Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

UAE on just BA and CELTA
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Middle East Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
janesusan



Joined: 01 Jun 2013
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 4:42 am    Post subject: UAE on just BA and CELTA Reply with quote

Good morning,

i've been visiting dave's for many years but never contributed. Hello!

I'm British, 51, female with BA and good Celta and plenty of experience (mainly private school exam level classes with good record of success, business English to National Bank of Greece, IELTS, summer school contracts in UK with Bell) ....

but no post grad quals. I've made a life teaching in Greece with no post grad quals but an above board Greek teaching certification but now my Greek husband and I are looking towards the UAE....either that or bust in the uk.

From reading the posts on here and looking through jobs ads i realize that I am for one coming in with the bare minimum in qualifications and two late in the year for a September start. I would be very interested to hear from eflers in the region and those in the know. Do I have a chance of finding a contract of employment? I am under no illusions that i'll be stepping into a money earner with all the perks but if accommodation is supplied or subsidized we can make a start on a basic contract and work from there. Is my age going to be a problem? Yes, I would do my MA or delta if it would help.

I've brushed up the CV and applied to the few ads i have found, but I'm not finding many. Teachaway have one on there books, none in tefl.com, some in the Guardian. Any tips of vocational colleges or private schools I could apply directly to?

thanks in advance

Susan
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 5:36 am    Post subject: Re: UAE on just BA and CELTA Reply with quote

janesusan wrote:
I'm British, 51, female with BA and good Celta and plenty of experience (mainly private school exam level classes with good record of success, business English to National Bank of Greece, IELTS, summer school contracts in UK with Bell)

Could you be more specific about your degree major and actual years of experience post-CELTA? Was any of your experience at the university level? Anyway, look at Teachaway for vocational school opportunities, but be aware that requirements aren't flexible. If your IELTS experience is solid, try job sites like bayt.com and gulftalent.com.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
janesusan



Joined: 01 Jun 2013
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi, thanks for the prompt response.
my experience reads as follows: celta in �89 (120 hours IH). Taught in uk summer school for a season, then in Thessaloniki (3 years in one school) and on the islands.
Returned to uk for degree (was really going to do English but ended up with robots !! Artificial Intelligence with a Linguistics component so kind of relevant).
Back to Greece and studied Greek to get teaching permit and worked in private sector (Axon, language school franchise in the Balkans) all exam classes for Cambridge suite but also did occasional IELTS, TOEIC and more recently TIE. Did a stint for National Bank of Greece managers including seminars and intensive program for specific purposes. PALSO , (panhellenic association of school owners) external oral examiner. Have spent the last 6 years as registered independent teacher running small classes on my own with success and a lot of satisfaction.
How solid does it read?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
janesusan



Joined: 01 Jun 2013
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

anyone?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JustinC



Joined: 15 Mar 2013
Posts: 138
Location: The Land That Time Forgot

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your experience would make for a great CV - send it off and see what the recruiters have to say. Also your age works in your benefit in the ME, but a Greek passport may not. All in MHO.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
charlesmarlow



Joined: 17 May 2013
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know if Justin is serious but you will have a difficult time finding TEFL work in any reputable language school or university anywhere in the world. You have been a freelance teacher for the past six years. This is very negative to an employer in this industry unless you have been teaching in-company programmes and have references. Best of luck. Sad
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, you're hearing the metaphorical sound of crickets. Unfortunately, this is likely to be the response you'd get from prospective employers in the UAE as well.

Some of your experience is still cloudy because you don't specify what your teaching experience entailed---that is, what exactly you teach/taught relevant to the curriculum. For example, "taught in UK summer school" is too vague. Ditto for "spent the last 6 years as registered independent teacher running small classes." However, your bigger issues are as follows:

1) You don't have a TEFL-related BA ("kind of relevant" doesn't cut it);

2) A teaching (work) permit from Greece isn't the same as a government-issued teaching license from your home country---licensure required to teach k-12 levels in public or international school settings in addition to vocational schools in the UAE;

3) Employers at the tertiary level want to see experience that fits their needs (e.g., university teaching experience, academic writing, test creation, curriculum design, etc.). It's difficult to discern how your background satisfies those or other types of requirements;

4) As Charlesmarlow stated, working as an independent teacher can be off-putting to employers and particularly become problematic if the employer requires official, written verification of your experience (which many do); and

5) Although you have the quals to teach in a language school, such opportunities tend to target qualified locals and not teachers from outside the UAE.

Where does that leave you. You're 51 and willing to get an MA in TESOL (possibly via online through an accredited uni). However, that still may not get you a job in the UAE; many employers will count just the experience gained after your highest-relevant degree or credential. An option would be to head to Asia to gain three years of university experience and then try again for the UAE. That experience + a related MA would increase your chances. But then, your age might become a factor. Decisions to make...

