Job Discussion Forums

[faceofcircumstance]

Hi all,

I'd be very grateful for some advice. I'm a 55-year old British, DELTA qualified, male English teacher and have been working in Oman in Tertiary education (a - the - dental college) for the last three years. I'm fit and dynamic and still enthusiastic...

I have been quite lucky in some respects as far as my current job goes, but though Oman is not a bad place to live, it is not really somewhere I want to stay longer than I have already, and I have seen that a lot of people get sucked in here particularly as they get older because of the job security offered and the lack of comparable alternatives (I've already stayed a year longer than I thought I would because of this).

I would be very grateful for any comments and suggestions as to teaching options open to me away from the Middle East.

My preferred options would be 'Asia', but I'm reading a lot of negative comments about prospects for older teachers in Thailand in particular, and of course Japan is 'flooded'.

I'd like to remain in tertiary education though I do not have a Master's and am aware that I should (I reflect on returning to do a one-year, full-time MA, but wonder about the 'value' at this late stage considering the outlay and loss of earnings, and also consider distance learning, but I must confess I am also reluctant to return to studying though I can see value in the shot in the arm it gives apart from how far it might increase my employability).

Having said that I would prefer to stay in tertiary education, I am not closed to other options. I would like to be in a place where I am valued - of course - and I do have experience of the kinds of places that we all want to avoid. I am not especially demanding as far as salary goes, but obviously wish to save something and, especially, feel that I'm not being taken for a ride by some shark outfit (though I recognise most of these would be looking for the younger fishies anyway).

I imagine some might suggest that I DO remain where I am, and I am still considering this, but I'd much rather hear comments from people who can suggest alternatives.

Any advice on where I could/should direct my job search would be MUCH appreciated. Thanks for reading & my apologies if this is a common thread that I have overlooked.

[Alien abductee]

Lots of options in China, and being 55 isn't a problem for most jobs. Check out the China forum for more info.

[faceofcircumstance]

[nomad soul]

[faceofcircumstance]

[mmcmorrow]

Yes, I agree about the British Council possibility. Here's an ad that went around last week, which I thought might be of interest:

Professional Development Unit Trainer – Burma


British Council Burma is seeking highly motivated, flexible and customer oriented individuals to join them as Professional Development Unit (PDU) Trainers. These positions are in anticipation of upcoming posts on the English Language Enrichment project, beginning in May 2015.

About the English Language Enrichment Project

The British Council has been selected by the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the World Bank, to deliver English proficiency and professional skills training to enable their employees to engage more readily with foreign partners and donors in order to move forward the country’s reforms. The project aims to enhance participants’ communicative and intercultural competence in English in order to enable them to take up opportunities that will benefit Burma’s reform and development strategy.


The project is based in Nay Pyi Taw, a 45-minute flight from Rangoon. The contract duration is one year initially but it may be extended.

This is an excellent opportunity for career development and a chance to play a significant contributory role in the expansion of our PDU in an exciting country that is currently experiencing rapid change.

Key requirements


•Hold a Cambridge CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL
•Have at least two years of relevant teaching experience particularly in Adults
•Have demonstrable English for Specific Purposes (ESP) or professional skills training experience as well as experience of course development and materials writing.

What we offer:

A competitive salary and relocation package including accommodation and an end-of-contract bonus of GBP 3000.

Enquiries about the post should be sent to the East Asia Regional Recruitment team based in Singapore.

For full details and to apply, please visit http://bit.ly/BUR-T-1057. Closing date for applications is 23 February 2015.

Best wishes

Samantha Koh | Recruitment Consultant | Teacher Recruitment, East Asia

T +65 6470 7186 | F +65 6472 1010

[email protected]

[faceofcircumstance]

Thank you.