Top three photos for Best Funny Sign in your Host Country: And the winners of this photo contest are…

We’re happy to announce the winners of our Sixth Photo Contest (Best Funny Sign in your Host Country).

First Place: Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China.

“This is a sign in the rest room at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. The Temple of Heaven is the symbol of Beijing. You would think they could find a better translation. My favorite line: ‘Urinating into the pool you are the best’.”

Templeofheaven

Congratulations Debby Lyttle (an international teacher working at Tsinghua International School (Beijing) (Beijing, China).

Prize awarded: Premium membership for TWO YEARS on our website!

Second Place: Sign in Bangkok taxi.

“This “No Farting” sign was stuck to the dashboard of my taxi in Bangkok, Thailand.”

12045249_10153030448721587_2153566429709310547_o

Congratulations Steve Landvatter!

Prize awarded: Premium membership for ONE YEAR on our website!

Third Place: Tank sign in Switzerland

“Careful how fast you drive your tanks on that road. In a small mountain road in Switzerland …such a peaceful country…”

agecibag.

Congratulations Roger Marin!

Prize awarded: Premium membership for SIX MONTHS on our website!

Thanks to everyone who participated!  We have awarded everyone else ONE WEEK of premium membership for participating in this photo contest.

PicMonkey Collage

Stay tuned for our next photo contest which will happen sometime during the next 2-3 months. Check out our previous Photo Contests here.

New Survey: When starting your job search, what is your first priority in deciding where to go?

A new survey has arrived!

Topic:  When starting your job search, what is your first priority in deciding where to go?

Screenshot 2015-09-17 21.10.17 5576597630_7d91f013ca_z

We tell the international school that we are interviewing with one thing, while in the back of our head we maybe are thinking of another.

So, which things are we then thinking about?

International school teachers have many things on their mind while recruiting, and it is smart thinking to be honest with yourself. Typically, each person sets their own goal; one they feel strongly about.  Stick to this goal (and achieve it!) and your next international school teaching position will likely be a good experience for you.

It is very possible that your goal is to work at a specific, top-tier international school. For these teachers, career and work-life is a high priority, and they’ll potentially sacrifice other factors (location, weather, etc.) to work at their favorite school; that is hopefully a perfect match for them.

Others have a goal to be living in a specific part of the world for their next international school teaching position. Whether it is to be closer to family and friends (or a lover), location is a super high priority and seeking out and contacting schools in that area will be their first step in their job search.

5899676716_ff0d235315_zThere are other international school teachers though that have money on their minds. There are a number of international school teachers that want the best salary and benefits packages on offer in our international school community, and these teachers know which schools are paying the most. Saving money and paying off mortgages and loans back home is a top priority for many recruiting teachers.

Of course, priorities can change during your job search, and there might be 2-3 top priorities that have equal value. Additionally, when a good opportunity comes up (one that doesn’t necessary meet your first priority goal), it is usually a good idea to be open-minded and take a chance.  As a good rule of thumb, many times these “schools that weren’t on your radar” can turn out to be just what you were looking for!

Because teachers recruiting are so varied and are in all kinds of situations, take a moment to go to the homepage of International School Community and submit your vote today!  What goal are you making your first priority this recruitment season?

Check out the latest voting results here.

*************************************

We actually have a blog category related this to question if the answer to the new survey question for you was school. The blog category is called: 12 Tips for Selecting an International School

Here are all the tips:
• Selecting an international school: Tip #1 – Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of local and international school systems. Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #2 – Location: Is the school conveniently located? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #3 – Vision: What is the vision that is expressed by the school head or officials? Is it consistent with the actual operation of the school?  Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #4 – Is the school accredited? If so, by what international and local bodies? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #5 – Does the school have a clear primary language of instruction? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #6 – How well is the school linked to other international schools? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #7 – Does the school feature a curriculum that is consistent with your future plans? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #8 – Are the teachers fully qualified? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #9 – Does the international school properly deal with disciplinary problems? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #10 – Does the school facilitate learning about the host country?  Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #11 – Does the school provide or have access to qualified teachers who cater to students with special needs? Read Article

• Selecting an international school: Tip #12 – Is the school parent-friendly? Read Article

New Photo Contest: Best Funny Sign in your Host Country (All entries win free premium membership!)

One of the best parts of living abroad is running into a funny sign in your host country: maybe you see one on a day trip out into the countryside, while you are going out to a restaurant in the downtown area, having a walk around the main tourist area of your city, or even at the international school itself at which you are currently working.

Each country has their own unique signs that catch your attention as a little bit strange and a little bit funny; most likely a sign that you would never see up in your home country…though our home countries have many of their own funny signs!

So, what funny signs have you seen so far in your home country?  Submit your photo to us and enter our photo contest!

11223996_10156095386530790_2478493406058168243_n
Quiet section sign on a train in Denmark

Photo contest topic:
Your best funny sign shot from one of your explorations around your host country.

The PRIZES:
1st prize: 2 YEARS FREE of premium membership
2nd prize: 1 YEAR FREE of premium membership
3rd prize: 6 MONTHS FREE of premium membership

(Those submissions that are not in the top three will receive 1 free week of premium membership for just participating.)

Send your photo to editor@internationalschoolcommunity.com. Please remember to:

• Write your name and email address
• Attach your picture and write a short description about it
• Enter these words in your subject: International School Community Photo Contest Entry: Funny Sign

or

Tweet the photo and mention our profile @IS_Community to make sure we will see it. If you are on Instagram, use the official hashtag #iscommunityphoto

(Deadline to submit your photo: 27 September, 2015. Maximum one photo per contestant.)

Check out our previous Photo Contests here.