A side note: A major mistake some job applicants make is in not matching their experience to the employer's requirements. As a result, it causes those reviewing the CV/resume to have to spend too much time scrutenizing it and making assumptions about the applicant's skills and abilities when determining if the individual should be short-listed. Frankly, they're very likely to hit "delete" after the first 5-10 seconds of looking the document over.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
janesusan



Joined: 01 Jun 2013
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, reality check. UAE is not a viable option. Too much of a faceless artificial metropolis anyway, nasty sounding place. Plan B. hmmm, o that was Plan B. Plan A was the uk which was even more foolish. Plan C is KSA.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
janesusan



Joined: 01 Jun 2013
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had spent the last few days coming to the same conclusion that my creds wouldn't cut it and then looking through the likes of dubbizle and actually talking to someone in motor city, dubai, it's plain that it's flooded with qts and ma wielding brits. i'd be lost there. I do appreciate your considered comments on my credentials though and it's all amo for the battle to get a decent cv built up. I take the comments on board. thanks and i will be bothering you again, particularly nomad soul as i think i will be aiming for or at least considering KSA.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

janesusan wrote:
Ii will be bothering you again, particularly nomad soul as i think i will be aiming for or at least considering KSA.

You'll have some of the same challenges with jobs in KSA as well. However, you might get a teaching position with a Saudi contracting company. Definitely research the company before applying as many tend to be rather dodgy.

I sent you a PM with some other options.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Voyeur



Joined: 03 Jul 2012
Posts: 431

PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are there any places in the ME where the money is still better than alternatives, but experienced teachers without Masters or QTS can still get work?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Voyeur wrote:
Are there any places in the ME where the money is still better than alternatives, but experienced teachers without Masters or QTS can still get work?

Well, if you're a male, there are some lucrative military and oil teaching jobs. However, I'd say you know already know the answer to this question given your comments on the other thread where you stated:

Quote:
As someone who lacks formal credentials, but was looking to beat the odds and get a shot in the ME, I appreciated Jargon's realistic reminder that many things are possible.

However, after doing a lot of recent research, I've come to the conclusion that this may have been more true in the past than it is now. Not only do employers seem to demand more formal qualifications each year, but the governments have become factors as well. Even if an employer wants you, you also have to meet increasingly stringent government requirements to get a proper visa. And the ability to slide by suing alternative visa solutions is increasingly in question. I realize this applies mostly to Saudi, but I've seen signs of the same phenomenon in other ME countries I have been researching.

I'm becoming convinced that you should avoid the ME until you have the right qualifications, because these days, even if you get your foot in the door and have a nice run, a government regulation change could shake up your plans at any point.

It's not so much about government regs; employers in this region know they'll get applicants with the "right" qualifications, especially if those applicants possess skills, knowledge, and abilities that match the employer's "wish list." Therefore, there's no need to lower the job requirements. This, of course, puts those with lesser quals out of the running.

Additionally, teaching in the Gulf isn't just about delivering the curriculum; teachers at the university level are expected to be able to create tests/quizzes, design curriculum and material, teach writing, present workshops, participate in professional development and extracurricular activities, incorporate technology for teaching/learning, conduct research, and so on. Generally, those with relevant MAs have this experience and/or it was included as part of their degree program.

Frankly, if you want a well-salaried position in this region, you need to match your skills to what the employer is looking for and not the other way around.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You MIGHT get something in KSA, but Greek passport could be an obstacle because of the "Block Visa Allocation". Employers get blocks of visas for specific nationalities. "Hellas" is not likely to be one for EFL teachers !
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
currentaffairs



Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828

PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You could definitely work in KSA. The colleges that I know of really have a shortage of female teachers. However, conditions are lousy on the whole, and not really sustainable for more than one year for most!

If you applied to any of the major recruiters I am sure they would set up interviews with you quite quickly.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
123Loto



Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 160

PostPosted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure where we got the idea she's got a Greek passport? JustinC seems to have made the leap - or did I miss something?

If she's got a British passport then she has a chance with BA and CELTA. I know this because that's what I had when I first came to the UAE - however, my situation might have been unique/lucky... and I think as a general rule, following the (sometimes overly cautious) advice of the the posters here will lead to the best chance of success (but not guarantee anything).

3 years ago, before I first came to the UAE I was beginning to think there was some sort of unspoken agreement among many of the posters on Dave's to discourage the hordes of unqualified/unprofessional EFL teacher/surfers in Asia from coming to this part of the world and further undermining local pay rates. (Hairier teachers might correct me if I'm wrong - but in the context of the last 20 years it seems the pay rates have steadily dropped over that period).

Most posters here teach at universities. I don't, I work at elementary level. A non-English major BA and CELTA was enough for me (I'm not a licensed teacher) - but I canvassed a heck of a lot of schools, and didn't have much luck until I was actually in the country. I have a strong resume and I interview well. This school picked me up when they fired the last teacher - I wasn't a first choice in their eyes by any stretch.

Therefore, I am acutely aware that my position is precarious. I.e. I'm not sure I could change schools if I didn't like the one I'm at now. So having said BA and CELTA were good enough for me, I should point out that I am now busy with getting the DELTA and I've enrolled for a distance MA starting in September.

It seems rules in the UAE are bendy, I know this because I've been operating at the bendy end for 3 years.

Note that if you pull back on something bendy you better not let go, or it could spring back and slap you in the face.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Middle East Forum All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China