the video visit reports you are now seeing) explain them to us. 

I suppose this is why I’m so passionate about the service we provide and why I get annoyed when we are lumped into the same category as other recruitment companies who simply hire a person or two,  give them a desk and a phone and tell them to crack on. How can they know what they are doing?  It’s scary. Not only are we the only agency to have a school facing team actually located in the Middle East and Far East/SE Asia, but we actually have the whole company visit schools. Sending my worldwide recruitment team to the Middle East is not cheap, and it’s not trivial, but I think at the end of the day it will allow you to get better information and advice from us, and will allow our schools to get teachers who are better suited to their environment.

So we will have a skeleton crew on the ground next week – Bryan in North America, Rachel in the UK and Jacki in Dubai. The team will be checking their emails occasionally but I do keep them very busy during the annual meeting (with only one time a year to get together I think we need to make the most of every minute!) so if your question is not pressing, please give them until Monday next to respond.  And you will have to wait for Monday week for your next mailer.

Meet The Teachanywhere Team

In our Continuing "Meet the Teachananywhere Team" series, may I introduce Amanda Gillam, Account Manager for Middle East Schools.   Amanda has been with Teachanywhere for 4 glorious years.  Find out what she has to say about Teaching Abroad......

1.        What made you want to work as an International teaching Recruitment Consultant?  –

It was a great opportunity to join a small developing company which provides teachers with the opportunity to relocate overseas.

2.        Have you taught overseas or travelled yourself?

I am not a teacher but I have travelled extensively.  I lived in Nigeria as a child and spent the last 5 years in the Middle East living in Sharjah (UAE) and Bahrain. I have also travelled extensively for holidays and work including exploring the UAE – Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and RAK and AL Ain other locations visited include Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Oman, Egypt and China and the Seychelles.

3.       What do you love about your job?

Working with both local Arabic and Western educators, the diversity and understanding of the different cultures makes everyday interesting. There is such a wide range of schools to suit everyone’s expectation from the basic local government funded school to a 5 star international schools.

4.       In your experience, what are the attributes which best befit the most successful international teacher?

Flexibility, Adaptability, Patience, Open minded Teachers.

5.       What are some of the repeat difficulties you come across when recruiting teachers for International schools?

Managing teacher’s expectations of both the school and accommodation

Some schools can be very basic and local culture dictates there can be different values when it comes to education. The majority are privately owned so costs can be kept to a minimum as a result teachers are expected to be very resourceful and creative in their teaching techniques.

Accommodation can be a very sensitive issue and from personal experience I know it can sometimes be difficult to find or settle in accommodation you wouldn’t personally choose, having said that, hard and soft furnishings are cheap and readily available so a home is what you make of it.

6.       What location that might not spring to mind for teachers would you recommend and why?

Definitely Fujairah, it is a very relaxed environment, with a cheap cost of living and offers a low key social life for expats. It is perfect for teachers who want to focus on school life during term time and enjoy the costal location with snorkelling and diving opportunities but also being so close to Dubai ( 2hours drive) enables you to visit for weekends or public holidays to enjoy the cosmopolitan city life.

7.       What 3 top tips would you give to teachers seeking international teaching roles?

Understand the diversity in school type and research which would suit you best.

What are your motivating factors?  - What do you want from your experience?

Make sure your CV sells you! – It is a competitive environment, you have to stand out!

8.       Why should a teacher sign up with Teachanywhere?

We offer a personalised, tailored approach to both our schools and teachers to ensure we understand both parties’ expectations which enables us to make the best fit when matching teacher and employer together.

We provide comprehensive reports from firsthand experience from our team visiting schools and teacher feedback.

We follow up post contract to ensure documentation is complete and travel arrangements are organised and once at school we keep in touch to see how teachers are settling in.

Finding the RIGHT International Teaching post for YOU

Notes from the General Manager by Diane Jacoutot

Arrivederci Berlusconi

This week the news was dominated by Europe.  There is a fear that if Greece and then Italy fall the Eurozone could dissemble and then all the people holding fistfuls of credit notes in euro currency might look down and see wads of worthless paper.   This is bad news for pretty much everyone if it happens. Let’s hope not.

Getting rid of Berlusconi was a good first step.  I hope I don’t insult any of our Italian readers, but I suspect that if we looked up the word ‘buffoon’ in our respective dictionaries we would see his photograph nearby. A man who thinks bunga bunga parties are more important than national productivity is not suited to hold public office, in my book. He should be applying for a place on the next Celebrity Big Brother rather than trying to run a country in the midst of an economic crisis. It’s not a surprise that the world breathed a huge collective sigh of relief at the arrival of Super Mario. Here’s hoping!

