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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:17 pm Post subject: March 2013 Bahrain concerns/praises |
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hello, this is my first post here on Dave's Cafe:
what a great place for information
i am trying to get a job in Bahrain and have the same general questions as most newbs: salary expectations, good schools, bad schools, tax free for a usa citizen, culture...etc.
i have a bachelor's in english and 3 credits away from a master's in special education learning disabilities, behavior disorders, emotionally disturbed
i am certified by the state of New York in English/special education
grades 7-12.
i'm a white guy, 40 years old, with 6 years of teaching inner city kids
i have good classroom management skills...
thanks in advance for any information, j |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not a Bahrain expert, but I admit to some curiosity as regards your expectations: are you looking to teach English to students with learning disabilities, behavioural disorders, and/or emotional disturbances? Otherwise, in what way would your quals support your goals (assuming you are seeking a well-paid job teaching something in Bahrain)?
By the way, I expect that you DO have superlative classroom managment skills, and kudos to you - that may in fact translate into some value in a Middle East context....though I'm not sure it would be officially recognized as an asset! |
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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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hello Spiral,
i want to change learning environments and the caribbean doesn't have such a big market and the salaries are better in saudi arabia
to overcome the culture shock of being in saudi arabia, research seems to reflect that bahrain is the most western of places
if the students are learning english as a second language then all the strategies that a special education teacher has will be an asset
i already located a primary school that is ideal, however, i really want to teach high school kids: i contacted the school asking where there students end up going to high school: hopefully they will respond
i am hugely into music production and would love to produce an album of arabic student's english/arabic lyrics
cheers, j |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
if the students are learning english as a second language then all the strategies that a special education teacher has will be an asset |
Hmmm. I've been teaching non-native English speakers for well over a decade and I hold related post-grad qualifications in the field.....and the classroom techniques I'm aware of bear little relation to what my friend in the US who teaches 'challenged' students applies....I've never imagined any correlation between challenged learners and second language learners.
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to overcome the culture shock of being in saudi arabia, research seems to reflect that bahrain is the most western of places |
I admit I'm baffled by this.....presumably you've checked out a map of the Middle East? |
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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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hello Spiral,
you should sit back and imagine a bit
and then you wouldn't be so baffled maybe
many of my teaching methods catch people off guard
but the kids dig it
we write a lot about the environment and sustainable issues
we will rewrite 1 haiku 20 times and then start recording it
and mash it up
the principal loves bringing visitors into our classroom
cheers, j |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: March 2013 Bahrain concerns/praises |
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littlejam wrote: |
i am trying to get a job in Bahrain and have the same general questions as most newbs: salary expectations, good schools, bad schools, tax free for a usa citizen, culture...etc. |
Take a look at Teachaway.com's website for info about teaching in international schools in the Gulf. |
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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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hello, @ nomad soul: thank you for the lead, i checked out their website
and saw openings for UAE/Dubai. i'm still concentrating on bahrain first.
i also discovered teachanywhere.com
the universities seem to be where it's at but i'm still 3 credits away from a master's (i don't know if they'll accept that (worth a try i guess))
thanks again, j |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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littlejam wrote: |
i also discovered teachanywhere.com |
Perhaps that will give you the leads you're looking for. Although your degree is in English and you're licensed to teach English (language arts), you most likely won't get much info from the ESL Cafe since it's dedicated to TESOL and not to teaching content areas in international schools. |
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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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hello, it's my understanding that tesol certification is a question of completing a 100 hour program...there's plenty of time for doing that.
that was one of the things i was hoping someone would comment on:
a legit way to complete a tesol cert program either in house or a trustworthy
online program
people of all types of qualifications seem to post here asking for information don't you think? cheers, j |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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littlejam wrote: |
that was one of the things i was hoping someone would comment on: a legit way to complete a tesol cert program either in house or a trustworthy online programj |
Hmm... Trustworthy and online = an oxymoron in terms of a solid EFL teaching qualification. Moreover, many overseas employers, especially those in this region, do not recognize online certs. Go for a CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, or SIT TESOL to boost your employability. |
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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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hello, muchas gracias, i will check out the leads you have provided
thanks for helping me be productive: i'll report back
are you in bahrain currently?
do you know anyone in bahrain currently?
cheers, j |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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littlejam wrote: |
are you in bahrain currently?
do you know anyone in bahrain currently? |
No, I'm in the Kingdom.
No, I don't know anyone currently in Bahrain.
A suggestion: Do an Internet search on expat forum bahrain for expat sites dedicated to life/work in Bahrain.
De nada! |
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littlejam
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 17 Location: usa
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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hello, @ nomad soul: you so rock! thanks again! j
are you american? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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littlejam wrote: |
are you american? |
You betcha! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Dear nomad soul,
Aha - your secret identity is exposed at last: nomad soul = Sarah Palin
Regards,
John |
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