Job Discussion Forums

[blues clues]

Hmmm, GF...did I miss something? or did you????? In any case, I have no time for this, I don't throw insults, just state facts.......if you felt offended by anyting I wrote, then please accept a sincere apology. I just try to be helpful and truthful, not more than that....cheers

[Bindair Dundat]

[grand fromage]

BD, you're too good. You got me. How did you figure me out? Ok, I'll level with you. According to my calculations 22 people have left thanks to my warnings; I also prevented 12 from coming, and I am currently "working" on a few undecided prospects. At this rate, I'll be the only one left and have the place to myself before I retire. Well, I would if you hadn't stumbled on to my little scheme. OK, back to therapy; I have to find a way to deal with my hypocrisy. lol (all the way to the bank)

[veiledsentiments]

So, GF,

If you are the last man standing, doesn't that mean you are teaching like really big classes? Must be really difficult learning the student names.

VS

[grand fromage]

VS, how could you think the info on the official MLI site wouldn't always be honored?! It say something like a maximum of 16 teaching hours and 17 students per class. I put great trust in what the MLI says so I am sure they will turn students away so they don't break their promise to teachers.

I wonder what I'll do when what I am smoking runs out

[akardm]

Greetings gentlemen! At least, I suppose you're all gentlemen -- since the MLI is an all-male institution.

Unfortunately, I have nothing substantive to contribute to this discussion, since I was only part of the MLI project from 1998-2000, and I understand many changes have taken place since then. But I would like to interject that, even with all its imperfections, I enjoyed working at the MLI; I enjoyed the hours, the class size, the opportunities for professional development, the various TESOL conventions (and, of course, the T-2-T Convention), as well as the emphasis on educational technology. I continue to regard my short tenure on the Nahayyan Base as very significant to me professionally, and the faculty with which I had the priviledge to be associated as one of the best I have known.

From what I read on this thread, the MLI is being compared to ADU. At the risk of redundancy with other threads, how do ZU and the HCT compare to the MLI at present?

Thanks for your patience.

Yours truly,
Michael Akard

[veiledsentiments]

Ah Mr Akard,

You taught at MLI back in the good old days. Apparently you didn't even know that they started hiring women!! Shocking, isn't it? In fact last year about half of the new teachers were women. And, although I am one (a woman that is), I don't work there and never have - only have had lots of friends and acquaintances who did and do.

But you asked about ZU and HCT and how they compare. Both of them have expanded with attendant growing pains, but they are still up in the top 3 employers in the Emirates - along with AUS. (though the size of the HCT system guarantees that some branches will be better managed and better to work for) They still have the best pay packages and the best benefits - and neither of them is easy to get a job with. They are able to demand that you have what they want - although exactly what it is that they want is sometimes obscure. (Some of the most outstanding professionals that I have taught with didn't pass their interviews)

I think it is a bit unfair to compare MLI to ADU. The last year at MLI was messy and difficult for some of the staff, but at no time did it descend to ADU level.

VS

[sundevil]

VS,

You didn�t mention UGRU in your top three UAE employer�? A mere oversight? I as well thought that the salary package and prevailing working conditions at AUS didn�t really qualify it to be in the top tier of UAE teaching opportunities.

Just wondering����..

Cheers

[veiledsentiments]

sundevil

Of course, it is opinion. It was not a ranking of who pays the highest salary because I don't find that the most important factor. But I would still put AUS at the top (perhaps because I am American and prefer teaching under an American style system). Not to mention that everyone I have had contact with was very happy with working there and I don't recall one complaint on here about them. Of course, they have a new director this year, so watch this space. Their salary scale is near the top. HCT and ZU are very similar as to their pay - and it is the best package, but they differ in style. So, I would give them about a tie.

Next I would put UAEU, so I would put them at number 4 personally. Although they have cleaned up their act in the last few years, finally got their pay package organized so that you could find two people getting the same salary, and most of the new people are content, there are still many that prefer not to live in the hinterlands of Al-Ain. As I understand, their salary is lower than the others. (unless they have upped their scale)

But, as I said, it is opinion and depends on individual taste and goals. I highly recommend all 4 of them as long as people go into them knowing the pros and cons of each.

VS

[High Plains Drifter]

AUS? Could you tell us what AUS stands for?

[Stephen Jones]

AUS = American University of Sharjah