Job Discussion Forums

[optimistic]

Could anyone share any info on this place?

1-How would ya describe the students (number per class, motivation, level).
2-Could you name some books used at the foundation level?
3- How frequently are the students evaluated per semester?
4- How long does a teacher work per day? (from what time to what time)
5-Are there any opportunities for professional development?
6-Are teachers involved in extra curricular activities?
7- How long are holidays?
8- How are unfurnished apartment in Buraimi?
9- How would you describe the administration?
10- What is an average salary for an instructor with MA and experience?

I`m sorry for making this post boring.
THANKS

[Dedicated]

Have you scrolled down a little and read the previous postings about the University of Buraimi?

Most of your questions are answered there.

[optimistic]

Thank you for drawing my attention to avoid university of Buraimi.

[lizziebennet]

Could anyone share any info on this place?

1-How would ya describe the students (number per class, motivation, level).

Class numbers are between 20 and 35 (usually under 30 but we had a lot of students in the same level so had classes up to 35 lasts semester, other levels had less than 20 students)

Omani students are generally laid back and a little lazy but they are good students. You don't have to worry about disciplinary issues or anything

2-Could you name some books used at the foundation level?

At present ELS uses Cutting Edge and the direct hire program uses New Headway. This will change next year as the program has moved from 5 levels to 3 levels.

3- How frequently are the students evaluated per semester?

The students have mid term exams and final exams. They also have weekly or bi-weekly quizzes.


4- How long does a teacher work per day? (from what time to what time)

Direct hire teachers have to come in from 8 to 4.

ELS teachers only have to come in when they have classes. If they have classes from 8 - 12 they can leave much earlier than 4. If they have classes at 10 they get to come in at 9:30. That is how is should be in a university environment.

5-Are there any opportunities for professional development?

Don't know what is being done with the direct hires but ELS had a week of staff development workshops. Not really much more than that to be honest...

6-Are teachers involved in extra curricular activities?

Nope, there aren't really any extra curricular activities to speak of.

7- How long are holidays?

If you are with ELS you get 45 days (you are contracted to two and a half semesters). If you would like to have the whole summer off you have to take unpaid leave (as a number of our teachers are doing at present). They also give you mid-semester breaks.

Direct hire gives two semester contracts and summer is optional for extra money. However, you have to sit at work during the mid-semester breaks which means that in the end the two contracts end up being similar.

I like having the mid-semester breaks because you need that time to recharge.

8- How are unfurnished apartment in Buraimi?

Not sure what you mean but apartments usually come with aircons unlike villas which is good.

ELS provides fully furnished apartments in new apartments and transportation so you don't have to worry about those things.

With the direct hire you have to find your own apartment, furnish it and find your own transport.

9- How would you describe the administration?

The administration on both sides are very supportive of the teachers.

10- What is an average salary for an instructor with MA and experience?

Direct hire = lower salary (perhaps because you have a two semester contract)

ELS pays more if you take into account the free furnished accomodation and free transport...

I`m sorry for making this post boring.

Not boring so don't worry

THANKS

I can't speak for the direct hire program but a high percentage of the ELS teachers stayed for a 2nd year and are now staying for a 3rd year. The person who wrote Avoid University of Buraimi was rejected and never worked here and the other person attacking UOB was let go during his 3 months probation bear that in mind when you read the posts.

[optimistic]

thank you so much lizziebennet. seems a good place.

[Turbster]

Lizzie Bennet, What a great response! It does my heart good to see someone continually responding in a positive manner. Not just about UoB, which I know nothing about, but Oman in general.

The kids are sometimes frustrating, sometimes endearing, but rarely threatening (as the western education system can be) and are, at least face to face, respectful of their teachers. The good learners would be outstanding in any learning environment.

Their issues are based in confidence, which is often low due to lack of 'worldly' knowledge and understanding, and primary and secondary schooling issues of pedagogical capability on the part of the teachers. I understand the MOE has a new policy in place to develop teacher's teaching skills however.

These jobs here can be great, as you do have the time for study (or play) if you want, the weather isn't cold and shitty, and its not far to a heap of really interesting countries, if you want a week somewhere different.

For me, married, it is perfect! My wife loves Dubai, and we have all we want here. We won't live our lives out here, and will retire at 'home', but gee, this country has the potential to be very good for anyone looking for a new experience.

Sorry Lizzie, just meant to say "well done" and got carried away.

[lizziebennet]

Tnx Turbster I love Dubai too because I was born and raised in big cities. My hubby likes smaller towns. He grew up in one. I will probably end up in small town Canada with him so I I figure I better get used to it now.
I believe Canada has more to offer than small town Oman

I think being married makes all the difference here unless you have a terrible marriage and your wife beats you up (joke)

I lived in Singapore which was fantastic but we never saved a cent and I lived in Saudi with so little freedom especially in Qassim and now in Oman we can save (to pay off the hubby's MA student loans) and have freedom.
For us it is the place to be. We are close enough to Dubai to get anything we need and far enough away not to spend too much money.