The leader of a school, like the leader of a country, can have a huge effect on its ethos and direction.  There are so many different leadership styles and so many different leadership environments that you cannot say there’s a right or wrong way to run a school.  Each school requires a different style and skill set.

Teachers looking for jobs abroad are entering into a minefield in many ways, trying to judge a school by an interview with the Head Teacher (Principal) which might last all of 30 minutes and then trying to determine what the ethos and leadership style of the school they are entering will be and if it will suit them is difficult. 

There’s a particular school in Dubai that springs to mind. Its website is fabulous and the premises are lovely...but the owner and the owner’s family are anything but wonderful. They seem to go through a Head Teacher every 6 months or year but at interview the owner is the most endearing guy.  Each Head and member of staff is told the same story – that it’s the previous Head’s fault and they have the power to make everything right. Which they set out to do. Until they too get the sack.  It’s obviously a school we don’t work with- but it shows that sometimes even with the best Principal or Head Teacher, the leadership of the school can be hamstrung by an interfering owner. It’s a minefield out there.  There’s no way to really know except by experience.

Because Teachanywhere has been at this for many years, we thankfully have insights into these situations which are fluidly changing every year. We depend on feedback from teachers and school leaders on our books and thankfully, due to our size and breadth, it  is nicely extensive. 

What are some warning signs for teachers?  They are not foolproof but here’s a few things that might throw up red flags and make you ask questions:

-          Constant advertising for teacher posts all year, every year. This can be a sign of growth but it can also be a sign of high staff turnover.

-          Consider how you are treated up to the point of interview. Is it a smooth, clearly defined, organised and considered process? If so, the school is more likely to be well organised and efficient.

-          If you see anything untoward about the school during your research, ask the school about it. If they blame ‘the other guy’ or don’t seem to have good answers (or worse, get offended by you having done your research) think twice. A good school will be aware of their reputation and will have ready and believable answers to any objections you might have.  Every school has challenges, but a good school faces them head on and fixes them. A poor school blames a particular person (usually the ex-head) and papers over the cracks.

-          Frequent changes in Leadership are often a sign of trouble. See if you can find out how long the Head /Principal has been in place. Some of the more infamous schools abroad change their leadership every 6 months or every year.  (One very very infamous school in west Africa barricaded their fleeing Principal in the school and he was forced to call the British Embassy to rescue him by helicopter!) Whilst longevity is not always the sign of good leadership, 5 leadership changes in 4 years usually indicates something is structurally wrong ... usually an owner problem.. but they will be the last to admit that. The average international headship lasts 2 years, but in a decent and well run international school, 3 or more years on average is more typical.

Good leadership is critical, if leaders are allowed to lead. Think about what leadership style suits you and think about some good questions to ferret this out.  Feel free to ask your TA consultant about a job that seems too good to be true.

It very well might be.....

Meet The Teachanywhere Team

Welcome to the first in the series of our "Meet The Teachanywhere Team" where members of the team face a mini interview which we hope will help you to get to know us and what we do here at Teachanywhere a little bit better..... 

First up is Lisa Davenport.  Lisa is the UK team's Senior Recruiter.  Lisa works with a huge number of teachers to help them realise their dreams of an international teaching career and has been with the company for two very successful years..... 

  

1.        What made you want to work as an International teaching Recruitment Consultant?

I was working as a teacher and wanted to try something new whilst still staying involved in education, which I am passionate about.

2.        Have you taught overseas or travelled yourself?

Yes, I went to Spain to complete my Trinity TEFL qualification and stayed there for two years teaching. I then taught a further year in South Korea.

3.       What do you love about your job?

I love helping people with the first steps towards an incredible international experience, as I myself had.

4.       In your experience, what are the attributes which best befit the most successful international teacher?

Absolutely a positive, flexible attitude. Things are never quite as you imagined they would be or the same as at home so the ability to laugh off the frustrating and adapt is essential.

5.       What are some of the repeat difficulties you come across when recruiting teachers for International schools?

Often people have unrealistic expectations of salary for teaching abroad. Whilst overall the package offered will probably offer you a much more comfortable lifestyle than at home you will not earn double your salary tax free abroad.

Lots of teachers will know about certain locations through popularity or word of mouth but have done very little research themselves. Dubai for example is incredibly popular at the moment, everyone seems to know someone teaching there. Often I will ask teachers where they want to go? Dubai they answer. However when prompted what appeals to them about Dubai they know very little about it, answering “I have heard it is good”. I really recommend everyone do as much of their own research as possible. We can guide you to consider locations, as can friends but what suits one person will not always suit another.

