Job Discussion Forums

[1400 Years]

Got a Master in ELT from one of the top six universities in UK + two other Master degrees from elsewhere + Certificate in Education from another UK university + nearly 10 years of int'l ESL teaching experience.
Being offered OMR700.00 + 160 Accommodation Allowance by Polyglot.
1. Is that fair enough?
2. With a family - 3 kids, one goes to Class 1, the others not yet - would I be left with anything in my pocket? Would be stationed in Hail or Ruwi.
3. Would really appreciate if somebody [with family too!] could share details of decent family expenses - food, bills, tuition fees, weekend excursions etc. (We don't drain money on alcohol so that's out but do eat out 2-3 times a week.)
4. Nobody seems to have posted anything about Hail or Ruwi. What about
a. Life; b. Schooling; c. Moonlighting opportunities in these towns/cities?
5. How much would a 1995-98 Toyota SUV cost lumpsum?
Thank you for taking time out to read this message.

[veiledsentiments]

You would definitely be selling yourself VERY cheap for that money with your credentials and experience. Language Schools are for beginners... who are single.

Why not apply to SQU? more money, better housing, school fees, better facilities, shorter teaching hours...

VS

[omanized]

hmmmmmm, with your 'top 6' degree and multiple MA's, why are you trolling the low level tefl market for language schools like Polyglot ?

Shouldn't you be readily marketable for a university position in the field? On that salary and with 3 kids , you have no chance to save - actually, you can't even afford to live in Muscat with that allowance - a one bedroom apartment will cost you at least that much.

Aim higher if you can..............


omanized

[1400 Years]

Thank you for your responses, VS and Omanized.
Yes, I should, but my nationality/passport is ... ... there!
You got it now!

[veiledsentiments]

... that darned passport issue...

Under those circumstances, Polyglot would get you in the door, and you could eventually (hopefully?) move over to a place like SQU (which does not discriminate by nationality like so many Gulf employers) or one of the private colleges, and get a better employment package.

But, you would need to be very frugal, and be willing to accept some basic living conditions for a year or so.

Has anyone here heard of any issues with Polyglot concerning transfers to other employers at the end of their contracts?

VS

[otislil]

Polyglot are usually fairly accommodating about letting teachers move on to other places as long as they finish their first contract - and remember that first contract is 2 years.

They also might be less willing if the teacher's moving on to a direct competitor, ie another language institute - but if you're off to SQU or another college then they should be ok. (But remember not to hack off the rather temperamental DOS - if you do your life'll be made very difficult!)

I think you would really struggle to live on the salary they're offering you (which is the normal rate for them) with a family of 3 children - school fees are not cheap and the housing allowance, as somebody already said, will get you a one-bedroomed place only. If this is your only source of income then I really don't think you'd manage. Muscat is one of the cheaper places in the Gulf, hence the lower salaries, but is getting more expensive all the time.

Have you thought about Kuwait or Qatar? Not as nice as Oman perhaps, but more lucrative.

[kuberkat]

Hi, 1400 Years. I think Muscat is the ultimate place for raising a family- unless you're on a single TESOL salary. Before the recruiters tamed this wild land, ministerial employees were earning over RO 1000 at colleges (outside the capital) on a BA alone. That has gone down, but I'm sure you could do better than RO 700 with your qualifications. You have nothing to lose by applying to colelges and uni's- do you?