Job Discussion Forums

[Roslagen]

I am considering EFL teaching in the Persian/Arabian Gulf area and have heard good things about Sultan Qaboos U., especially that it has links to outside universities in the English Commonwealth, thus its standard of teaching/curriculum is higher than average for the area.

I also hear that salaries are lower than average for the region. $38,000 per year excluding free housing, is what someone has written. How much of a raise would come along with that each year?

I'm also intereted to know how likely it is for instructors to have the opportunity for release time to work on testing/materials/etc. Or is everyone expected to slog away in the trenches for the most part? I've heard the first year for everyone is pretty much just Intensive English instruction.

I'd be interested to hear from current and former instructors there if they think the relatively lower salary is made up for in professional develoment opportunities.

Any info appreciated!

[veiledsentiments]

I don't believe that many people are making 38,000 as MA in TEFL jobs at SQU. If it is your first Middle East job, it may be closer to 800-1000 OR a month. (in the Gulf, wages are normally discussed on the monthly, not annual basis) That is more like $2500 a month.

Connections with the Commonwealth? The major connection would seem to be that it has teachers from all over it and beyond. I'd judge its teaching and curriculum to be pretty much average for the Gulf. Its major positives are the beautiful country with much to do and see along with generally pleasant people.

Where you would be placed would likely be based somewhat on your experience, but mostly on where they need people. One can usually change departments eventually. My friends still there switch departments every year or two. The vast majority are doing 'just intensive English instruction' with the difference being what department you are working with - Science, Education, Business. etc. There are also students who are VERY low who go into a special course.

I'd say that one could assume that with few exceptions, everyone is just slogging away, but considering the ease of teaching Omani students in general and the low teaching hours of the universities in the Gulf, 'slogging' may be an overstatement. It's a pretty low stress place to live and work. Release time tends to go to those who have 'wasta.' (not what you know, but who you know)

If professional development is a major goal, I don't know that the Gulf is your best choice. Most people go there for a low pressure job where you make tax free money to save and have long holidays to spend it. If you have been reading, you probably saw that they do have an annual teaching conference. You may find a lot of us on this board have a rather jaded attitude to 'professional development.'

VS

[eha]

Listen to the Wise Woman; most of what she says about the Gulf is spot on. She's right about Oman; the country is absolutely beautiful, and the culture is to some extent still unspoilt--- the traditional culture, that is. The organizational culture in the University is --- unfortunately--- no longer 'traditional'; it's not 'modern' either; it's 'in transition', which is a nice techie-sounding term for 'uncertain'. VS mentioned 'wasta'; in other cultures we call it 'cliquishness'--- and it's not exclusively a feature of 'traditional' cultures. When cliques grow in a hierarchical bureaucracy, where the 'workers' are seen as the lowest level of the food-chain--- for example, in societies where the idea of 'rights' is still very problematic--- then, you will get your alienated workforce, your nepotism, your messenger-shooting, and other organisational dysfunctions. Again, VS is absolutely right: the Gulf is NOT the place to go if professional development is high on your list of priorities. If you're good at focusing on your life outside of work, keen to save money (eg paying off a loan); big on small-talk, low on analysis; in fact, already pretty alienated--- you'll do fine in the region. Oh, and it's lovely for kids--- if you can afford to send them to the 'right' schools.

[thursday12]

Are they still recruiting? When does it end? How long is the vacation?
Is it a low stress environment? Anybody know?

[eha]