Job Discussion Forums

[GabeKessel]

Dear Friends,

I have a US citizen friend in his late 30ies who has a bachelor's in Spanish translation is a diabetic and has no teaching experience. He is contemplating teaching overseas. He has asked me these questions, but since I have not been teaching in the Middle East with just a BA and am not a diabetic myself, maybe you could answer in case some of you know if people in a similar situation who are already teaching there. Here are his questions:

1) What are the medical costs in these countries? What about for people who have chronic conditions? Do they offer insurance or how much does it cost for you diabetics out there?

2) Are jobs harder to get with a BA than with an MA? What were the wages in the other countries? Has anyone done an MA online?

He also wanted to know if it would be possible to do an MA online, and if so, which MA and from what school would be good ( what are costs, time involved, etc.)?

3)What do you do for recreation and exercise in these countries? Did you find ample places to go swimming, for example? Do they restrict foreigners?

4) What are the vacations they give in these countries? Are they paid?

5) Do any of these countries give some kind of retirement plan if you want it - that is, if you show a serious interest in teaching as a career?

6)And he is also wondering about what TEFL/TESL/TESOL certificate would be the best for him to study for if needed. And would it be possible for him to go to the ME 'now' with just a BA, and if so, where?

7) In which country have people been able to save most money ? And what would be the realistic savings possibilities for different ME countries?

Your help and any other advice for a person like himself would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,

Gabe

[scot47]

The diabetes is less of an obstacle than his total lack of tyeaching experience.

To get any real job he needs two years experience.

For some employers his being adiabetic will be a big no-no. Others may not worry too much. After all 25 percent of the population of the Gulf States suffer from this condition sooner or later.

[veiledsentiments]

I too see his biggest obstacle his lack of credentials. That puts him in the position of getting the jobs with that bad combination of low pay, lousy benefits, and marginal, abusive employers.

Thus while medical costs are significantly lower than in the US, even if one must pay out of pocket, his pay will also be in the basement. I fear that these employers will also either exclude or not cover a chronic illness. But, it is a common illness there as Scot says, so medication and good treatment is available if that is a worry.

If he decides to come over with just a BA + cert - definitely chose the CELTA for the Middle East. Personally I think he would be better off getting an onsite MA in the US (while teaching to get experience to put on the CV preferably at university level), and then think about going to the ME in a few years after he is in a position to actually make a living and save some money. Being in his 30's already, he would want to avoid starting a career at the level where his savings level would be minimal at best.

So, his savings would likely be minimal at his current position. Any 'retirement' plan would be something that he set up and paid into himself or personal investing of what little he saved.

Vacations depend on what kind of position one gets. For him being mostly in the 'language school' situation with his lack of credentials, perhaps a month plus some religious and government holidays. University level with an MA is naturally much more generous 2-3 months off plus holidays. Paid? Normally salaries are stated at a monthly rate assumed for 12 months - so I guess you would call that 'paid.' One would need to carefully read the offer and/or contract to find out this information.

Personally I think that this is pretty much a bad choice for him as his situation is at the moment.

[Bindair Dundat]

[scot47]

A free ride as you are leaving ? Yes. Not much else. Make your own plans for retirement. A Webley service revolver with one round of ammo ?

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Neither will you get any help with the cost of the numerous visits to the shrink needed to get you back on the rails ... most resort to the old pencils up the nose trick shortly before leaving to try to get a few visits on the (nut) house ...

[globalnomad2]

Look--for any decent job in EFL, you have to accept the reality that you have to pay your dues first. You get an MA in TESOL and then you AVOID LANGUAGE SCHOOLS by accepting--if necessary--one of those Saudi college (or foreign-company-in-Saudi) positions and gritting your teeth for three years. For one thing, it is not always expensive to get your MA. In fact, I had assistantships for both my M.S.Ed. in Student Development and my M.A. in EFL, which involved a full tuition waiver plus a small salary, enough to avoid loans and providing valuable teaching experience to put on the resume. Personally, I was prepared to take a Saudi position when I completed the EFL degree in 1986. The position would have paid $20K and the free housing was supposed to be a trailer. But I lucked out and got a high-paying position with an American university extension campus in Kuala Lumpur; it was one of the best EFL jobs in the world at the time. From then on, I always got decent university jobs in Intensive English, mostly in Japan and the UAE. But if you have to go the Saudi route, then so be it; at least you'll save some money while you're paying your dues. Then you can qualify to apply for university IEP programs anywhere your heart desires.

By the way, why did I put "avoid language schools" in caps? Because (1) they are bottom-feeder jobs, and (2) in some countries like Japan, once you have worked for such a school, you are forever stigmatized and you will never get a good college job.

[scot47]

'Then you can qualify to apply for university IEP programs anywhere your heart desires'


Hmmmm. Norway ? Switzerland ? The Nertherlands ? Yale ?