Job Discussion Forums

[watfordfan]

So by applying that logic, you would eliminate everyone who chose to change careers? It doesn't always follow that you need to have a relevant first degree to undertake a Masters in a different subject - work experience & propensity to learn are also taken into account. Obviously if the Masters requires a certain amount of technical expertise, it's a different story, but the English language does not fall into that category, IMO anyway....

Ah well, I should know in a few months time if I'll be deemed as "acceptable".

[Yusuf]

You don't really learn grammar in a BA English; you just take a bunch of literature courses. Plus, the first two years are spent [wasted] on Gen. Ed. I have a BA English and am finishing an MA TESOL. I learned far more about the language in the MA. I don't see why career-changers should be disqualified.

[FarGone]

Those native-English speakers with three+ years of teaching English in a foreign (non-English speaking) country and with good recommendations + a Master's degree in any subject should be good enough to teach (what will be very basic) English in Oman.

These new "requirements" are absurd.

Teaching what will be pre-planned lessons (handed to you by your "Boss") and insert-the-CD, here we go, students, now let's listen to your pronunciation + verb tenses + rudimentary writing (can you string six words together and make a functional sentence?) is not brain surgery. No need for the drama that Oman induces in the hiring process.

[1st Sgt Welsh]

As others have stated, I can't see how studying Dickens and Shakespeare for three years gives you an edge when it comes to teaching phonetics, grammar etc. Literature and EFL have very little in common. If the requirements were limited to just degrees in Linguistics, TEFL etc. then I could at least understand that, but, like I've said elsewhere, that substantially cuts down on potential applicants and the employment conditions offered should take that into account.

Besides, Oman, as far as I know, isn't the place for 'first-time' teachers and the advertisements I've seen seem to require a few years experience. Plus they want a teaching certificate, e.g. a CELTA, and that should do a lot, as far as I can see, to sort the sheep from the goats.

Anyway, it's up to Oman, but they are probably missing out on some great teachers. Incidentally, one of the best TEFLers I've ever seen has a degree in Horticulture.

[cairanya]

[Mister!]

[Turbster]

Oman immigration does not require transcripts. But, depending upon the verification documentation submitted with your degree to the MOHE, you may be requested to provide transcripts. However, this is not usually the case.

In respect of the nature, and subject of initial, or highest degrees. It is not a practical requirement with any justification, Certainly not a matter for consultation. Just another frustration of working in a developing nation.

[Sirens of Cyprus]

[Turbster]

[Mister!]

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[Anacita]

Which schools or colleges in Oman are requiring candidates to have degrees in English specifically ?

[veiledsentiments]

[Turbster]

The MOHE are the organisation who have set the parameters for employment by Universities and Colleges. What is bewildering is that many teachers clearly meeting all of the criteria are rejected, while others, submitted hopefully as they have excellent teaching records while not fully meeting the criteria, are approved.
Personal contact with the MOHE has ellicited promises of support and transparency in their application of the criteria. Unfortunately, once you leave the building ...........................................................

[veiledsentiments]

The MOHE has been rather inconsistent through the years. When I was first hired at SQU in 1988, the requirement was an MA + 1 year of teaching. While they preferred a related MA, there were odd ones in the mix. But, a technical college down the road required an MA + 2 years of experience. Why would the national university have a lower requirement that a technical college? No one had an answer for that one.

A couple years after I arrived, the predominantly British management of these institutions were upset that it was mostly Americans being hired as we tend to get MAs while the Brits preferred the cert system. (CELTA/DELTA/whatever) They managed to change the rules to remove the requirement for an MA.

When these recruiter based colleges appeared around the country, suddenly it was the wild west and breathing was the main requirement. It took them a few years to figure out what a mess this was creating, and now the pendulum has swung back to requiring a "related BA" + CERT + 2 (or is it 3?) years of experience. But the reality is that very few TEFLers have related first degrees, so they are going to have a very difficult time filling all positions. In all my years of teaching in the Gulf, I would estimate that somewhere between 10-25% of teachers had related first degrees. TEFL was my second career, but my first degree was in education... and I had never used it.

As usual, new rules are not well thought out in this part of the world. And my guess it that this rule will NOT survive for obvious reasons. But in the meantime, many people will miss out on jobs because of it.

VS