Job Discussion Forums

[copacbl]

I�m wondering if anyone has new information on the TEFL Program at AUC and housing options for a young, single woman in Cairo.

-How is the TEFL program at AUC now, have they overcome the adjustment to new campus?
-Is it possible to get a fellowship as an American with beginner Egyptian Arabic language skills, but less than one year of experience?
-What kind of accommodations would one be able to afford on the fellowship housing allowance and stipend?
-Would I be able to find/afford housing with easy commute to the city center and New Cairo campus? Which locations would those be? I don�t know how I feel about living in Rehab or other locations close to campus. Besides a short commute, are there any benefits?
-What is the current price range for a furnished apartment that�s a short distance to main street and/or metro (not necessary)?

I�ve read some earlier posts on the subject, but I�m wondering if that info still holds true. Thank you!

[veiledsentiments]

Here is the university link for the Fellowship:

http://www.aucegypt.edu/admissions/gradadmissions/finsupport/Pages/TEFL.aspx

There is no Arabic required to get the Fellowship... I knew about 5 tourist phrases when I arrived. After that the students and taxi drivers taught me everything I needed to know. You would need to apply between Dec - Feb 1 for the following September start.

I think the worst of the moving trauma is over... though my guess is that problems still exist and I know nothing about the housing situation. You would have the option of the hostel on campus which would be very convenient for at least the first semester. I would look around on Facebook to find plenty of whinging students. And for a look at how creative they can be... there are lots of videos too. ...in a google, I found:

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/American_University_in_Cairo_%28AUC%29

... which gave me a good laugh and a reminder of the Egyptian sense of humor.

From my experience, don't expect the stipend and housing allowance to cover your costs if you want to live alone. For the first year, the total pay covered ONLY my rent, and I supplemented it with money of my own to do things like... eat... pay for taxis... etc. And it was a flat with no AC or washing machine or TV. By the second year, my private students covered my costs.

For the first time since I left Egypt after finishing my MA in '88, I don't have any friends teaching there, so we will have to see if someone drops in with experience on the new campus. I too am interested to hear what is going on for housing.

VS

BTW... if you are in the US, they have an office in New York City and you can call and ask them about the program and housing and such.

[copacbl]

Thanks for the info, VS. That's helpful to know that I should probably have ample savings to supplement my housing and other living needs.

I've scoured the AUC website pretty well. I also looked at the fellowship application with has a clause specifically for the TEFL fellow applicants.

"TEFL fellowship ONLY: If granted a fellowship by AUC, I agree to inform AUC immediately if I am awarded and accept any other assistance or employment during the period of my AUC fellowship."

http://www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/gradstudies/fellowapp06.pdf

I wonder if they would reduce your funding if you take up side work?

As an American without teaching experience in the Middle East or to Arabic speakers, would I even be a competitive applicant?

[veiledsentiments]

[copacbl]

Yes, you're right! It can't hurt to apply. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It's comforting to know that tutoring on the side is an option.

Thanks again!

[nstick13]

I may find a link and start a new thread asking to be stickied about this, but if you're going to Egypt for ESL, get on the Cairo Scholars Listserv via the University of Texas. Last I knew (a couple months ago) there were some 2,500 people who were from abroad or Egyptians who had traveled abroad. It was the second best resource I had in Cairo--the other being my English-speaking Egyptian roommate.

This will help so so so so much with housing.

Do some Googling.

[veiledsentiments]

I doubt that they would allow a sticky referring people to another forum... why would they divert their traffic?

OK... I joined it, but I don't see any explanation of how to use it. Could you send me an email about the resources there?

VS

[nstick13]

Gah---how time slipped past me.

There is a HUGE difference in what that thing is and what ESL Cafe is. An e-mail listserv lets you send out e-mails to everyone who is on it. And then people reply to you in e-mails, or to the entire list.

Okay, maybe the medium is the only thing that's different.

Either way, it was a much more important resource for me in Egypt than Dave's was, mainly because it caters to any type of foreign student/professional as apposed to only ESL teachers, and is moderated by a University Professor in a not-for-profit manner.

Okay, so maybe their are big differences.

[veiledsentiments]

Ah... I dislike those old style boards based on emails. That is how this "conversation system" started back in the mid-90s with the TESL-L CUNY board. Very cumbersome and difficult to involve a number of people in a discussion as a board like this can do.

But, sometimes you have to use what's available... if the people running it are not tech savvy enough to set up a basic board like this.

VS

[nstick13]

When I was there, there simply weren't the funds to set up a board like this.

[veiledsentiments]

A basic Yahoo group, which is free, would be more easily accessible and you have the option of reading online rather than getting emails. And if the numbers are relatively small, there are free board systems out there similar to this one that can be kept private access.

VS