Job Discussion Forums

[stejskalova]

Hello,

There�s so much information to sift through in this forum, but I�m getting to it slowly.

I�d like to get a consensus opinion on where the best places to work in the Middle East are. I�ll be looking to move (somewhere) within the next year, and was wondering if people could break down the plus and minuses of different places.

Specifically, I would like any information about the quality of life where you are, where the best salaries are, and what to expect from the jobs themselves.

That�s a pretty loaded question, so feel free to reply whichever way you interpret it, and please add any other information or resources you could add for newcomers to the area.

Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

I have found that on the Middle East forums we don't have many teachers who wish to take essay assignments. I suggest that you just read about, look to find out things that interest you, and then come back here and ask specific questions.

That way you may get information... I've worked in Egypt, Kuwait, the UAE, and Oman... all have pros and cons... some are best for one thing and some are best for others... Bahrain has some good points... Qatar has lots of new jobs... And Saudi tends to pay the most money.

And everything depends on your education, credentials and experience.

It depends on what YOU are looking for, not what our taste is...

VS

[redafiya]

As veiled said -- the original post is a thinly concealed essay question, rather than a polite request, which says if you read between the ( all too obvious ) lines, "give me all the answers and I want 'em now and I can't be bothered to do the correct reading and research myself."

No offence, but a little more of a humble approach might win you more sympathetic replies here. Just a thought.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Try for a more "humble approach" could be read as ... try making a request not simply for what any reply should specifically contain * ... but a request for a reply of help in the first place **

Not doing so is often referred to as 'being presumptuous' ...

[abufletcher]

I think you guys and gals are being a bit hard on the OP! IMHO it's perfectly ok to post such broad and open ended queries on a forum like this precisely because one doesn't assume that the question will be answered in "essay form" by one particular poster but rather will be addressed bit by bit from (hopefully) a number of posters.

So here's my own heavily personal bit of the answer. I worked in southwestern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman at the university level. Oman was without a doubt the best place to live in terms of physical beauty and interest of local culture. The best salaries are said to be in the UAE and Saudi. But the cost of living in the UAE is also quite a bit higher. Living in Saudi is a much more "culture intensive" expience than living in the UAE.

Anyone else want to contribute part of an answer?

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[abufletcher]

What language issues? For my American sense of pragmatics there's nothing whatsoever "wrong" with the format of the OP's post "wondering" about information.

Studies show that there is a systematic preference for and offer of help vs. a specific overt doing of a request and knowing this the most common method for soliciting help is to state a problem ("Teacher, I don't have a handout.") with bald requests typically only being done if this initial approach doesn't prompt an offer of help.

I don't see any reason for the need for greater "humility" in the OP's language. As I said you guys are being WAY too hard -- or maybe you just need to go back and reread the post with a fresh mind.

[stejskalova]

Wow � OK

Maybe I�ve just been writing too many grant requests, sorry if my wording came off as less than humble. I�d gladly share any information about my teaching expertise in Korea or the Czech Republic if you�d like, but that�s really not the point of this thread.

[stejskalova]

And thanks for your opinion above abufletcher.

[veiledsentiments]

We weren't asking you to 'share' with us. But, I think most of the responses proved my point. Vague questions either get no answer, rude responses, or vague answers.

If you are serious about the Middle East, do some reading on the boards and find out what your real questions are. There are plenty of people here willing to help, but few who want to spend time trying to figure out what you 'might' want to know.

VS

[abufletcher]

[veiledsentiments]

I don't consider those questions answerable without the poster supplying at least something about education, experience, and expectations.

Too many of these vague newbie posts are people without even a BA or one in something obscure and no experience except for the summer that they taught swimming... are they looking to learn the culture... or the language... are they expecting booze and broads and discos... are they interested in the money or professional development...??

They need to give us something to build on or it is likely that we are just wasting our time... describing situations that are impossible or inappropriate...

VS

[abufletcher]

That's a fair point.

[stejskalova]

Hello,

there�s so much information to sift through in this forum, but I�m getting to it slowly.

I�d like to get a consensus opinion on where the best places to work in the Middle East are. I have a Bachelors degree in Journalism, a TEFL certificate, a Masters in Linguistics, and a Masters in Education. I also have 8 years teaching experience, 3 of which were abroad.

I�ll be looking to move somewhere for a two year contract (at least) and was wondering if people could break down the plus and minuses of different places.

Specifically, I would like any information about the quality of life where you are, where the best salaries are, and what to expect from the jobs themselves.

I am leaning toward an Arabic speaking nation (as I have a near fluency � but open to any and all suggestions), would like not to teach for an oil or defense organization, and would also like to not be confined in a compound.

I know that�s a pretty loaded question, so feel free to reply whichever way you interpret it, and please add any other information or resources (possibly other messageboards or expat newspapers) you could add for newcomer to the area.

Thanks

[abufletcher]

Sounds like a pretty good set of qualifications -- and one which, barring any "red flags," should certainly get you to at least the interview stage with any university language center in the Gulf. Right off the bat thought I'm curious why you have two MAs. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing but it's something that stands out. Also how is it that you are nearly fluent in Arabic without apparently having lived in an Arab country? I'm not trying to be nosey -- just suggesting some of the sorts of things that might occur to employers.

I think the common wisdom is that in terms of university job salaries the ranking probably goes UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman. I'm not really sure where Bahrain falls into things. The other non-Gulf jobs don't really compare. And by the way, you WOULD be looking for a university job. Company jobs are usually for people with BA's and certificates -- though I'm sure there are some well-paying exceptions.

In terms of "quality of life" that depends a lot of that kind of life you enjoy. I loved Oman for it's natural beauty and down-to-earth people. But I know other people who were just bored to tears because there wasn't much of the "nightlife" or the shopping options that some parts of the UAE have.

But generally you'll be hard pressed to find an expat teacher who didn't like Oman. Saudi takes a special breed of EFL expat but I think it can also be a very interesting experience. My year (almost) in the Asir was certainly something unique.

The UAE forum seems to be the busiest which I think shows that there is the most interesting in working in the UAE. I think there are a number of reasons for this. First there is the rumor of higher salaries which may or may not be the case given a higher cost of living as well. Just as important however is, IMHO, the preception that the UAE is "safer" in terms of terrorist activity than Saudi. Most folks in the US will think you are insane if you say you're going to take a job in Saudi today but their only reaction to a job in the UAE will probably be "oh. Where's that?"

Jobs at a Gulf university are usually pretty cosy. The standard contract is anywhere from around $2,000-3,500 a month plus all the usual Gulf perks: free medical, free housing, free yearly return airfare to point of hire for the employee and family. You'll teach anywhere from 15-18 hours a week and have up to three months a year off counting local holidays. The job will be highly stable if you have a knack for not stepping on anyone's toes or getting in anyone's face -- in short being largely invisible. Most people get to basically stay as long as they want at the same job on a string of 1 or 2 year contracts. Every once in a while you'll hear of someone not getting their contract renewed and in most cases everyone will know exactly why.

For people without children or for a teaching couple a job in the Gulf is just about as cushy as it's ever going to get for a humanities major.

On the other hand, for people with children the crunch comes in the form of diminishing child education subsides. Paying the international school fees for more than a single child will soon wipe out any savings opportunities.

Well that's enough for now. If I've misrepresented anything, I'm sure others will let you know!