We also have a car which makes a big difference as we can be in Dubai in an hour and fifteen minutes. We only go once a month now just to get Tim Hortons, Books, or basics from Waitrose, Ace Hardware or Ikea.

I thought a lot about your comments about the students feeling insecure due to their lack of wordly knowledge. I need to make sure that I help them to build up their confidence. I love my students and they like me. This is the case with most teachers I hope but if you don't love or respect your students it will come out and they won't like or respect you in return.
I think a lot of the teachers who complain the most on here must have problems with their students and from the sounds of it I don't think they really care about their students and this will result in the problems they speak of.

[thegoodprofessor]

thanks for the positive energy. I've loved my students and "most" of the other teachers and staff where I have worked. There are those I relate to and then those that relate to someone else besides me but that could be anywhere. For the most part everyone has been OK.

If I could just get away from nightmare recruiters I'd be a happy camper. Recruiters were a new experience for me and a nightmare. I'd never been treated to or spoken to as I had been by these people. It was shocking to put it lightly. I left because of them.

Hopefully my return will be a completely new and different experience! I'm counting on meeting and teaching new students, making new acquaintances amongst teachers and experiencing Oman through the heat and floods!

[La Reve]

I disagree with some of the answers to the questions. Yes, some people are born happy, while many others, like myself, too often see the negative while the positive seems to fade.

But I have greatly enjoyed my two bedroom flat - with modern wall air-conditioners rather than the loud window ACs in the older teaching apartment building.

Otherwise, negativity temporarily reigns in my heart during my court cases:

1 Many, but not all students (usually the lower level students) are impolite and discipline nightmares because the Foundation Program has little if any policies or guidelines for students or teachers. Sadly, Omani students' laziness has tipped the scales into entitlement - they receive a stipend from the government for being enrolled, and expect to receive an "A" with little work.

2. The ONE professional development experience had only one or two worthy presenters.

3. The administration loves to break the no-smoking rules and smoke outside the building but within view of the students. There is no Academic Director because the previous one was overworked and resigned.

4. One administrator's relative received such bad comments from his students, he ceased teaching. Was he given a warning letter? Was he fired? Nepotism had him transferred to another college.

5. If you drink with one administrator, it's okay if you don't return from holidays on time, nor can write decent exams, nor be present on exam days (when you're the coordinator). It also helps if you loan that administrator money and wait months for his repayment. Then again, that administrator may also invite you to his home for weekend parties so you can all drink (alcohol) and socialize with the chosen ones.

One of Buraimi delights is its supposedly easy access to Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. That access comes with a high price.

It may take you months, and at least $200 US or more, and attested degrees stamped in Muscat from the UAE and Omani embassies - to finally obtain a six-month border pass to easily get into the UAE.

If you don't have the border pass, the UAE border people too often are like American TSA agents - making you wait, asking silly questions, and doing their "Let's humiliate the foreigner" game. Plus you have to pay, in UAE dirhams, money to leave and return to Oman for each visit. Then again, if you don't have a car, getting a taxi to the Omani side of the border is easy, but getting a taxi from the UAE side to drive the 30 minutes into town can be extremely difficult. (If you have a car, crossing the border is wonderfully easy. But Omani car prices are no longer cheap. They have doubled from $5,000 to $10,000 for the cheaper Kias.)

I often wanted to return to Asia - with all its problems - simply to have good students. IMHO, the Gulf provides a lovely culture, great weather and usually a good salary - but the worst students. In Asia, it's the exact opposite but with great students.

If you are young, married, have a wonderful support system and don't expect babies or don't worry about health insurance, and only have a bachelors degree, yes, the U of Buraimi may seem fine, even dandy.

Maybe even some changes will occur for next year....

Otherwise, apply to the Colleges of Technology. They are more organized and sometimes better managed.

[Nolan Chance]

[lizziebennet]

Hey La Reve,

We have modern wall conditioners in all but one room (which is our spare room) and we live in the old building.

I got my documents stamped at home before I came and only needed one stamp here. Didn't take us months. If people are aware of the border pass system and get there docs stamped at home it is far less complicated.

You may say it comes at a high price but for some countries we have to pay at least $32 dollars each time we go over to the UAE so a border pass is fantastic. My friends in other cities wish they could have access to it. It makes it simple to cross the border as you don't even need your passport. Certainly not a high price for me.

Also most nationalities don't have to pay to enter the UAE. For examples citizens of the UK or USA only pay a small amount OMR3.5 when they exit the UAE. I am from a country where we have to pay for a visa. At present I don't have a border pass so go through that way and never have I ever been asked questions like TSA agents of America. Neither have any friends of mine.

In fact we have made friends with the border agents and they have seen us so many times that some of them know us by name. They often have a chat with us and have always been polite to us so it is difficult for me to picture them being like American TSA agents. In fact they are so chilled that I would almost say they are the opposite.

La Reve, I have worked in Asia for a number of years (Thailand, Singapore and Korea) and I agree the students are more polite and hardworking but the bosses are almost slave drivers, you generally get less vacation and get paid less to do more work. So there are pros and cons for each.

I hope you find that great job in Asia though because they can be found

Lizzie