Job Discussion Forums

gbonner · Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

Hi there,

I'm a 24 year old single female New Zealander with an MA in Applied Linguistics, CELTA and about 9 months' teaching experience. I'm aware that you're supposed to have at least two years' experience to get a decent job in the Middle East, but i'm wondering how rigid this 'requirement' is, and whether you think I would be able to secure a position there. Also, if I were to slightly 'exaggerate' the amount of experience i've had, how probable is it that they would check all my references? Any advice appreciated!

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

Never a good idea to start in a new field by lying about your experience. The dependable employers require a 'letter of employment' from the places that you have worked.

First off, what are your goals and expectations? The Middle East is a large and varied place. With your age and experience, I would say that the Gulf is not the best place yet.

If I were your age, I would head to the Levant (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon - even Turkey) or North Africa (Egypt or Morocco) and get some experience in the Muslim culture and teaching Arabic speakers. You won't earn much money, but they are more fun places to live and work. Once you have 2-3 years of related experience (in particular teaching academic reading and writing...) to put on your CV, your possibilities will be much greater for a good university level job anywhere in the ME.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I really hate agreeing with a Girrrlie like VS but on this I have to. Do a year or two in Syria or Tunisia or Egypt - then think about the Gulf States.

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

Oh my... both Scot47 and dmb agreeing with me in the last couple days... I'm feeling quite atwitter at my achievement.. Cool

VS

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Scot, let me know when you are next passing through Ist./Const/ Byzan. and we'll work out a way to deal with VS.
(pesky invaders Rolling Eyes

)

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

soitsenglishweteach · Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 18 Location: ksa

nomadykaty · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 60

What are your real qualifications and experiences?

Do you have a CELTA or not? On the Newbie Thread you said you were thinking about getting one.

Do you have 9 months or 3 months experience?
Again on the Newbie Thread you stated that you have 3 months.

Be honest. The people here can help you better if you are more honest. It doesn't take much to find out if someone is 'exaggerating' or not.

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

Well... that's interesting... I guess we could be kind and assume that on this thread she wanted to see what the answer would if she had finished that CELTA and worked while she was doing it.

My advice to her would be to get the CELTA as she needs some good grounding in methodology. And then my advice would be the same as I wrote above.

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject:

I'm with VS on this. That 1 month cert will provide you with more practical experience than the 2 year MA. I speak from experience... Confused

wildfire · Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 37

hi gbonner (to the ORIGINAL poster)

well actually most new comers do LIE a little and if you are planning to lie to get into the ME then you will feel right at home here.

Lies from your coworkers, employers, u name it. The GULF is full of fulltime liars.

Now if a few do protest and say they dont i say HA!
I know even the cleanest of them all to lie when it comes time to take credit for "IDEAS" thought up or the like.

Go ahead a small lie like that will get u hired. Saying you have no experience or just a few months will not get u hired by a sort of decent company.

And remember in the GULF you negotiate your salary BEFORE u sign your contract. Ask for a bit more, and they will find the median.
Twisted Evil

ps. why go to Egypt when the Gulf is completey DIFFERENT. That is silly.
Lots of teachers in the Gulf arent pleased about 24year old girls showing up and being a mess cause they cant deal with the harassement etc...
And act like THEY KNOW IT ALL, cause they read a chapter in Lonely Planet. LOL.

I do think you are too young for the Gulf , but it is your life and you have to make your choices. Gosh when I was THAT young I went to FUN places like JAPAN, THAILAND, KOREA, VIETNAM etc... where there were other people MY AGE.

In the GULF you will find a lot of people in their late 40's 50's and yes many many nearing 65 years. All great teachers just saving for retirement.

Life in the Gulf is DULL and requires a lot of inner strength and personal awareness to survive it. Yes it is great to go into the sea and desert but it is the DAY TO DAY life I am talking about. THERE is basically nothing a normal 24 year can do to have fun. Unless u think hanging out with 60 year old expats in the local hotel bar is fun. LOL.

Yes there are a few abnormal 20 somethings around LOL. They are misfits from the REAL WORLD, and they are hating me at this moment. But to all of you...i am partial to misfits.

Or they are from countries where they have no work and have no chance to get into a Western country so they HAVE to work in the GULF.

Some even have phoney passports bought with BACKSHEEESH...not black shisha..although one never can tell. And they go around with Indian or Pakistani accents telling you they are from XXXXXX. When clearly they have no trace of XXXXX accent. Quite amusing really.

the BACKSHEEEESH market is quite a wide spread problem and many un qualified people are slipping into the Gulf.

come when you are over 35... u will see ... it will still be here. and not much will have changed. LOL.

the salaries might get even lower if that is possible.