Job Discussion Forums

[Chikagoan]

Greetings, I am a professional ESL/TEFL teacher from the Chicago area and I am interested in working in the Middle East, perhaps in the Gulf area or in another country in the region. I would like to inquire what my prospects might be like from job forum readers and how I might get started looking for work. I have a M.A. in TESOL, a M.A. in History and I am certified to teach ESL, history and special education in Illinois. I also have 12+ years of ESL teaching experience at the university, college, secondary, primary and private institute levels. My native language is English, but I am fluent in Hungarian, strong in Spanish and can understand and get around in French and some Korean and German too. I am currently studying Arabic. A primary reason that I would like to teach in this region is because I am interested in Islam, Middle Eastern cultures and languages. I am not interested in nightlife (I don't drink) and don't need a lot of outside activities to keep me happy. What are your thoughts and suggestions?
Thanks for the advice in advance!
chikagoan

[Cleopatra]

With your qualifications you should have little trouble finding a job in one of the better colleges in the Gulf. Start your search asap, because the recruitment process in many places is long and tedious.

[veiledsentiments]

There are some jobs in Egypt that pay very well that your credentials would qualify you for. One is The American University in Cairo and then there is the major international school - The Cairo American College, which is K-12.

Both would be good choices as your American credentials would be positive, and in Cairo you do live in the culture and are in a very good position to learn the language.

Check out the Egypt board.

VS

[Anytime now]

Hey, you forgot the best reason. It's the money, if you can land the jobs that pay $45,000 - $60,000. I'm afraid the students won't be much fun for you. They defy the slogan "Teaching is Living!".

Anytime Now

[omanized]

Certainly you are well qualified and should have little problem finding an excellent job.

However, I am highjacking this thread slightly to take the opportunity to correct an all too common perception which is promoted by some on this forum ( at least two frequent posters anyway )

It goes something like this: ...don't come to the Gulf if you want to experience Arabic culture or language, you won't have much opportunity to use the language and there isn't much culture to see or it isn't accessible to you...

This is a misconception, a joke, a result of ignorance or some form of xenophobia or just simply an unsupported assumption.

You can learn the language from any number of classes or personal tutors and you can use it anytime you want - the only restriction is your effort. Would you be turned away at a coffee shop, chatting about the day or asking for information? You would be instantly absorbed into the conversation and highly - I repeat highly regarded for the effort of speaking the local language. Deal with local Ministries? Yes, there are times when you must. Get a phone connection? There are nothing but Omanis ( for example ) to inefficiently deal with your service or complaint request - you can speak to them in Arabic all you want ( although it won't likely improve the service ) Go shopping? Even the expat shopkeepers must speak Arabic - practice with them or learn Urdu on the side. Students? The wealth of conversation available with them in an informal situation outside of class is immeasurable. Socialize with them? It's up to you but why not? If so desired, your calendar could be filled with lunches, tea, weddings, Eid celebrations, Friday dinners etc.

And how about culture? The language practice would allow you to learn something from the people around you. Are the Gulf countries devoid of culture? Are we limiting ourselves to picture books and narrative from Thesiger or semi-moronic anecdotes from expats who have worked here and lived to tell the tale?

pop into a historic dig site in Qalhat and converse with the villagers who live beside the remains of a 3000 + year old village - if you can leave without a handful of food invitations or a guided tour of some kind, I would be amazed.

yes, I understand that Oman probably has more to offer in this regard than the bright lights of the UAE, Kuwait city, Riyadh or Doha but has there been any effort to connect with the Arabs there? Omanis are friendly and as the country is not as wealthy as the others, there are more and more Omanis working and dealing with the public. Do western expats live in a bubble which isolates them from the locals? The only thing stopping someone from doing these things is their own personality and interests - for the OP, it could be as enriching as possible.

It frustrates me that this forum, which can offer useful advice to those who are thinking to come here, can also promote an attitude of aloofness for western expats - we can work and live here as if the culture and the people are behind glass - interesting to look at but unaccessible.

Phew, the rant is over but the problem remains - what say you all ?!


btw, I'm no zealot, convert, revert, foreign affairs minion or forum highjacker - it's Wednesday, the week is over and I'm going out for a drink ( gasp ! ) with an Omani policeman friend I've known for over three years - great guy, former student who politely insisted on taking me for coffee one day to the police club and has kept in touch ever since - I've seen his two new daughters soon after they were born ( he's slightly sad that he hasn't had a boy yet) , met his wife ( albeit briefly ) had many a laugh and a beer and he's managed to cancel a seatbelt ticket that I had as well

[Cleopatra]

[veiledsentiments]

Quote Omanized: "This is a misconception, a joke, a result of ignorance or some form of xenophobia or just simply an unsupported assumption."

Rather an offensive, over the top comment I'd say...

I stand by everything I have said... I lived in Cairo for 3.5 years and used my admittedly limited survival Arabic every day. I lived within the culture in building full of Egyptians and had numerous Egyptian friends in my social life.

