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overhere
Joined: 27 Sep 2009 Posts: 86
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject: Is the Middle East an option for me? |
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Just wondering if the Middle East is an option for someone with my background or am is it pretty much off limits to me. Any feedback is appreciated.
Native English Speaker/U.S. Citizen
Male, white
50 years old in excellent health
Juris Doctorate. Masters of Public Administration, Masters of Labor Relations, Masters of Social Work. Bachelors of Social Work.
24 years of management experience in the public sector
Many years as a Human Resource Trainer
Managed a large training department
Managed a Career Center
experience as a career counselor/academic advisor
adjunct instructor at a career college (teaching mostly business related classes)
3 years volunteer ESL teaching experience at a local non profit
willing to pursure a CELTA if it increases my chances (actually will most likely do one anyway to improve my skills)
Also is driving absolutely essential in the ME or can you get by without it?
Thank you |
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Badar Bin Bada Boom
Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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Very hard to get by without driving in the Middle East. This is my opinion after 16 years in the UAE and KSA combined.
Wow, three master's and a JD. But no Middle East background. Volunteer ESL doesn't count. You need a degree in applied linguistics, English or ESL plus the CELTA--minimum. With your background only the universities would be suitable, aside from the fact that you need teacher certification at the schools. For the univs. you need two or three years' post-MA experience. Sometimes they accept people with the ESL / linguistics BA + CELTA + 3 years' experience but then they expect you to complete a suitable online master's. I assume you don't want to go for a fourth one.
You may well qualify for a content (anything but EFL) position. Hard to say. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:06 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Middle East an option for me? |
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Overhere:
A CELTA will certainly improve your chances for an entry-level teaching spot in the Mid East, but that might mean taking your chances with a recruiter. Frankly, with minimal qualifications, you'd fare better by going to Asia to gain paid experience before coming to the ME. Just something for you to chew on if you're flexible about where you're willing to go to teach.
Give these three job sites a look for TEFL & non-TEFL positions abroad:
http://chronicle.com/section/Jobs/61/
http://www.higheredjobs.com/
http://www.bayt.com/ |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:54 am Post subject: |
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The only J D that I met EFLing in KSA was a fugitive from justice. Thereare of course many unsavoury characters haunting the classrooms of the Hejaz and Nejd.
I think your chances are pretty good. |
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Badar Bin Bada Boom
Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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Arf! Arf!! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Are you posting under the influence BBBB?
VS |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:41 am Post subject: |
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I think he is pretending to lauigh at my post. True about the fugitive from justice who had a Juris Doctor title. Dope-related. The conviction maybe not the Doctorate.
Last edited by scot47 on Tue Feb 21, 2012 2:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mcnedelsky
Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 2
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:23 pm Post subject: What non Gulf places can one teach? |
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In some ways, it's a similar question to the one above. I'm utterly new to the field, and would love to teach in the middle east, but my sense is for those w/ limited/no experience (I taught in the West Bank for a bit, but unpaid), it's better to start in Asia.
(I have my CELTA, an honours BA from a good Canadian Uni with good marks, I'm 24. That's it basically).
I'm also not certain about the various options. I'm not keen on the Gulf for a variety of reasons of things I've heard. Here's my sense of some other places:
Jordan/Lebanon: Limited job options beyond universities requiring much higher credentialing
Morocco: I've heard great things, but seems you need a year of experience, and postings seem few?
Egypt: This is where I'm least certain. I've heard there are many opportunities, but see limited postings, the ones that do come up asking for people already in country.
It's hard to know where to begin (i'm sure a common refrain), so any help would be much obliged.
Shukran! |
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GladToBeFree
Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 45
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:32 am Post subject: |
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.....
Last edited by GladToBeFree on Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:34 am Post subject: Re: What non Gulf places can one teach? |
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mcnedelsky wrote: |
Jordan/Lebanon: Limited job options beyond universities requiring much higher credentialing
Morocco: I've heard great things, but seems you need a year of experience, and postings seem few?
Egypt: This is where I'm least certain. I've heard there are many opportunities, but see limited postings, the ones that do come up asking for people already in country. |
With your lack of credentials and experience, you wouldn't be eligible for the few jobs in these countries that offer much in pay or benefits (especially not universities). They are not going to fly you there. You are at an age and experience level that you would need to go and knock on doors. With the current situation in Egypt, I would probably head to Morocco. There are a number of language schools where you might be able to pick up some classes with your CELTA. There is AMIDEAST, the American Language Center, and British Council if that is a better fit. Likely there are also other smaller ones.
That said, I agree with those who feel that Asia is a better place to start. Head there and get a year or two of experience on your CV, and then try these ME countries.
VS |
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mcnedelsky
Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 2
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, that's super helpful! What are the teaching opportunities like in Jordan/Lebanon, what credentials does one require, and how does one find those jobs (pavement pouding?) |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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Both of these countries have fewer opportunities. Jordan because it has a small population and Lebanon for a similar reason. Both of them, Lebanon in particular, have plenty of local English teachers. (they both, in fact, export hundreds of English teachers to the Gulf)
If you had an MA, there are a couple good universities in Lebanon that have good foreign hire contracts. Every once in awhile you see an ad for a position in Jordan.
So, yes, it is a matter of going and knocking on the doors of the language schools. BC is in both countries and I know that AMIDEAST is in Jordan.
BTW, while pay will be very low in these countries... bare survival pay, in a few months, one can usually pick up private students through contacts to supplement income.
BTW2, a problem in all of these countries will be visas for long term stays. Usually means regular visa runs.
VS |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
they both, in fact, export hundreds of English teachers to the Gulf |
Like a cancer...
It's their faulty pronunciation and mythical grammar rules that real English teachers have to overcome! Like it or not...it's the truth! |
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ellethom
Joined: 29 Sep 2011 Posts: 39 Location: Wherever I May Roam
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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For Suadi Arabia, universally, the minimum age has been changed within the past couple of months. It is now 27. From what i have been told, this is from the government, something about too many young people bringing in too much contraband...
You young folks are nuthin' but trouble |
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