6.       What location that might not spring to mind for teachers would you recommend and why?

Kuwait. Before starting this job it was a location I certainly knew very little about. It is also the location that often people consider as a backup location (to say Dubai for example). However since I have started this job it has consistently been the location I have received the best feedback about. Also it has proved to have the highest rate of teacher deciding to stay on once their contract is finished. Kuwait has a nice combination of Middle East meets West so that people can feel comfortable and not too alienated there whilst still having a cultural experience. But more importantly there is a huge expat community there with a large number of social clubs (sports, drama etc.) so it easy to make friends and get involved any way you want to.

7.       What 3 top tips would you give to teachers seeking international teaching roles?

1.       Do your research. A good place to start is on our website, there is so much information on different locations, things to consider giving you a good basis of knowledge ready to discuss your options with a consultant in more detail.

2.       Think about why you want to go abroad. If you are just going to get rich in the sun and do some travelling, perhaps think again. International schools have high expectations for their students and teachers; you will play hard I’m sure, but work even harder.

3.       Be open-minded. We are consultants, meaning we truly try to advise you on the best options given your personal and professional circumstances. If we suggest a location or school outside what you asked us to look for there is usually a good reason, at least give it some serious thought even if your final decision is in fact no.

8.       Why should a teacher sign up with Teachanywhere?

As you will see the teachanywhere staff is very international, most of us have lived and worked abroad at some time. So we can offer you not only professional advice but also personal from our experiences of living abroad which I believe makes all the difference. Plus, it’s free so there is not much to lose in hearing what we have to suggest! ; )

Teaching Abroad: The Magnetism Effect

Teachanywhere took some jobs in this week in Kazakhstan. It’s one of those rare countries that I know absolutely nothing about. Well, I know sort of where it is – with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia and a part of the former Soviet Union -  but other than that , nada.

My first reaction was “Oh, I’d love to go there to find out more, I bet it’s great”, and it occurred to me that when confronted with something unknown my first reaction is to jump in.  I’m attracted. Yet there are other people whose first reaction would clearly be to step backwards and say “Oh, I don’t know anything about it, no thanks. Sounds weird”.  In this way, people and places are like magnets – two magnets together will either attract each other and stick like glue, or they can repel each other and you really can’t get them to touch. I remember playing with magnets when I was a child- fascinated by this property.  Still am.

 I find most people drawn to international education are the magnets that attract and are drawn to the unknown and then together and many people who truly want to stay at home are not – the familiar draws them in and the unfamiliar repels them.  I wish we had a test for this – which kind of magnet are you?  I’d be able to retire with a handsome pension to someplace exotic.

For your information upon investigation (because I started this so I’m going to finish it) Kazakhstan is an amazing country – the 9^th largest country in the world and very economically advanced. It’s landlocked but with a border on the Caspian Sea and has beautiful mountains, canyons that look quite Grand Canyon-y modern cities and vast steppes. It’s huge – the size of all of western Europe and there are a number of diverse ethnic groups living happily together. Kazakhs are known for their horsemanship. The Lonely Planet says;

Kazakhstan presents an array of surprising adventures. You can trek on foot or horse in the spectacular Tian Shan or Altay Mountains, watch flamingos on steppe lakes or discover mysterious underground mosques near the Caspian Sea. Community ecotourism programmes in some of the most beautiful areas enable travellers to stay with village families at affordable cost.

With travellers still rare here, a foreign guest is usually treated not as just another tourist but with real hospitality, and locals will often go out of their way to help you. Enjoy it while it lasts!

 (I want to go! And why have I never heard of it?)

If you are reading this newsletter, chances are you are an attracting magnet – pulled by the mystery of living in a place you have not lived in before and meeting people from a culture you’ve not grown up in.  And what you find when you get there is that the other expats in your school are similarly like minded.  We heard from some teachers in Kuwait last week that they were organising a visit over the upcoming Eid holidays to Sri Lanka – and what was amazing is that we heard this from several different teachers we placed at different schools in Kuwait so it appears that like magnets, they were drawn to each other.  (Either that or some enterprising travel agent in Kuwait was offering a really good deal to teachers wanting to go to Sri Lanka but I think the former is more likely).   I shouldn’t be surprised, really, because the more unusual the location is, the more outgoing and adventurous the teachers who are pulled to it so the more likely they will be more strongly drawn together for more fun and adventure when they arrive.

So welcome to the club – the club of people who want to go abroad. The club of people whose magnetic orientation pulls them into the unknown.  I can assure you that no matter where you end up – if it’s Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Korea or China – you are sure to find some lifelong very magnetic new friends to share your adventures.

By, Diane Jacoutot; General Manager:  Teachanywhere