As the recruitment year starts to wind down we are beginning to reflect on our successes. We would like to share a post from Catharine DeBoni, a South African candidate who, with the help of Teacher Horizons, is on her way to China to teach Primary Art and EAL in August 2017.
My thanks
How can I ever say thank you enough, to an agency that never cost me a penny, yet completely changed my crossroad in life? I was lost for words at first when my contract was officially offered in February this year, 2017. But today I feel like putting pen to paper – keyboard to screen – to write about my experience.
I registered with Teacher Horizons in June 2016, and 8 months later got offered a job beyond my dreams and expectations in China teaching Art and EAL. My career will take a huge leap forward since the school I am joining, YCIS Chongqing is now also an IB affiliated Global school. What can I say? I am truly grateful and I am simply over the moon!
Every day at present is one step closer to a brand new life and future for both me and my daughter. Never in my wildest dreams did I envision taking on this teaching endeavor, but as reality is striking, and every single plan is just gently falling into place, I cannot help but feel a deep spiritual teaching purpose, and sense of destiny.
Helen Weir is also teaching a Yew Chung Chongqing, read her post about settling in and learning the language.
My advice
My advice to any teacher applying with Teacher Horizons would be: First and foremost, be dead honest with yourself and everyone else involved. Start off with your own list of what you have to offer a school and what you have always dreamed of having in return, and then stick to it.
I am a South African teacher and have been teaching since 1997 (it shocks me to think that this is my 20th year in the teaching profession.) For me, it is time to break away from the educational downfalls, politics and regimes that have stilted me in South Africa. It is time to pass on what I have learned and enjoy seeing it flourish in the “right” school with the “right” educational vision, where Art and Performing Arts are valued and even highly regarded.
We have had many more happy teachers this year – read their comments here
My process
It was quite a process making sure my Curriculum Vitae was in the right format and that all my details were 100% and listed with Teacher Horizons. I would say the first 3 months on the website was a time for me to tweak and perfect all of my information.
I must have gone through at least 5 Skype interviews and 3 shortlistings before Philip Latham and Maggie Johnstone managed to help me get my contract with YCIS. Every single interview was an eye opener and very good experience. I learned so much about myself and about the international school vibe just via the questions that were posed and the answers given.
I initially looked at schools in the Middle East such as UAE and Oman. I was convinced that THAT should be where I should go. But then one early morning Philip sent me an email and asked me if I could check my spam mail because there was a school in China looking for a Primary Art Teacher and it sounded like the job for me. This was really special because the email was clearly not reaching me, but Philip picked up on it and got hold of me instead. The rest is history. Philip and Maggie were incredible! They supported me each and every day, through all the anguish and nail-biting interviews, until the job was offered… and even beyond.
To get started with this process yourself, click here to sign up, and one of our Advisers will be in touch.
My future
Last week I received my Chinese work visa, and next week I will buy (and be reimbursed for) my airline tickets to land in Chongqing, China on the 1st of August 2017. And by the way… you might not know this…but Chongqing is unofficially the largest city in the world. It’s larger than New York. Yikes!!!
I will miss my South African pupils; with their humble nature and their ability to simply make do with so little in resources. But I look forward to spreading my wings. When you teach Art, the sky is indeed the limit, especially in China.
We wish you all the very best Catharine! But we don’t just make teachers happy…in the weeks to come we will post some happy schools’ comments too. Whether you are a teacher or a school, we welcome your feedback…please do email info@teacherhorizons.com and let us know how we are doing!
