IES - Blog

IES & IB Asia-Pacific Announce Landmark Partnership

We’re excited to announce a significant partnership between International Education Services (IES) and the International Baccalaureate (IB), an opportunity that can directly benefit you as a valued member of our network. Through this collaboration, IES is playing a leading role in bringing the IB to more schools across China, and we are pleased to offer those in our network early access to high-impact seminars and conferences designed to shape the future of international education.

Connections and Inspiration Deepen at 2024 CBL in Practice

The two-day Concept-Based Learning (CBL) Conference brought together over 150 educators in an inspiring weekend of connection, exploration, and collaboration. Hosted at the scenic Shekou International School campus, the conference offered both structured learning sessions and opportunities for informal exchanges, where participants had meaningful discussions that transformed the venue into a learning hub.

Advancing Educational Excellence ThroughProfessional Development

Professional development is crucial in enhancing teaching practices and enriching students' learning experiences. This semester, our workshops and conferences underscored our commitment to equipping educators with essential tools, strategies, and insights.

Exciting News About IES’ Professional Development Opportunities

International Education Services (IES) was thrilled to facilitate two exciting workshops in March, which took place in Shenzen and Shanghai, led by esteemed professionals, Dr. Jennifer Chang Wathall and Rachel French. These workshops on concept-based inquiry promised transformative experiences for our IES community and deliver they did!

Secure Your Spot for the "Ready to Lead" Workshop in China

The workshop delves into the art of leadership and the science of management, addressing the crucial question: Can being a great teacher automatically translate into being a great leader? Through engaging sessions and practical insights, participants will explore their unique strengths, leadership DNA, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves as educators and leaders.

Time to Plan for Professional Development in 2024

At the beginning of each new year, it is common to set your sights on new goals. We’re sure you’re reflecting on the advances you’ve made in your classrooms and thinking about ways you can become even more effective. As you well know, learning from others is a wonderful way to expand on your techniques and understand current developments in the field. In 2024, we would like to help you on your path of lifelong learning. As such, we have a wonderful lineup of workshops available in February and March that will help you start the year off right.

Workshop on Concept Based Inquiry

The weekend of October 28th and 29th, 2023, brought an exciting and informative event to the Shenzhen Shekou International School (The Bay Campus). Teachers and educators from various parts of the region gathered to attend a workshop on Concept-Based Inquiry, which was dedicated to teaching strategies and specific ideas for implementation.

Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent

Last Saturday, International Education Services (IES) hosted a remarkable event that left attendees inspired and equipped with the tools to develop their schools. Focused on the crucial topic of "Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent," this event was specifically designed to cater to school leaders, HR teams, and teachers seeking to enhance their professional skills and elevate their school's performance.

Facing the challenges of expat life

Expat life is an exciting way to live life. All the new experiences, people, culture shifts and the wonderful places that you will have the pleasure of exploring. That first “YES” after a string of interviews can get your heart pumping and your mind racing. It is your journey into a new unexplored world, an adventure, the prospect of starting a new life in a new place. So many expectations, possibilities, opportunities, and adventures await. You are excited! And you should be!

Exploring Student Agency in Schools: A Workshop Recap

Welcome back to school!
We hope you all are back in the swing of things, with, renewed vigour and expectation and a myriad of exciting things to look forward to. Let us share one of ours! Last week, IES proudly presented a very productive and engaging workshop on agency, at St Peter’s School, in Haikou, China, where teachers were given a platform to explore student ownership in an educational context. The workshop was held at their request and explicitly tailored to meet their specific needs.

It’s workshop time again

Are you a teacher who wants to improve in teaching writing and cater to the diverse needs of your students? Then, we have great news for you! We are hosting a two-day workshop on teaching writing by individualizing instruction, and we want you to be a part of it.This two-day event will take place on May 27th-28th, 2023, at Shanghai Vanke Bilingual School, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

IES Professional Development presents Concepts in Action

We have some exciting news to share with you. Back by popular demand, IES is offering an upskilling workshop on conceptual Inquiry, a current topic that is trending in education circles right now. Our commitment is and has always been YOU. Since we recognize the importance of professional development and its place in developing the pedagogical knowledge and skills of our school leaders and teachers, we have planned several workshops [both online and face to face] to make this possible.