Even Oman is 100% different, though again as Cleo pointed out, quite unlike the oil-rich states. I lived there for 5.5 years total and literally never used any Arabic beyond basic greetings. The housing for SQU was all on campus then, but my other stint there was living in Al-Khuwair or Madinet Qaboos and the vast majority of my neighbors in both places were fellow expats though very few of them were westerners. Much more opportunity to practice Hindi. What limited socializing with Omanis that was available was with fellow teachers or student's families and was invariably in English. (though Swahili might have been useful)

People who spent a great deal of time wadi bashing and out around Oman - even those who were native speakers of Arabic - said that they have a very difficult time comprehending the spoken Arabic of the rural people. The Omani rural dialect, like most rural Arabic dialects, is highly idiosyncratic. The Omanis are wonderfully kind and generous people and we all have some friends like your ex-student, but Omani society is still very closed off from Westerners. Their lives are their families, and we are but a rare guest for tea or perhaps a dinner - most often in a club rather than their homes.

Obviously if one is willing to spend a great deal of effort and arrange one's life in order to benefit one's language learning, one can do it in the Gulf (including Oman). But, of one wants the benefit of full immersion language learning... head to North Africa or the Levant.

The best advice of all is to start there for a few years... and then head to the Gulf... Oman being the best of the lot in my opinion. (for the people and country, not the money)

VS

[omanized]

Ok, ok, I agree with the more detailed versions of your opinions - but, I don't know how my comments can be construed as offensive or over-the-top?

I also stand by my statements, having lived in Doha, Kuwait, the UAE and now Oman - the point that someone can live in these places and not be able to enjoy the language and culture is just as much their own fault as anything else - I took the OP's intent to learn about Islam and culture as something more serious than bumping shoulders in a crowded Cairo market.

And as I said, it was a bit of a rant - and by definition, mostly unneccessary - heaven forbid we develop a "necessity" filter on this forum however ( although we might have one already in practice) - the word count would greatly diminish and we would lose some of the more entertaining diatribes and rebukes amid all of the useful advice and observations .

omanized

[Cleopatra]

[Bebsi]

I agree with both Cleopatra and Omanized; both make extremely valid points, among other posters.

It is indeed more difficult for westerners to mix with locals in Gulf-Arab countries than in non-gulf-Arab countries, due to a complex set of circumstances that have already been discussed at length in other threads of this forum and in other mid-east based fora. It is also more difficult for women than men, but then again that may prevail to a certain extent in all Arab societies.

Having said the above, it is not by any means impossible to meet and fraternise with the natives, it just takes a bit more time and effort (I speak primarily for KSA here). Many westerners do not make this effort for various reasons, some fully justified, some perhaps less so. But for those who want to, opportunities to socialise certainly exist. I was invited to a number of homes in Saudi Arabia for dinner, by students and colleagues among others. More often than home invitations, however, I was invited on desert trips, picnics and, frequently, to meet for coffee and meals in cafes and restaurants respectively. Sometimes this contact would simply involve superficial conversation with people who spoke limited English but were invariably courteous and polite, on other occasions meaningful friendships developed.

What I found to be unerringly the case in KSA is that if expats show a real interest in the country and culture, invitations on desert trips and to Shishah (hubbly bubbly) gardens for gatherings, among other events, will certainly be forthcoming. During my time there, I got to know the kingdom quite well, and found it to be indeed a fascinating place: socially, politically and geographically.

Just as we make certain assumptions about Saudis that are less than entirely accurate, they do likewise. I have met many Saudis who were under the impression that ALL western expats were only interested in sitting in compound bars getting drunk, with zero interest in what was happening in the world outside their four walls. This certainly applies to many, just as there are indeed many Saudis who are at best, wary of westerners and at worst, downright hostile. While many westerners do indeed fit the cliched image, I have met many more with a similar interest to myself in getting out and about, so to speak.

In places such as UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, I feel it may be more difficult. One possible reason for this is that with the natives being in such a small minority, the chances of meeting them are numerically greatly reduced, and those that one does meet, such as students, tend to move in more restricted circles, being effectively enclaves in what now amount to expat societies.

[veiledsentiments]

Of the Gulf countries, Oman and Yemen are definitely the two where one has a better chance of meeting and developing a relationship with the local people. Yemen even more so than Oman or so I hear from men who have lived in both countries.

But for women, as Cleo emphasized, it is much more difficult. I left after my years in Oman with two close Omani female friends with whom I keep in contact. Both were women of my age that I worked with... Western educated in the US and UK. But I must admit that I can't consider them 'average Omanis.' There are almost no informal gatherings for women... only formal affairs like wedding parties or stilted dinners.

But back to our original poster... if someone is seriously interested in learning the Arabic language and learning as much as he can about the culture, I still think the best choice is North Africa and/or the Levant for a couple years. Egypt offers good job opportunities with his credentials - if money is a major issue - though I would suggest Syria as perhaps the best for learning Arabic. And then on to Oman - a nice place to live and work - and you can travel to visit the other Gulf countries from there. (except KSA)

VS

[Wigwam]

If you wish to see Islam and at the same time surround yourself with the culture, language and customs might I suggest the following in no particular order.
Oman (see other posts)
Libya (unspoilt by tourists, extremely rich in history)
Lebanon (as above despite the recent war) a rare mix of cultures
KSA

[omanized]

[Rin]

I haven't had any problems getting to know the local's here in Qatar. I find them very friendly. I've already been to several weddings and birthday parties, as well as simple walks in "womens" park and even coffee at a couple of girl's house's. I am even starting to learn a little Arabic. We discuss everything from make-up and clothes to Islam and the current Lebanon/Israel crisis. In fact I find most Qatari's love to talk about Islam, and are happy to answer any questions and even get into long arguments about it.

If anyone has problems meeting the locals here I would say it's because they aren't trying hard enough or being standoffish, not because the locals are hard to get to know.

[Cleopatra]