Job Discussion Forums

[Milwaukiedave]

I know this is a long shot, but I'm wondering if there is anyone who is or has taught business courses at HCT.

I have an interview with them early next week and have read the other threads, which is making me nervous. I'm wondering if all departments treat their employees poorly.

I've taught in Korea for three years and been screwed by hagwons. I'm trying to make sure if I did take the job I wouldn't encounter something similar.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[like2answer]

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[tiberio]

[redcliff]

MD,

if you have worked in a non-teaching private sector position before, there is a very good chance you will find the work load here teaching business less than what you may have previously been expected to fulfill.

that said, i would guess that english teachers at hct probably have the heaviest workloads, especially in foundations where students are at risk of failing out

[Milwaukiedave]

Thanks everyone for your answers...

I'm curious which of the locations are the best in terms of living conditions?

I read in another thread that there were rumors about them cutting housing and insurance beneftis. Did that happen? Do they cover the cost of housing or do you have to pay part of it?

There are so many things I want to know going into this. My interview is Monday evening.

[veiledsentiments]

I taught in both business and EFL for them, and definitely preferred business. I taught mostly accounting and you really must 'translate' the materials as none of them can read and understand the textbooks. (they are hard for native speakers) Because of this for instance, rather than covering the first 10-12 chapters of the text in the first semester as would have been done in the US, you will only cover 4 or 5.

It is hard to tell you which location would be best because you will find people who are for and against each city. It depends on what lifestyle you want. Do you want proximity to the beach? the mountains/desert? large town? big city? are you single? married? kids? It is likely that you don't have a lot of choice anyway because they do central hiring and people are assigned to the branch which needs the teachers with their skills.

There was a modification of insurance coverage which as I recall eliminated travel coverage... but one can easily pick up travel health insurance at any travel agency as I always did. (they were probably one of the only places that ever did offer this benefit, so its loss was really a non-issue as far as comparability to other employers) It still offers one of the best medical coverage plans... or perhaps I should state that others offer far less.

Most branches have an inventory of housing and you are normally assigned to one of the empty flats. They tend to all be acceptable though one can suddenly have the building next door being torn down.

There is definitely no reason to be nervous. One can get bad supervisors anywhere in any profession. The majority of teachers at HCT are doing fine. Remember that it tends to be only the complainers that post, and probably a good percentage caused their own problems.

VS

[Milwaukiedave]

Veild,

Thanks for your candid answers. I've heard you basically get assigned where they put you and have little choice in the matter.

I happen to be married and my wife would have to come over on a visa with me. I've heard Dubai and the city closest to it are not good in terms of the living enviroment (I'm still wondering why though).

Are the contracts year to year or do you have have to sign up for more then one year?

There's a thousand questions going through my head and I'm just trying to find out enough to make sure I know what I'm getting myself into.

David

[Shakhbut]

MD,
The reason Dubai and Sharjah are rapidly becoming less comfortable to live in is the dramatic increase in traffic, with no foreseeable sign of relief. Some times of the day are simply off limits.
Do not take it lightly. Abu Dhabi or the smaller emirates may be a better option very soon.
S

[NadiaK]

David, contracts are for 3 years. Once you've passed your probation year, 6 months' notice can be given by either party (end of employment to take effect at the end of a semester). If you leave within your first three years you have to pay back part of your furniture allowance, but other than that there is no penalty as long as you work your notice.

I don't think HCT are likely to "screw" you. In terms of salaries and benefits they are pretty generous and (usually) very fair in terms of you getting what they promised. Profesionally you may suffer from a lack of autonomy but that varies widely from programme to programme and college to college.

[TABING]

Talk up your knowledge of technology (computer aided instruction, familiarity and use of WebCT, business learning internet sites etc.).

The HCT is very big on this, (some campuses anyway).

Familiarity with new Windows Vista and Office 2007 is a plus as the college will soon be moving to it, and nobody know how to use it yet.

[turtlepi1]

[Stephen Jones]

You shouldn't have too many difficulties with Office 2007, though the interface will take some getting used to.

As for Vista, expect fun. You'll be hit with nag dialog boxes all the time.

[Milwaukiedave]

In another thread someone posted something about working at HCT being a "death sentence" for your career. I questioned the person's statement at the time thinking they were exaggerating.

However, I recieved a message from someone else (I can't identify who, but I would say I believe they are a creditable person) that works at a HCT and they said that the experience gained there is not likely to help your career because it is not recognized or discounted in terms of the programs creditablity.

Does anyone else have thoughts about that?

[veiledsentiments]

Death sentence to a career? That sounds like a bit of overstatement. Or a comment from someone who got fired and they informed the next employer of why.

What benefit does any particular teaching job anywhere give to your next teaching job? If one is planning to be the Dean of Harvard Business School, HCT probably won't give you a leg up. Nor will most any other university anywhere outside of the US.

Do you have huge expectations careerwise in business education? Or do you just expect to be like most of us who just hope that the next job has something new and different to offer. If you want to teach at a place that has predictable warts (like all employers) but also a contract that pays you what it says it will and provides you with nice living conditions and long holidays, HCT is fine. Certainly no similarity to what I've heard about the bad hogwan jobs.

IMHO, most teaching jobs tend to be what you make of them. For the most part, you will NOT be teaching the scions of business. If you are in a women's college, most of them will only use that degree to be a wife and mother. But, I can tell you that it was great fun to teach them business.

Does that all matter to your teaching career? I am curious as to how or why one would think that this job affects it negatively. I have found that the majority of employers look at WHAT you have taught more than where.

VS

[Stephen Jones]

There is a tendency in the UK to view any work done abroad as being a kind of long-term junket.