What to expect as teacher in Singapore
Singapore acts like a magnet for teachers wishing to teach internationally, and as such competition is quite high for teaching jobs. The Singapore Ministry of Education takes an active role in the approval of teachers coming to this clean, safe and thriving city-state, so teachers wishing to teach in Singapore need to have appropriate teaching qualifications which meet the MOE's exacting and prescribed standards. Education is highly valued, and you will find that your students and parents will expect you to be at your very best. So if you are lucky enough to find a job in Singapore, you will be working alongside the brightest and most qualified teachers from all over the world.
About Singapore
Capital: Singapore
Language: English, Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil
Population: 4.3 million
Singapore frequents the top 10 lists worldwide for nightlife, restaurants, airports, shopping, and must-visit destinations, and once you have been it is not hard to see why.
Singapore has been able to maintain a nice balance between preserving its past as well as keeping up with the ever-changing world around it. The city prides itself on its appearance, and is one of the cleanest cities in the world as a result. Singapore is very heavily populated, however if you dig a little deeper you will find that over half of the island is covered with big green parks and nature reserves allowing for plenty of space to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Singapore is a big expatriate city, boasting over one third of its residents as not being Singapore citizens, so you will definitely not feel alone.
Climate
The climate is Singapore is tropical, so it is hot and humid all year round. Most office buildings, shopping malls and transport systems have air conditioning, so you do not endure the heat for very long at all. It is very rare for temperatures to reach below 20 degrees C and average about 32 degrees C in the hottest part of the year. Due the temperature, almost every day it rains for a short period of time. However between the months of November and January; Singapore experiences its monsoon season where you are more likely to experience a longer and heavier rainfall.
Activities
There plenty to see and do in Singapore. You can go cruising out around Singapore's many islands, or even hire a canoe and do it yourself, visit one of the many parks, or if you are an animal lover you can visit the famous Night Zoo, or the pink dolphin on Sentosa Island or the bird park with the largest walk-in aviary in the world. A Universal Studio's has also opened up on Sentosa Island, reached by a cable car across the water. You will find anything the heart desires in the many shopping malls and shopping streets of Singapore, with Orchard Road being Singapore's most popular. You can explore Buddhist temples, mosques and Catholic cathedrals - another example of Singapore's diverse population. The list goes on and on.
Travel
Getting from one place to another in Singapore is fairly straight forward and easy. You have the option of train, bus or taxi within Singapore, all of which are reliable and reasonably priced. Singapore is well placed for travel within Asia. Firstly Malaysia and Indonesia are only a short ferry ride away. Singapore is one of South East Asia's main transport hubs, meaning that connections, whether they be close by or further afield are extremely easy, and cheap considering the different airlines that fly through the airport each day.
Eating and Drinking
The food in Singapore is held in very high regard and is definitely a major highlight whether you are dining in a 5 star restaurant or buying food from one of the local street stalls with a local beer. This is where the rich culture diversity really comes into effect with so many different dishes from all over to choose from, you will find you are spoilt for choice. A must have is a Singapore Sling in the old Raffles Hotel followed by a nice traditional meal of chilli crab, laksa or satay skewers.
Currency
The local currency in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).