Job Discussion Forums

[letitslidedude]

Here is the link!
http://tesolarabia.org/conference/jobfair/jobView.php?id=43

IAT is planning to hire during TESOL Arabia native English teachers! Have they lost their minds? Have they forgotten that recently within 2 months in Al Ain, they lost 50% of their Native teachers? Are they aware that their salaries are low and the lowest in the UAE?

Wait & see! I would be very curious to see how many innocent native teachers will apply and take their insecure and stressful positions?

Either offer a good package to the natives or if you can't afford it, just hire Arab English teachers?

What a mess!

[globalnomad2]

I notice they can't even get their ad straight--under "Salary and benefits" they repeat the applicant requirements (Delta, two years experience, blah blah blah). Brilliant.

[letitslidedude]

They don�t tell you about the salary and other perks, BUT I do! I am just hoping to help those innocent native teachers to avoid this place like HELL!

1) Salaries for WESTERNERS: Maximum 8900 AED/A month: And you need a Master's degree/ 10 years of teaching experience besides a CELTA/DELTA. What a joke!

2) Other perks: 2 tickets per family/ 20,000 AED for schooling for each child and up to 2: Total: 40,000 per family. You will need to kiss your monthly salary to cover schooling tuitions, add transportations, meals, registration fees, field trips, books and the song goes on!

3) Insurance: You pay about 190AED/a month to get ALICO for yourself. For your family, you have to pay 170 AED/A month for each member. If you have 3 kids & a wife, do your math again!

4) Housing allowance: Abu Dhabi & Dubai: For a married family: 72,000 AED/A year. This is the maximum a teacher can get! You can get a 2 bedroom apartment unfurnished, add your monthly bills. Kiss your salary again!

5) Housing allowance/ Relocation and more: 20,000 AED/ for 3 years. If you resign before one year, you will have to pay it all. There is no common sense and they use a pro-rata system.

6) Need more, PM me!

[WD40]

I have a single friend who joined Abu Dhabi in Setember. She enjoys it and does not see the salary as poor considering she was on less in the UK (due to taxation etc..) Remeber also that in the UK you DO NOT get

Housing allowance (she shares a flat and the allowance is enough)
nor
Education Allowance (she is single and does not require it)
Transport is free once a year home

Therefore, if you did your sums right at the beginning before taking the job you are either quite content because you worked out whether it was economical or not or you are screwed because you didn't.

She also says that though the students are young 16-18 year olds - they are far better behaved than those back in the UK. She is also using Skills for Life materials whcih are by far, better than most that is offered by many institutions

PS I do not work there nor do I wish to as I have a family and it would be financial suicide to even think about going there, but there are always two sides to a story. My advice to you if you have read this - look into it if you are single DON'T if you have more than one child!!

[letitslidedude]

Thanks for your positive post! However, comparing salaries and benefits to UK, or any Western country is a suicidal initiative. Why? First of all, all TEFLers and TESOLers left their countries to be in others for different reasons and usually on a personal ground! Some left because they feel no longer home, while others for adventures and the list goes on! In reality, I have to admit that the majority (and not all) usually come here for MONEY!
In my opinion, you cannot compare teaching English in UK or your home country to the Gulf or other spots. Lack of family presence, normal life, friends, neighborhood, favorite coffee shops, weather, shopping habits, Christmas parties, church and more!
All in all, for a starter like your friend, and single on a top of it, I believe it is a deal! My message was not directed to English Teachers who have a little experience and less qualification, but to those qualified ones who have a chip on their shoulders in terms of teaching experience.
Take care!

[Zoot]

Read all that Miknunez and globalnomad2 have to say about this organization and take it to heart in the most sincerest way - AVOID IAT like you would avoid a plague. The organization lacks integrity. Why? Because any employee with this characteristic left long ago!!!

[janejohn]

Anyone thinking of making of making a contract to work with IAT from
August, give it a miss. I worked there for a full year, gave 6 months notice, and still haven't received my final pay cheque, which is salary for June and July, plus one month's gratuity, minus two thirds of the 20,000Dh
establishment allowance. This should come to about 20,000Dh.

When I left the Emirates in early July, none of the resigning English teachers at our school had been paid, despite repeated emails, phonecalls, screaming at the accountant etc. The accountant blamed top Emirati management for the fiasco, and told me that I wasn't entitled to the gratuity even though the contract clearly states that I am.

[veiledsentiments]

All of you teachers need to have banded together to get a lawyer to take this to the labor court. This is not an unusual problem, but if it is an ongoing program, you will eventually get your money as they have no case. Many others have succeeded.

Don't let them get away with it...

VS

[Zoot]

Great idea, veiled sentiments! Except that employees of IAT have been informed taking group action in the UAE is illegal! And remember IAT is a government organization. The best employees of IAT can do is to warn others NOT to take up employment with the organization.

[veiledsentiments]

It has been done before with success at least twice that I know of. In