Teaching in the Dominican Republic

On my previous post, "How to get a job teaching in the DR"  I mentioned that I found various employment opportunities on DR1.com and learn4good.com. Here are some more helpful job websites.    Employment Websites 1.  AASSA in Atlanta: December 1-4 2.  ISS in Atlanta:   December 4-6 3. Search Associates Fair in Cambridge :     January 26-29  S earch San Francisco:   February 9-12 (Tentative) sample teacher contract 4. teachaway.com 5. gooverseas.com   6. ciee.org 7. goabroad.com 8. expat.com 9. buscojobs.com.do 10. opcionempleo.com.do Home Numbers 1-3 are fairs in the United States. September to early November is a good application time for these fairs because it is a long process (you still have time)😃👍. They pay the most and offer the best benefits along with DR1.com and learn4good.com. After the new year, I would advice you to email the schools you are interested in directly. Click on...

The school van picks us up every morning.  I came to the Dominican Republic with my arrogance and American privilege about what and how good teaching should look.  Not realizing that I am not in the U.S. Trying to impose my North American views on another culture.  Something history has repeated many times before... The key to a successful experience teaching in the Dominican Republic is to BE FLEXIBLE . There are a few differences that are culturally🌎  relevant to teaching in the Dominican Republic. 😢Non acceptance will result of a long painful school year but wearing your flexibility 👒hat🎩 will help you to win the golden egg.  Here are the top 3 differences between being a teacher in the United States and in the Dominican Republic: 1. Class schedule 2. Instructional Time 3. Grading   Class Schedule I was originally hired as the 12th grade Daily Schedule English teacher but when I arrived in country (D.R.) everything changed....

***The peso as of today is at $47 to $1 dollar. All prices listed are in pesos💸.  My kids and I were so excited to see that there was a Wendy's near our apartment🏘.  Of course we enjoy going to Wendy's in the States so we were expecting the same experience we had back home. We all know that Wendy's is a franchise but even a franchise makes some cultural🌏 adjustments to its menu. Let's discuss the positives first, shall we? 1. Customer Service 2. Decor 3. Price 4. Similar Menu Combos 1. The customer service was excellent🛃.  Everyone was patient with the kiddos and I, as we were trying to figure out what exactly we wanted.  Decor 2. The Halloween theme was perfect.  The entire store was decorated and even some of the employees were dressed up👻. It  made the kids feel right at home.  3. The price was pretty much the same as in the States. I ate an Asiago Chicken sandwich meal🐔 (large) and I spent about $8 dollars. ...

There are quite a few home and lifestyle differences between the Dominican Republic and the United States.  For some people they will be deal breakers🚫.  But for others that have traveled or  would like to experience how most of the world lives, they won't mind too much😃 1. Air Conditioning/Heater 2. Electricity 3. Tap Water 4. Toilet Paper 5. Showers  Air Conditioning/Heater The average Dominican home does not have air conditioning at all. They have fans. Most have floor fans not ceiling fans.  There are air conditioners in homes/apartments but usually they are room based. I have not come across an apartment or home that has had central air conditioning.  There are no heaters but why would you need them, right?🔥 For teachers coming to the D.R., please ask if the classrooms are air conditioned. All public schools do not have air conditioning only fans and some private schools as well. The private schools that do have AC, only have it in the...

Happy Saturday!. My son had a play date with his friend Enrique today👬. We went to Pizzarelli in La Esmeralda, Santiago🍕. The heart of the Dominican Republic otherwise known as "The City of Gentlemen" The tried two new things pizza with corn and iced tea My children tried pizza and corn.  They weren't too sure about putting corn on pizza so we ordered it on the side. It was good👏👏 Then we  went to the play area😎 There weren't that many  children so they were free to run around the place. Lastly, we went to Sweet frog🍨. I love me some Sweet frog.  Santiago thank you for a great Saturday!💝

In my previous post, "How to get a job in the DR?" I mentioned that schools will usually notify you last minute about a position.  Giving you little time to prepare.  Getting everything ready for the move can be stressful enough. So here are a few tips to get your passport in 30 days or less, like I did. In order to get your passport with the least amount of headache and time duration, I recommend going to your county office.  I went to the City of Gaithersburg office and made an appointment.  I brought the documents and the woman made sure the forms were exactly how they wanted and what they wanted. ALL APPLICANTS APPLYING MUST BE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION INCLUDING INFANTS AND CHILDREN Single Person a. original birth certificate and a copy b.  driver's licence original and copy (front and back) c. social security card original and copy d.   US passport renewal form   (Form DS-82) or Application for US passport  (DS-1...

There are so many things that I can not live without that are not here or too expensive👎. So I say, thank goodness for Amazon.💋  Here are two ways to ship items you can't live without.📦 Shipping from the United States to the DR If you are in the DMV (DC, Maryland or Virginia), Pennisylvania, New York area and would like to send items to your family in the DR, I would recommend Mamota Shipping. They will come to your house and pick up the item as well as drop off the item to the address you indicate in Santo Domingo or Santiago. My items arrived within 4 weeks. They usually take between 3-5 weeks to arrive in the Dominican Republic. They call the night before they arrive with an arrival time window.  This is their contact information Mamota Shipping 100 W. Strawberry ST. Lancaster, PA 17603 Lancaster (717) 945-4174 Harrisburg (717) 565-0643 Maryland (240) 396-7709 Reading (484) 345-0565 Santo Domingo, RD (809) 245-1725 Shipping from the ...

Teaching at a small private school, I wish someone would have told me the things I would need before I arrived in country. As a result, I am writing this in hopes to help all of you.🏫 1. Lab top  Most of the schools here do not provide a teacher computer in the classrooms (laptop or classroom desktop).  They do provide however the connection cords to use the projector with your lab top. There are very few schools with Smart boards. At my school only the lower grades have Promethean boards.💻 Most schools do have a teacher's lounge which provides desktop computers for you to plan. 2. School supplies🖍 ✏: dry erase makers, chalk, eraser, industry size sharpener, pencils, markers, crayons, supplemental materials/books (you can scan into a pdf), wall clock Teaching at a private school the students are required to supply all of their materials but of course there are always a few that do not have them.  It is much cheaper to go to the dollar store, $5 Below or...