Job Discussion Forums

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

I am thinking of moving to the UAE from Japan. Is HCT as bad as people say? I had a look at the website and glassdoor and the place seems really bad if you are an English teacher.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Most of the complaints are pretty valid. That said, some branches are more/less difficult than others, but things are still a bit confused due to the current reorganizations of the UAE education system and lots of new managements that don't have much of a track record.

It is a very high pressure job... long days where you are expected to be there whether you are teaching or not. Pay and benefits are not as stellar as they used to be to compensate for the often silly rules, excessive meetings, and expectations. Cool

It used to be a job where most teachers stayed for numerous 3-year contracts. Now many only tolerate one or two...

VS

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

you have to stay? don't they have office hours where you get your own office and can do your own work, such as research?

peripatetic_soul · Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 303

NNG,
VS is absolutely spot on. Conditions can vary greatly from one campus to another for various reasons. Esp. take note of benefits, relocation and housing allowance, etc. Remember - in general, the contract is not legally enforceable. For example, we were promised a certain % raise annually which did not happen. Sent you a PM with more particulars.

PS

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

so if you are in an open plan office, how do they expect you to do any research? if its too noisy, what do most people do all day if they have to stay there 7-5?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Dante should have added this fashionable idea of common offices/cubicles to the lowest grade of Hell, next to the very fire, indeed he should have...

balqis

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

D. Merit · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 203

secretsquirrel · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:06 pm Post subject:

DM's absolutely right.

Don't go there, unless you want to be humiliated and belittled on a regular basis by the students and the management.

The financial remuneration has also gotten worse over the years, and is not likely to improve, so that's another reason (or two) to avoid the place.

Shakhbut · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 167

All true. Those of us here long term can't stand it and can't wait for it to end, yet are earning decent green. Newbies will have no such advantage.

nicenicegaijin · Joined: 27 Feb 2015 Posts: 157

So for new hires, the pay is different the people who have been there are long time? How much? I doubt I would go, the whole reason I work at universities is I don't have to be there 9-5. I wanted to do that I would go corporate and make real money. HCT sounds like an awful place from what I have read, but what keeps people there then? It seems the money is not much better than a FT assistant professor in Japan, but with a lot more BS, is that right?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

peripatetic_soul · Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 303

Dear NNA,
Obviously, you did not read my PM. You can find answers to all of your questions throughout the UAE/HCT postings.
NS and VS have succinctly laid out the status quo to your host of questions. It's rigorous, demanding, and not what one may envision an EFL program to be, esp. in Foundations. You won't have your own office but be in a fish bowl. However, there are many talented folks there. As for students, one never knows their proficiency, as it's a wide range within one level in a program, and as for your assignment, it's the luck of the draw as to which emirate and which campus. Check out PM to you and best of luck.
PS