Our new blog series will review the most informed member-submitted comments from a specific month. This article looks at the ones submitted in March 2025.
We ask our members to submit detailed and valuable comments. With these informative comments submitted to our 73 comment topics about each school, ISC is the place to get the information you want fast!
So here is the list for March 2025 that we thought stuck out as the most informative comments:
What is the most challenging/difficult part of living in the city?
“The ‘smokey season’ which can last for greater or lesser periods each year from January-May consists of days and weeks on end when the air quality index is above 150 USAQI. The children spend weeks on end cooped up in air-purified classrooms and halls as the air is too toxic for them to go outside…”
“I found a company that organized transport for my large dog. They connected a kennel in the country I was moving from to a kennel in Laos. The kennel in Laos drove to Thailand to pick our dog up from the airport and drove him back outside of his crate so that he would be more comfortable…”
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?
“Teachers are all expats I think, a lot of the support staff are qualified teachers in the Philippines but prefer to work as a learning assistant as the benefits and working conditions are better at the school than in local schools. LGBT friendly in school, a bit more complex outside, there’s a huge and active LGBT community but many still hide it from their more conservative church-going families…”
Details about the maternity benefits of the host country and school.
“The school offers the minimum that the country offers – 16 weeks for the birth giving person. The parter gets 2 weeks. Adoption leave is also 2 weeks. The health insurance covers everything for pregnancy and birth – it’s entirely free and very high quality care and treatment. You can have a weekly scan if you wish but the standard is monthly which is still much better than back home. You then get 16 free visits from a midwife to your home after the birth to support you and your new baby…”
Are the expectations high of teaching staff? Are there extra curricular responsibilities? Describe workload details.
“Workload fluctuates throughout the year. There are at least 2 parent-teacher meetings in the academic year. Disciplinary matters can add to the stress as different children have different needs. This means filling out details on line and speaking to parents as need be. Exam season is busy with invigilations…”
What are the airports like in this city? (arriving, departing, shopping, customs, etc.)
“The international airport can be hit and miss, sometimes it can be a breeze to check in and security is quick, other days it can be a nightmare with lines out the door of the airport just waiting for check-in and security. Always err on the side of caution and turn up early for your flight…”
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?
“The school is committed to hiring foreign teachers. There are mostly single teachers with no dependents. The interview experience was straightforward and moved pretty quickly. An offer was made, and I had about a week to decide if I would accept. Teachers with no IB experience are frequently hired. It is a great place to get your foot in the door with the IB program and gain valuable experience…”
Tell about your experience with the local banks and dealing with multiple currencies.
“The school transports weekly to a safe currency exchange, or will exchange currency from USD to MM kyat at school. Faculty are paid in nice, crisp, $100usd bills. This is extremely beneficial, as the currency exchanges only want $100 bills, and they must be new and in perfect shape! They will accept some lower denominations ($50’s), but they will give you a lower exchange rate. Unless you are exchanging a huge amount of money, it doesn’t really make a lot of financial difference. But if you are coming to work or visit, bring brand new US 100’s! I don’t now how they are with other countries currencies…”
“Oberoi International School (OIS) has a well-structured New Teacher Orientation Program designed to ensure a smooth transition into the school community. Here’s what new teachers can expect:
✅ Warm Welcome & Induction: New teachers are welcomed with an orientation that introduces them to the school’s philosophy, IB framework, and teaching expectations. It also includes sessions on school culture, policies, and technology integration.
✅ Starter Kit & Technology Support: Teachers receive a MacBook laptop as part of their onboarding kit, which is essential for lesson planning, assessments, and collaboration within the school’s digital ecosystem. OIS is a tech-forward school, integrating tools like Google Workspace, ManageBac, and AI-assisted learning tools.
✅ Comprehensive Support System: The orientation includes mentor pairings, where new teachers are connected with experienced faculty to help them adjust to the new environment. There are also sessions covering HR procedures, school expectations, and well-being resources.
✅ Professional Development Opportunities: Early on, teachers are introduced to the school’s continuous professional learning programs, including IB training, leadership workshops, and collaborative teaching initiatives…”
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?
“This is a school with local staff. They greatly appreciate any teacher from abroad or any teacher who can teach in English. Some staff have been at the school for decades. Staff are highly qualified and experienced, with degrees in education and some with postgraduate studies from universities from abroad, including Harvard. The cultural level is generally high. Teachers might come from wealthy families so they are well-travelled and can bring their experiences to the school. LGBT is a delicate matter. If a teacher is LGB, they are expected to be discrete and students should not have any awareness of their teachers’ personal lives, generally speaking. The country itself is not too LGBT friendly. LBG is legal, but there is no legal marriage. There is a stronger bias toward gay men than lesbian women. You will usually be left alone unless you are very open and in a dodgy area…”
What ISC Members Are Saying: 10 Must-Read Comments from March 2025
Our new blog series will review the most informed member-submitted comments from a specific month. This article looks at the ones submitted in March 2025.
We ask our members to submit detailed and valuable comments. With these informative comments submitted to our 73 comment topics about each school, ISC is the place to get the information you want fast!
So here is the list for March 2025 that we thought stuck out as the most informative comments:
What is the most challenging/difficult part of living in the city?
