Information for Members

How many comments are there in each of the 68 Comment Topics on ISC?

August 28, 2022

We have 66 comment topics on our website in 4 main categories: School Information, Benefits Information, City Information, and Travel Information.

ISC now has over 44800 comments that have been submitted on almost 1200 international schools from around the world. Basic and Premium Members can access all of these 44800 comments for free on our Browse All Comments page.

After almost 11 years since our inception of ISC, which of the 66 comment topics are our members submitting into the most? Take a look below at all of our comment topics with the total comments submitted in them at the end of each one. Some of our most popular topics that have over 1000 comments are related to: School building, Accreditation, Hiring policies, School location, Language abilities of the students, Kinds of teachers/staff, Salary, Housing, and Allowances.

School Information Comment Topics (25):

• Describe the different aspects of the school building and the school grounds. Also, describe the surrounding area around the campus. (1939 Comments)

• What types of accreditation does this school have? When is the accreditation up for renewal? Any religious affiliations? (1444 Comments)

• Recent things that the school has taken on (i.e. new curriculum, specific professional development, etc.). (1003 Comments) Back to School Initiatives and New Demands: Welcoming or Stressful?

• Describe their hiring policies and procedures. Share your interview experience. Any hiring restrictions? is there a particular curriculum experience required? How about single parents/number of dependents sponsored? (1780 Comments)

• 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? (1707 Comments)

• Are the expectations high of teaching staff? Are there extracurricular responsibilities? Describe workload details. (1019 Comments)

• Average class size for primary and secondary. Describe any aide support. (1067 Comments)

• Describe the language abilities of students at this school and what is the “common language spoken in the hallways”? Is there one dominant culture group? (1421 Comments)

• 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? (1482 Comments)

• What types of budgets do classroom teachers/departments get? (649 Comments) What type of classroom/department budget do you get at your international school?

• PARENTS ONLY – General comments from parents of students that go to this school. How was your child’s education and socialisation at the school? (232 Comments)

• What types of sports programs and activities does the school offer? (733 Comments)

• Name some special things about this school that makes it unique. (841 Comments)

• In general, describe the demeanor of the students. (738 Comments) How is the students’ behavior at your international school?

• Has the school met your expectations once you started working there? (461 Comments) Has Your International School Met Your Expectations Once You Started Working There?

• What does the school do to create a harmonious state of well-being and high morale amongst its staff? (546 Comments) Teacher well-being and high staff morale at int’l schools: How to get there.

• Describe the technologies available at the school and how people are/are not using them. (628 Comments) Which technologies are available at your international school and how are the staff using/not using them?

• Details about the current teacher appraisal process. (391 Comments) Has Your International School Appraised Their Teachers This School Year?

• Is the student population declining, staying the same or increasing? Give details why. (616 Comments) Student Populations at International Schools: Are they Increasing or Declining?

• How have certain things improved since you started working there? (315 Comments) How much are international schools actually improving themselves?

• How is this school different or the same when compared to schools in your home country? (239 Comments)

• What controversies have been happening lately? Please be objective. (405 Comments)

• What insider information would you give to a teacher considering working at this school? (572 Comments) What insider information would you give to a teacher considering working at your school?

• How much curriculum development work are you expected to do? (Atlas Rubicon, etc.) (369 Comments) How Much Curriculum Development Work are You Expected to Do? (Atlas Rubicon, etc.) • How did this school handle the COVID-19 situation? (71 Comments)

Benefits Information Comment Topics (20):

• Average monthly salary after taxes and in what currency (explain taxation situation). How often do you get paid throughout the year? (1572 Comments)

• Details about the staff housing or the housing allowance. If there is no housing allowance, how much are rent costs and utilities? (1570 Comments)

• Average amount of money that is left to be saved. Describe the survivability for a family of four on one salary. (858 Comments) How much can international teachers actually save?