HAPPY NEW YEAR-Good tidings from IES to you and your loved ones

A very happy New Year to all our Western clients, colleagues and friends and a happy Chinese New Year to our resident Chinese clients, fellow workmates and your families.Once again, it is the long-awaited Spring Festival, and we are set for a period of family reunion and celebratory festivities as we bring in the Lunar New Year. A new year is always a time for enjoying those special moments at home with family – good company, great food, good fun and great anticipation for all the wonderful things that await us in 2023.

A FRESH START– LOOKING FOR A TEACHING OPPORTUNITY ABROAD

A very good day to you teachers.
For many of you, you have started the new academic year. Possibly, you are in to the second month of a busy year and your summer vacation may already feel like a distant memory. For others, you are feeling energized at the start of a spanking new academic year, looking forward to all the interesting events and activities that are to follow. For most of you, the students are back in class, you are happy to be teaching face-to-face and it is great to feel that life is slowly returning to normal. For some, you may be looking for a new opportunity to show and grow your expertise. If you are thinking of moving schools in 2023, we may just have what you are looking for.

Keynote webcast presentation from IES to you

As you know, we at IES are continuing to hold your best interest at heart. We believe in the power of professional development to guarantee that you are kept up to date with the latest trends in education. We recognize the challenges faced by teachers in terms of the relevance and accessibility of quality continuous professional development. Our latest seminar on leadership offers an ideal opportunity for you to explore the impact of leadership in education, in a traditional context, specifically situational and adaptive leadership – how we think about it and how we speak about it.

A reflection of 2022 – What do you see?

So here we are teachers. Another year almost expended. All our plans, aspirations, and desires for the 2022 new year, either have come to fruition or have been put on hold or thrown into the “cancel, delete or try again later” pile. The end of an academic year is certainly a busy time for teachers as we scramble frantically to get all the administrative work and school requirements done. While some feel a sense of accomplishment, some of us feel deflated, while still others may feel indifferent, glad that the academic year is here and looking forward to the break. But, before we call it a day, let me ask you this

In SURVIVAL MODE: CONQUERING EXAM STRESS!

So, today, it struck me that the examinations are with us or at the very least just around the corner. For years immemorial, good wishes have been conveyed to our students in preparation for this anxiety-producing period, knowing how stressful a time it can be. The ebb and flow of an academic year normally produces some strange demands on teachers, but it is an undeniable fact that the dreaded exam period comes up trumps! Justifiably so. Many people, including teachers, face this time with tension and trepidation. Teachers too, have their anxiety-producing moments, what with setting papers, making sure that they have been checked and balanced by their immediate superiors, proxying the exams, assessing student work, commenting on student performance, making sure the scores, evaluations and teacher remarks are recorded correctly, followed by parent-teacher conferences and all the dreaded proverbial deadline and year-end activity that makes it a full workload…

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR JOB INTERVIEW

Job hunting can be a daunting experience – time consuming and stressful too. When it comes to finding the right position in the right school, many of us don’t know where to start or what is the best route. Should we attend a recruitment fair? Should we go with a reputable online platform? Should we form a professional relationship with a recruiting agent? Should we use word of mouth? While all of these are good avenues to pursue, it is sometimes advisable to have a recruiter that is looking out for your best interests and putting you in touch with the right people.

I hear the vacation bells ringing - Put a spring in your step!

So, it’s that time of the year when we are either in the throes of examinations and assessments or winding down from the busyness and time-consuming activity oftrials, tests, and temperature checks. You are looking forward to a much-needed break and can hear the jingle of the final bell, the vacation looming tantalizingly in the not-too-far distance. It’s time to round things up and bid farewell to another challenging but [hopefully] productive year. Spring is here and Summer is on the horizon. You are tired, but optimistic. As you go about getting ready for the end of the academic year, there are still some minor matters that may need addressing.

Much of the World is Now Reopening

Good morning or afternoon or evening from wherever you are in the world – welcome to our WeChat platform. One of the greatest opportunities that you as a teacher now have is the fact that the whole world has been locked down for two years. Countries, regions, and districts all have been extremely difficult to get into or even out of; travel restrictions have been, and in many places still are, very tight. But with places such as New Zealand, Australia, Israel, much of American and many more opening up, I am sure it won’t be too long until we too, here in China, throw open our borders and reopen.