In this blog series, we will talk about the ins and outs of an excellent new teacher orientation programme at an international school. A new teacher orientation programme can really play a very important part to the start at your new school, in your new host country. What are all the must-haves then? Check out our blog series here to read all about the ones that we have discussed so far.
Must-have #10: Getting access to the internet AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!
You arrive in a new country, and things are just crazy for you; everything is crazy. Living in your new apartment or house without any internet access set-up is probably going to get you to the tipping point of your new-teacher craziness.
Please, schools (the ones that help teachers find apartments or have new teachers move into school-owned housing), the best thing you can do to help out your new staff is to think ahead and somehow get the internet set up in their houses…before they arrive or VERY soon after they arrive.
Well, we cannot say that having the internet is more important than clean drinking water or getting running electricity to your place, but it is definitely in the top five things that you would most like to have set up immediately after your arrival.
Getting the internet set up in another country can go very smoothly in some more developed countries where you can speak the local language, but getting the internet set up on your own, in a country where you don’t speak the local language, can prove to be one of the most stressful moments for you after your arrival. Maybe the internet company has an employee who can speak English for you, but their English might not be at the fluent level that you are desiring!
Let’s not forget, though, how much trouble there can be trying to get the internet set up in your home country. Things can be less than ideal there as well, and it can take weeks sometimes.
If only somehow international schools could help out their new expat teachers just a tiny bit more with regards to their forthcoming internet crisis. The solution is simple: somebody in charge of new teacher orientation gets access to the new teacher’s flat and, after calling the local phone/internet company, gets the internet all set up and ready before the teacher arrives. That solution doesn’t seem to be happening, though, at most placements. Another solution is to set up a time that a local employee at the school can help call the phone/internet company for you to set up the time for them to come to your house (of course, in the local language!).
Once your internet is finally set up, at least some of your stress will be alleviated. Then you can finally check your email, contact your friends and family, download your favorite home country TV programs, and get updated and post an update on Facebook (unless you are in China, that is, without VPN access!)
Hopefully, too, you are living in a country where they are known for having very fast internet! If you find that your internet is very slow, don’t forget to ask your phone/internet company about the specifics of their package options. In some countries there is actually an option to pay more for faster internet. Better to know that sooner than later, after a year or so of torturing yourself (and unfortunately getting used to) with slow internet.
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So, does your international school help new teachers get access to the internet AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!? Please share your experiences!