• Detailed info about flight, shipping and settling-in allowances. Any other benefits (e.g. free lunches, etc.)? (1343 Comments)

• Health insurance and medical benefits. Describe your experiences using these benefits and going to the local hospitals. (1214 Comments) Using Health Insurance While Teaching Abroad: Delightful or Nightmare?

• Ways to make extra money (tutoring, after-school activities, etc.). (615 Comments)

• Information about benefits for teachers with dependents. Describe the childcare in the area. (914 Comments)

• Professional development allowance details. (704 Comments) What is the dream Professional Development model at an international school?

• Pension plan details. (747 Comments)

• Describe your experience bringing pets. (363 Comments) Allowed or no way: Bringing pets to another country

• Explain how salaries are decided (e.g. is there a pay schedule? extra step for masters degree? Annual pay raises? Bonuses?). (701 Comments)

• How do the school’s benefits compare to other international schools in the area/city? (462 Comments)

• How is the school calendar? Is there ample vacation time? (686 Comments) How is the school calendar at your international school? Is there ample vacation time?

• What are some things that you need to buy/pay for when you first arrive at the school that you didn’t know about beforehand? (379 Comments) Surprise Purchases You Need to Buy/Pay For When You First Arrive at Your New School

• Details about the maternity benefits of the host country and school. (211 Comments) Giving birth while teaching abroad: what are the maternity benefits like?

• What is the process of getting reimbursed for things? (261 Comments)

• Details about new teacher orientation. (320 Comments) What are some events your international school is planning during New Teacher Orientation? How Is The New Teacher Orientation at Your School?

• In general, why are people staying at or leaving this school? (497 Comments) Why Are People Staying at or Leaving Your International School?

• Details about the teaching contract. What important things should prospective teachers know about? (294 Comments)

• Information on trailing spouses. Can they work under spousal visa (also availability of work) or is it possible to live only on one salary? (164 Comments)

City Information Comment Topics (17)

• Name your favorite restaurants, favorite places to go to and favorite things to do in the city. (826 Comments) Favorite Restaurants, Places to Go to and Things to Do in Your Host Country

• Locations in the city geared towards the expat lifestyle (grocery stores, bars, etc.). (659 Comments)

• Sample prices for food, transportation, average hourly rates for a housekeeper, etc. (654 Comments)

• Detailed info about lifestyles: singles vs. couples, gay vs. straight, nightlife vs. quiet and big city vs nature. (525 Comments)

• Languages of the host city and the level of English spoken there. (663 Comments)

• Sample activities that you can do around the city? Including ones that you can do with a family (children)? (492 Comments)

• Describe the city’s weather at different times of the year. (697 Comments) Which type of climate do you ideally look for when living abroad?

• Places, markets and stores where you can find really good deals. (341 Comments)

• Describe a funny culture shock moment that you’ve had recently in this city. (168 Comments)

• Where did the school take you in the city when you first arrived? What were some staff outings/party locations? (243 Comments)

• What is the best part of living in this city for you? (358 Comments) What is the best part of living in your host city?

• What advice can you give on how to set things up like internet, phone, experience dealing with landlord, etc.? (308 Comments)

• Tell your experience moving your items to this city. What company, insurance policy, etc. did you use? (121 Comments)

• Tell about your experience with the local banks and dealing with multiple currencies. (310 Comments)

• What are some locals customs (regarding eating, drinking and going out, family, socializing, etc.) that you find interesting for expats to know about? (200 Comments)

• Tell about your experiences in the local grocery stores. What can you get or cannot get? Which ones are your favorites. (266 Comments)

• What is the most challenging/difficult part of living in the city? (332 Comments) • How progressive is the city with regards to recycling? (41 Comments) How Progressive is your Host Country with Regards to Recycling? • What is the process of getting a work permit for this country, to get permanent residence and also to get citizenship (is dual citizenship even allowed?)? (10 Comments)

Travel Information Comment Topics (6):

• Sample travel airfares from host city airport to destinations nearby. (539 Comments) How Much Do Flights Actually Cost from Various Cities Around the World?

