Job Discussion Forums

bexely2000 · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 31

Hi there,

I am off to a school in the Middle East soon-ish and I have thus been searching around the internet for info on the school. Mostly what I�ve turned up is a stream of vitriolic hatred from a small number of people about how awful the school is for various relatively un-quantifiable reasons.

I realise that this sounds like denial on an epic scale (which it is) but I was hoping that some of you might reinforce my scepticism for these sorts of postings.

They're not true are they?!?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Depends. It would help if you told us which school if you expect us to comment.

Sara Avalon · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 254 Location: On the Prowl

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Complaints are often justified. And of course they are normally made by ex-teachers, or soon to be ex-teachers if they are identifiable.

It is true that complaints often depend on expectations - but it is normally the employer that raises the expectations in the first place.

Really you have to play it by ear.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Sadly, it is easier to complain than to say something nice. If it is just a couple of ex-teachers, I would probably dismiss their complaints and think that the problem was with them, not with the country or school. (After all, why are they EX-teachers? One bad situation shouldn't mean the end of a career--rather, it should be an impetus to change schools or countries.)

I think that success or failure in this job--both in the classroom and with daily life in another country--depends more on the person than on the job or country. How resilient are you? How independent? How open-minded?

If, of course, every teacher at that school of yours only has bad things to say, maybe you should keep looking.

d

bexely2000 · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 31

Thanks for your help. The school is in 'Hell' - apparently - Kuwait that is.

There seems to be one particular teacher who has gone around loads of discussion boards and posted the same diatribe. In total I�d say that about four or five people have replied agreeing.

"The director is a witch, her assistant rides a broom," is a phrase that keeps cropping up.

There does genuinely seem to have been problems with lots of English teachers who left before the recent US invasion of Iraq on UK foreign office advice. When they thought they could come back, they were fired. The courts are involved now etc etc.

I'm still very much looking forward to going and making up my own mind. It can�t be all that bad.....

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I worked in a school in Kuwait that was worse than the one you were describing. The woman in charge was truly the most evil specimen ever to have flown on a broomstick. Even her daughters couldn't stand her.

The advantage of Kuwait is that you keep your passport. So bring enough money with you, have a backup plan, and be prepared to walk.

younggeorge · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE

I must be one of the few people who actually enjoyed their time in Kuwait. Admittedly, I wasn't in a school, but the same organisation did run one and the teachers there didn't seem disastrously unhappy or ill-treated.

Stephen Jones has the right idea: give it a try but be sure you have a backup plan in case it's as bad as people say.

Sara Avalon · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 254 Location: On the Prowl

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

bexely2000 · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 31

At last youngeorge, someone who actually liked the place. What a refreshing change of view!! Generally i believe that you ll enjoy something as much as you re willing to. I know many teachers the would find fault with the most perfect of school, they can be, how can i put this.....moany *beep* really. Very Happy

And its not so much naieve, as desperatly hopeful. (which i guess isnt that far away...)

Well, wish me luck...

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I dunno. I think life is too short to settle for a job you aren't happy with.
If there are any doubts in the OP's mind then he/she should skip past this 'opportunity' and look for another job.

bee · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 5:59 pm Post subject:

I think the thing to do is to figure out what are the core issues the others are complaining about. Then imagine yourself in that situation and how you would feel. Ignore the bits which are obviously just whining. If there are any specific concerns, now would be the time to bring it up with the school. See if you can sort out any problems before you get there.

I once worked at a school in which the previous teacher ran away because she hated it so much. She emailed me telling me everything she had problems with at the school that had led to her constantly fighting with the director. This made me a bit wary, but the things that concerned her (bad program, big classes, constantly changing schedule) I was perfectly happy to live with because of other benefits (good wage, location, short hours). I had absolutely no problems at that school and in the end had no fights with the director at all. The previous teacher was being honest and she had justifiable complaints but my situation was just completely different.

You mention they talk about the director being a witch. That could be just a personality clash with those people involved. Think about your own personality and how well you get along with difficult people. If you're enjoying everything else about the job, how much would you care about getting along with the director? You could just avoid her as much as possible.

Can you get the school to provide contacts with any other teachers who have worked there? Maybe they could give a more balanced view.

Sara Avalon · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 254 Location: On the Prowl