Job Discussion Forums

[Sunshinetrucker]

Hi all,


I am looking to find out more about teaching in Iran. My preference is for Tehran but I would certainly consider other parts of the country. The thread for Iran is two years old so I thought I would start this as things change.



I'm an Irish 24 year old, with a university degree, and have completed my CELT course (CELTA but for Ireland). I have 2years experience of training and teaching (while at university I managed the radio station there) but only two months of formal english teaching. So not a heck of a lot.

It would be great to hear about

people's experiences in Iran
issues related to pay/bonuses
issues related to visas/work legally/illegally etc
working conditions
the names of schools worth checking out (I have found a few already)
travelling there (I won't be going by airplane but by land)


Sounds like a lot but just throw what you got and let's see what sticks


Keep on smiling

[veiledsentiments]

It will be interesting to see if we get any updates, but since the last threads, I have still never seen an advertisement for a job from there. The only teachers that I have heard or read about picked something up while traveling through.

I suspect that like them, you will have to go there and knock on doors and work illegally for subsistence pay. With all the problems since the election, it is hard to know how closely the authorities will be watching illegally working foreigners. Hopefully the punishment is merely deportation and not imprisonment.

It would be great if the country opened up again to teachers as I know many people who would like to work there.

VS

[Sunshinetrucker]

I think you are right VS. This ain't going to be easy


This site should help get an understanding of the visa process for folks though:

http://www.irantour.org/iranvisa.html


I am contacting some folks in Tehran through couchsurfing.org and if I find out anything pertient I will post it here.

I recommend couchsurfing for folks as a way to make friends and learn about a place straight from folks living in it and it may be ideal in these circumstances with a bit of a info blackout from folks on the ground.

[Cleopatra]

[walkingstick]

I taught in Iran in the summer of 2006 at Kish University, which I think has since been renamed. Kish Island was a pleasant place, and I'd recommend trying there first before going to Tehran. If I were you, I would contact universities in Iran to see if they have language departments in need of native speakers. If there is a genuine need, it may be possible for the university to help with arranging a work visa, housing, etc. I have not seen any recent job postings for Iran and for good reason: they are trying to limit Western influence, especially within their education system. The locals in Iran mentioned several language companies to me, some of which were based in Tehran. I don't know anything about them. If you are a male and of Western descent, you might as well forget about going over there to teach because you will probably not get a work visa based on you being more of a threat. I can tell you from experience as a single American female, it was much easier for me to have access there and to be trusted because the authorities did not take me seriously. I was 'just a female' to the authorities. Despite the government, the people of Iran are delightful and very generous, and I hope you do find something there. I would love for someone to go there and encourage the younger generation, who seem to be so set on gaining freedom from the government.

[Cleopatra]

[walkingstick]

You cannot understand until you are there. There is no such thing as being neutral because you will be asked directly by the students and by the community. I suppose you could refuse to talk about politics with the students, but the students (especially the younger ones) are HUNGRY for someone to listen to them and to show support.

[johnslat]

Dear walkingstick,

" . . . the students (especially the younger ones) are HUNGRY for someone to listen to them and to show support."

Not to cultivate paranoia, but isn't it possible that at least a few of those "hungry" students might also be government informers?

I know that when I was there - during the Shah's reign - there were students who supplied information to SAVAK.

Supporting them could be dangerous.

Regards,
John

[Cleopatra]

[johnslat]

Dear walkingstick,

"I would love for someone to go there and encourage the younger generation, who seem to be so set on gaining freedom from the government."

I believe most, perhaps all, governments world-wide would consider this to be fomenting rebellion, which in Iran is, I believe, punishable by death.

Regards,
John

[walkingstick]

This is quite a discussion...thanks, but I hope you guys are ultimately trying to help the young man who has begun this post.

It seems as if some of you have visited Iran, but it has been a while ago. It would be interesting to hear from a teacher who has been there in the past 2 years.

Thank you, John, because you are so right! It is very important for teachers going to Iran to realize the risks. I'll be glad to discuss the security issues of teaching over there with anyone who may be interested. There is much you should know before you go.

[walkingstick]

Cleopatra,
Thank you for passing along your words of wisdom because you are right in saying that it is not necessary to discuss controversial matters with students. I didn't go there because I needed a teaching job (I've held one here in the States for many years); I went there to be an encouragement, especially to the women of Iran...and I did this through teaching. The irony: they became my encouragement because they define the word 'fearless' to me. I taught and made friends with both government supporters and non-supporters. You see, the women there have common struggles no matter what side they are on politically. It was appropriate for me to have controversial conversations with the specific students I had there, as I felt very protected by the positions that those women's husbands had at the university.

It may not be appropriate for other teachers to express their opinions under other circumstances.
Thanks for this reminder.

[bengt]

[walkingstick]

This is my first time participating in a forum on here, so I'm still learning. I will send you a PM, bengt. Thanks!

[Cleopatra]