always learning » mscofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org teaching technology abroad Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:30:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Update: International School Teachers Roundup! http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/10/update-international-school-teachers-roundup/ http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/10/update-international-school-teachers-roundup/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 07:46:48 +0000 Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=362 In January, I shared a list of international school teachers (those teaching outside of their home country in a school catering to expatriate families) on Twitter (or blogging). In the last few months, even more teachers have added themselves to the Google Form, so I thought I would do a recap with all of the names currently on the spreadsheet, organized by country.

If you’re not on the list yet and you’re teaching outside of your home country in a school for expatriate children, please feel free to add yourself! I’ll do another recap soon!

Note: I linked the names of teachers to their blogs (if listed) and their Twitter @username to their profiles (if listed):

Asia

China

Korea

  • Greg Israel, @israelgreg, Korea International School
  • Jason Crewe, @jcrewe, Busan Foreign School

Vietnam

Japan

Thailand

Singapore

Malaysia

India

Indonesia

Taiwan

  • Leanne Rainbow, @rainbowl, Taipei American School

The Philippines

Middle East/Central Asia

Qatar

Oman

Khazakhstan

Morocco

Latin America

Mexico

Brazil

Argentina

Peru

Europe

Spain

Switzerland

Austria

  • Chris Rolfe, @cmrolfe, American International School Vienna

Serbia

  • Jennie Scott-McKenzie, @jennieteacher, International School of Belgrade

Looking at this list, it’s interesting to see where most of the teachers are working. Can we make the assumption that those schools are the ones that are really moving forward with technology? Or is this list more representative of schools in Asia because that’s where I’m currently working?

Either way, if you’re considering going overseas, or just moving on to a new school, these are the people that can give you the greatest insight into life in a new country and working at a new school. There’s nothing better than actually knowing people at the schools you’re interested in to make an informed decision about where to go.

Please spread the word! I know there are many more international school teachers on Twitter and blogging!

]]> http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/05/10/update-international-school-teachers-roundup/feed/ 10 International School Teachers Roundup! http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/01/24/international-school-teachers-roundup/ http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/01/24/international-school-teachers-roundup/#comments Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:46:42 +0000 Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=326 A few weeks before our semester break, I wrote a post called International School Teachers Connect! in the hopes of discovering more international school teachers (those teaching outside of their home country in a school catering to expatriate families) on Twitter (or blogging).

Amazingly, within just a few days dozens of teachers had joined the Twitter group I created and left their contact details via this Google Form (please feel free to add yourself if you haven’t already). As of today, there are 65 teachers listed! Wow!

As promised, here is an organized list of all of the teachers in international schools who responded. Please add yourself in the comments or on the Google Form if you’re teaching outside of your home country in a school for expatriate children!

Note: I linked the names of teachers to their blogs (if listed) and their Twitter @username to their profiles (if listed):

Asia

China

Korea

Vietnam

Japan

Thailand

Singapore

Malaysia

India

Indonesia

Taiwan

Middle East/Central Asia

Qatar

Oman

Khazakhstan

Latin America

Mexico

Brazil

Argentina

Europe

Spain

Switzerland

It’s certainly interesting to see how many of these teachers are in the Asia region. I wonder if that’s because that’s where I am, and I was the one who sent the request, or if schools in Asia are more tech-savvy than those in other regions of the world?

With recruiting season upon us, it seems like a great time to connect with other international school teachers around the world! These are the people that can give you the greatest insight into life in a new country and working at a new school. There’s nothing better than actually knowing people at the schools you’re interested in to make an informed decision about where to go.

Having said that, I know there are loads more international school teachers on Twitter and maintaining a blog, so please, add yourself in the comments or to the Google Form!

]]> http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/01/24/international-school-teachers-roundup/feed/ 6 On the Shelf http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/01/24/on-the-shelf/ http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/01/24/on-the-shelf/#comments Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:22:24 +0000 Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=325 Living overseas in non-English speaking countries, I tend to stock up on books whenever I’m back in the US. Usually I start my Amazon order as soon as the school year starts (August/September), adding books for months, before I finally purchase sometime in May, scheduled to arrive at my parents’ house just in time for my annual visit. Of course, this monster order fluctuates throughout the year because I can usually find some of the more popular books here in my favorite bookstore, Kinokuniya.

All of this stockpiling usually leads to a heavy bookshelf (or two) bulging with books waiting to be read throughout the year. Unfortunately, I almost never get through all of them in one school year, but I love seeing them there, waiting to be read, so that when I finally have my chance, I’m usually so excited I devour them in days (most likely when we’re lounging at the beach during holidays).

As usual, I have a selection of books on display again this school year, a few of which I’ve been able to read during holidays, but many are still waiting for the perfect moment. Here are some highlights of what I’ve got on the shelf:

On the Shelf

I’ve got a few more on another shelf I’m anxious to read as well:

So, you can imagine how pleased I was to read the following on the very first page of The Black Swan:

The writer Umberto Eco belongs to that small class of scholars who are encyclopedic, insightful, and nondull. He is the owner of a large personal library (containing thirty thousand books), and separates visitors into two categories: those who react with “Wow! Signore professore dottore Eco, what a library you have! How many of those books have you read?” and the others – a very small minority – who get the point that a private library is not an ego-boosting appendage but a research tool. Read books are far less valuable than unread ones. The library should contain as much of what you do not know as your financial means, mortage rates, and the currently tight real-estate market will allow you to put there. You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly. Indeed, the more you know, the larger the rows of unread books.

What’s on your shelf?

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