• Describe proximity of major airport hubs to the city center and give sample taxi, train, subway and/or bus fares to get there. (641 Comments)

• Popular travel websites to buy plane tickets or tours that are popular for expats living in the city and/or country. (347 Comments)

• Places to travel to outside the city by bus or train. (599 Comments)

• Are there many teachers that travel during the holidays? Where are they going? (442 Comments)

• What are the airports like in this city? (arriving, departing, shopping, customs, etc.) (459 Comments)

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Information for Members

Every member has FREE access to ALL comments on ISC: The ‘Browse All Comments’ page! (UPDATE)

October 17, 2021

Sometimes it is fun to just see what life is like at all the international schools in the world.  Even if you don’t have the slightest interest in working at a specific international school or in a specific place in the world, you still might be curious to see what the benefits there are (for example).  Maybe you are curious about how the weather is there or what the city life is like.  We are also always curious to know what it is like to work at the school itself and how the campus really is.

In turn, the ‘Browse All Comments‘ page.

Right now we have a total of 42002 comments and information on 1184+ international schools listed on our website (out of a total of 2221 schools listed).

There are four comment sections on each school profile pages:

• School Information – Total Comments = 19481 (up 2369 comments from June 2020)
• Benefits Information – Total Comments = 13061 (up 1678 comments from June 2020)
• City Information – Total Comments = 6695 (up 895 comments from June 2020)
• Travel Information – Total Comments = 2765 (up 316 comments from June 2020)

Want to see all these comments in ONE spot?  Now you can!

The ‘Browse All Comments‘ homepage will always be a random selection of 12 comments from our database of school profile comments.  To view the next 12 comments, just click on the ‘Browse next 12 comments’ button.  Continue clicking on that button to view all 42002+ comments on our website!

Have fun taking a look at all the comments and information that have been submitted by our over 22376 members.

Who knows? Maybe you will see a useful and/or interesting comment that will catch your attention.  If you find one, just click on the school’s name to go to its profile page where you can read even more comments that have been submitted on that school (available to premium members only).

Maybe you will be so interested that you will take a look at the school’s website and find a position vacancy that fits you perfectly.  We can only dream that would happen to us (never too soon to start networking for your next position)!

What are you waiting for then? Browse away!

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ISCommunity Milestones

Uh-Oh, We Just Passed 15000 Comments!

November 10, 2015

It is hard to imagine that our website now has over 15000 comments!

Here is a bit of history about how many comments that we have had on our website since our website started back in January 2011:

0 Comments – January 2011
71 Comments – May 2011
939 Comments – September 2011

2147 Comments – January 2012
4578 Comments – May 2012
5965 Comments – September 2012

6767 Comments – January 2013
8004 Comments – May 2013
9109 Comments – September 2013

10018 Comments – January 2014
10689 Comments – May 2014
11455 Comments – Sept 2014

12981 Comments – Feb 2015
15023 Comments – Nov 2015

We would like to formally thank our community of members (now at over 6500!) for submitting all of the comments on our website.  The more comments there are, the more informed our members will be.  Being well-informed is especially important when you are recruiting and really needing to know specific information about the international schools you are considering. International School Community’s goal is to be the ‘go-to’ website for international school teachers!

Want to view all these 15000+ comments?  Check out our Browse All Comments page (viewable by basic and premium members).

Got a few minutes, login to our website today and submit some comments about the schools you know about! For every 10 comments you submit, one free month of premium membership will be added to your account!

Are you an international school teacher that wants to submit some comments but currently don’t have premium membership?  Consider being a Mayor of a school you know about.  Check out the details here.  All Mayors get unlimited premium membership to our website!

We definitely would like to thank all of our current Mayors for their role in helping us get to 15000+ total comments on our website.

Celebrate!

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