Job Discussion Forums

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

Ah, back on track. Unfortunately, I think DogzB's comments are about right, but maybe moreso for English than they would be for EE. I know someone who teaches IT there and they seem to have a bit more latitude than the English teachers do - or maybe that's just him!

Financially and professionally, it's probably not going to help much for someone who has tenure in the US. As an experience, especially outside working hours, it might well be - depends what you're looking for. Since the OP mentions "working overseas again", he (she?) is probably predisposed to look at the whole environment rather than just the job, so I'd say it would be worth it.

dogzB · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 29

Agreed - the overseas experience is a fantastic opportunity for anyone in my opinion - I would also advise any serious professional to look at the UAE. However, it needs to be pointed out that Sharjah Men's College is part of what are now known as "Sharjah Colleges" - this means that the men's and women's colleges are run by the same management team. At the moment SMC seems to be reducing everything and going through a serious re-trenching exercise. Courses and vocational options for students are all being collapsed into umbrella titles like "Business" - they used to be things like "E-commerce" and "Business Administration." The technical section has also lost courses and at certain levels IT is now down to 1 option! This is in stark contrast to SWC which is the jewel in the Director's crown and seems to be offering everything that SMC isn't or can't. We might even have women opera singers from SWC and a bit of competition for Julia Roberts the way things are going!

I read a lot of things on the forum which I don't usually reply to. However, in this case I felt obliged to say something since it seems like a serious, seasoned professional is about to make a career and life style decision based on a certain amount of blind faith. If people have been told the truth at interview and are given a vivid picture of the reality as it stands then they can make their own minds up. However, the fact that so many people write on this forum perhaps leads the line of thought in another direction! George excluded of course, since his regular comments rarely move far from the truth of educational life in the UAE.

Good luck Laughing

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

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

dogzB · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 29

Nothing to do with numbers as far as I know - most of the students look to other HCT colleges (Dubai above all) to see if they can get what they want. Some are lucky but Dubai seems to be full in every department!

As a result, they try to come back and accept the more general course options. This is one of the strange things within the HCT - colleges seem to be able to offer what they want rather than what students want or need. Class sizes are above 20 in many cases. The larger colleges seem to offer a range of different (and perhaps more interesting) course options for students while the smaller colleges are limited to what can only be described as "jack of all trades, master of none" type courses which makes entering the job market difficult from what I have perceived. Students are going into the job market with a Diploma in "business" attempting to compete with degree holders in specialised subject areas. I feel that the original HCT idea of vocational education is moving into the muddy depths of academic misunderstanding - if you get my drift! Perhaps HCT is trying to be something it was never meant to be!! Anyway, we're moving off topic here - just a thought: was the applicant for the EE position informed of why the position became available? It's always a good question when interviewers turn the "have you any questions" scenario across the table.

Good luck Rolling Eyes

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

young george and dogzB have offered the only useful and current information on this topic. Here is some background. SMC had a variety of engineering programmes but the superviser fell foul of the new Director who made his position untenable. He was forced out and a friend of the Director took over. Since then, the program teachers have left and the remaining students have been obliged to take other general courses or move to DMC, which is the college of choice for Sharjah men. The few engineering-type courses still running are being taught, I have heard, by staff from U of S or AUS. It is not a choice I would make if I had tenure elsewhere. It may be of interest that the Sharjah Colleges were looking for around 40 new staff at the beginning of the academic year.

ecl · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 27

It's a SYSTEM, not a place where professional teachers can easily prosper. The system rules and like most bureaucratic heavy organisations, you are rewarded by "time in office" rather than on experience, qualifications or any added value you might transfer. The atmosphere is generally one of confusion due to unilateral management decisions and total lack of communication between the management (yes) team and staff.

Absolutely. I am still in the system, going on 11 years and I couldn't agree more. If you're not here for the $$ there's no real reason to be here. Laughing

The faces are for VS

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

ecl · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 27

But, I'm wondering where in the world are these EFL/ESL jobs that provide great professional development and fantastic career growth? I don't know of any in the Middle East... or North America either to be honest. ...pretty much a matter of just teaching different levels or using different texts...

Well put and spot on. To get into EFL by default and then find yourself, many years later, in the same dead-end profession...that's fine so long as you have other pursuits and interests in life and don't expect to derive too much satisfaction and fulfillment from your job. It's what you do, it's not who you are.

dogzB · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 29

Agree with everything said - but the money is no longer great with the exchange rates as they are and the cost of living rising steeply in the last few years. For teachers who can return home and get a job the difference is no longer so great. Still, after 11 years at HCT you must be on a fairly good deal and have a very thick skin!! Merit where it's due!!! Shocked

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

Yes, with the Gulf currencies based on the dollar, the exchange rates have pretty much made the pay scales appeal only to Americans...

james van cleave · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 59

I think you boys are missing the point? What about all the cultural advantages of living in the Gulf? The Abu Dhabi Light Opera company, for instance? I felt last year's production of La Boheme was sensational.
And if you're not interested in Culture, you can always get stinking drunk in public and be pretty sure no one will ever bat an eyelid.
Actually, they did have some interesting lectures by the likes of Bill Clinton, and various rabid conspiracy theorists e.g. the former head of the KKK etc. The only problem was you only found out these people were there after they'd already left the country.
I guess Bill is only interested in building bridges to his Swiss bank account these days.

ecl · Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 27

Still, after 11 years at HCT you must be on a fairly good deal and have a very thick skin!! Merit where it's due!!!

The endgame has begun. Burn out in a big way. The atmosphere has become progressively poisonous as well.