International School Community Blog

Our new blog series will review the most informed member-submitted comments from a specific month. This article looks at the ones submitted in November 2024.

We ask our members to submit detailed and useful comments. With these informative comments submitted to our 71 comment topics about each school, ISC is the place to go to get the information you want fast!

So here is the list for November 2024 that we thought stuck out as the most informative comments:

Describe their hiring policies and procedures.

“The school is one of the few places in Asia/SE Asia that does not have age restrictions on the teachers they hire. Several faculty are in their late 60’s, and a few have probably seen more than 70. The result of this is an older faculty with a great deal of experience. The school is also wise to hire older instructors as the political situation means all night life shuts down WAAAY early, and food delivery after 5:30pm is basically impossible…”

Ayeyarwaddy International School (87 total comments) in Mandalay, Myanmar

Recent things that the school has taken on (i.e. new curriculum, specific professional development, etc.).

“We are in the third year of offering the IB Diploma. This complements our AP course offerings as well as the general pathway students can access. These options for students allow for a multitude of options in terms of university applications…”

American School of Bangkok (Green Valley) (47 total comments) in Bangkok, Thailand

Describe the language abilities of students at this school and what is the “common language spoken in the hallways”. Is there one dominant cultural group?

“Sunway International School, KL, has a culturally rich and diverse student body, with most students coming from nearby Asian countries. Mandarin-speaking students make up the dominant cultural group, though English is the primary language of instruction and commonly spoken in the hallways. Around 80% of the 1,100 students speak English as an additional language, adding to the school’s multilingual environment. Children of expatriate teachers from English-speaking countries like Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the United States contribute further to this diversity, while families from regions like Eastern Europe also enhance the school’s global community…”

Sunway International School (Kuala Lumpur) (31 total comments) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Average monthly salary after taxes and in what currency (explain taxation situation). How often do you get paid throughout the year?

“Salary differs based upon experience, educational level, and position.
No maximum number of years of previous experience limiting salary
Fully paid in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Local Taxes paid by the school…”

Sekolah Pelita Harapan (45 total comments) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Describe what kinds of teachers work here (local vs. expat, qualifications [or lack there of], etc.) and staff turnover rate. Is there a native English speaker or nationality requirement? Is it LGBT friendly country/school?

“Very, very few truly international teachers. It’s a very Cypriot faculty. And they try to say it’s an international staff, but in reality they are considering foreign-born teachers who have been working at the school for a couple decades, married local and aren’t involved in the expat community…”

American International School in Cyprus (33 total comments) in Nicosia, Cyprus

What advice can you give on how to set things up like internet, phone, experience dealing with landlord, etc.?

“The school helps with all of these things – most teachers arrive to all utilities set up, and landlord negotiations figured out. (If they have picked where they want to live before they arrive)
Sometimes repairs are delayed – it always takes longer to fix something that you expect…”

Colegio Jorge Washington Cartagena (43 total comments) in Cartagena, Colombia

Detailed info about lifestyles: singles vs. couples, gay vs. straight, nightlife vs. quiet and big city vs nature.

“As with any big city it depends what you want to do. There are a good many clubs both sporting and otherwise that one can join. Life can be lonely if you live to work so I would advise going out and meeting real people rather than internet dating stuff as my female friends tell me that they receive a lot of unwanted pictures…”

Regents School Bangkok (57 total comments) in Bangkok, Thailand

Health insurance and medical benefits. Describe your experiences using these benefits and going to the local hospitals.

“Tiecare worldwide health insurance is currently being used. 10% co-insurance. Does not cover birth control, dental, nor vision…”

Branksome Hall Asia (180 total comments) in Jeju-do, South Korea

What controversies have been happening lately? Please be objective.

“Staff did not receive their annual index point pay rise due to the school struggling financially.
The procedure for claiming for PD changed, narrowing the time to apply for the reimbursement and adding a clause to say you must pay back all or 50% if you leave 1 or two years after the reimbursement…”

Lycee Francais de Shanghai (55 total comments) in Shanghai, China

Describe the school’s location in relation to the city center and to the teacher’s housing. How do staff get to school before and after school?

“Single faculty housing is a studio apartment: bed, desk, 2 straight back chairs, kitchen sink, small counter space with a single burner portable stove, and a bathroom. The window view depends on which building and side you are on – some have views of the city, some have views of the next building. Couples housing is significantly larger. All international faculty must live on campus. A couple of nice perks come with the housing: housekeeping cleans the apartment once a week and washes, irons, and folds laundry the same day, all for no charge…”

Ayeyarwaddy International School (87 total comments) in Mandalay, Myanmar