“The ‘smokey season’ which can last for greater or lesser periods each year from January-May consists of days and weeks on end when the air quality index is above 150 USAQI. The children spend weeks on end cooped up in air-purified classrooms and halls as the air is too toxic for them to go outside…”
Lanna International School (LIST) (151 total comments) in Chang Mai, Thailand
Describe your experience bringing pets.
“I found a company that organized transport for my large dog. They connected a kennel in the country I was moving from to a kennel in Laos. The kennel in Laos drove to Thailand to pick our dog up from the airport and drove him back outside of his crate so that he would be more comfortable…”
Vientiane International School (8 total comments) in Vientiane, Laos
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?
“Teachers are all expats I think, a lot of the support staff are qualified teachers in the Philippines but prefer to work as a learning assistant as the benefits and working conditions are better at the school than in local schools. LGBT friendly in school, a bit more complex outside, there’s a huge and active LGBT community but many still hide it from their more conservative church-going families…”
The British School Manila (129 total comments) in Manila, Philippines
Details about the maternity benefits of the host country and school.
“The school offers the minimum that the country offers – 16 weeks for the birth giving person. The parter gets 2 weeks. Adoption leave is also 2 weeks. The health insurance covers everything for pregnancy and birth – it’s entirely free and very high quality care and treatment. You can have a weekly scan if you wish but the standard is monthly which is still much better than back home. You then get 16 free visits from a midwife to your home after the birth to support you and your new baby…”
International School of Zug and Luzern (78 total comments) in Baar, Switzerland
Are the expectations high of teaching staff? Are there extra curricular responsibilities? Describe workload details.
“Workload fluctuates throughout the year. There are at least 2 parent-teacher meetings in the academic year. Disciplinary matters can add to the stress as different children have different needs. This means filling out details on line and speaking to parents as need be. Exam season is busy with invigilations…”
Budapest British International Academy (69 total comments) in Budapest, Hungary
What are the airports like in this city? (arriving, departing, shopping, customs, etc.)
“The international airport can be hit and miss, sometimes it can be a breeze to check in and security is quick, other days it can be a nightmare with lines out the door of the airport just waiting for check-in and security. Always err on the side of caution and turn up early for your flight…”
EUROPEAN International School Ho Chi Minh City (39 total comments) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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?
“The school is committed to hiring foreign teachers. There are mostly single teachers with no dependents. The interview experience was straightforward and moved pretty quickly. An offer was made, and I had about a week to decide if I would accept. Teachers with no IB experience are frequently hired. It is a great place to get your foot in the door with the IB program and gain valuable experience…”
American School of Quito (39 total comments) in Quito, Ecuador
Tell about your experience with the local banks and dealing with multiple currencies.
“The school transports weekly to a safe currency exchange, or will exchange currency from USD to MM kyat at school. Faculty are paid in nice, crisp, $100usd bills. This is extremely beneficial, as the currency exchanges only want $100 bills, and they must be new and in perfect shape! They will accept some lower denominations ($50’s), but they will give you a lower exchange rate. Unless you are exchanging a huge amount of money, it doesn’t really make a lot of financial difference. But if you are coming to work or visit, bring brand new US 100’s! I don’t now how they are with other countries currencies…”
Ayeyarwaddy International School (118 total comments) in Mandalay, Myanmar
Details about new teacher orientation.
“Oberoi International School (OIS) has a well-structured New Teacher Orientation Program designed to ensure a smooth transition into the school community. Here’s what new teachers can expect:
✅ Warm Welcome & Induction:
New teachers are welcomed with an orientation that introduces them to the school’s philosophy, IB framework, and teaching expectations. It also includes sessions on school culture, policies, and technology integration.
✅ Starter Kit & Technology Support:
Teachers receive a MacBook laptop as part of their onboarding kit, which is essential for lesson planning, assessments, and collaboration within the school’s digital ecosystem. OIS is a tech-forward school, integrating tools like Google Workspace, ManageBac, and AI-assisted learning tools.
✅ Comprehensive Support System:
The orientation includes mentor pairings, where new teachers are connected with experienced faculty to help them adjust to the new environment. There are also sessions covering HR procedures, school expectations, and well-being resources.
✅ Professional Development Opportunities:
Early on, teachers are introduced to the school’s continuous professional learning programs, including IB training, leadership workshops, and collaborative teaching initiatives…”
Oberoi International School (49 total comments) in Mumbai, India
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?
“This is a school with local staff. They greatly appreciate any teacher from abroad or any teacher who can teach in English. Some staff have been at the school for decades. Staff are highly qualified and experienced, with degrees in education and some with postgraduate studies from universities from abroad, including Harvard. The cultural level is generally high. Teachers might come from wealthy families so they are well-travelled and can bring their experiences to the school.
LGBT is a delicate matter. If a teacher is LGB, they are expected to be discrete and students should not have any awareness of their teachers’ personal lives, generally speaking. The country itself is not too LGBT friendly. LBG is legal, but there is no legal marriage. There is a stronger bias toward gay men than lesbian women. You will usually be left alone unless you are very open and in a dodgy area…”
Academia Washington (26 total comments) in Caracas, Venezuela
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