Job Discussion Forums

[Noelle]

For awhile I was put off by the whole idea of the Middle east... as a Christian I thought it could be pretty uncomfortable for me there.

I understand that in the UAE, this would not be a hindrance so much as qualifications. I don't lack those. I have an M.A. in TESOL and will have four years of experience between the U.S., China and South Korea. One of my former professors has highly recommended that I give the UAE a try.


My problem is that I'm just really afraid to leave my little "Asia comfort zone" where even though the culture is very different from mine, it's still familiar at this point. The benefits offered in South Korea for example really are difficult to top in other parts of the world not to mention that it just might be the safest country in the world... (that is until their northern neighbors decide to do something rash)

I've read some scary stories here about teachers working in the UAE... supposedly high ranking and reputable schools, universities and language schools, mistreating foreign teachers and causing a lot of problems.

People have told me that the UAE is the best place for qualified teachers who are emerging as professionals in the field but when I read some of these posts about the working conditions, I really start to question that "best place" description.

I'm quite facinated by Arabs and the Muslim faith and so I'm primarily attracted to the culture, however I'd hate to get there and find myself wishing that I'd stayed in the states or continued on in some Asian country.

Any thoughts on this?

[mishmumkin]

I've lived in Spain and Egypt, as well as the UAE. When it came to culture shock, Spain and Egypt required greater adjustments. A great deal of that can be attributed to language learning. The UAE is a pretty culturally 'soft' introduction to the middle east, IMHO.

If you aren't coming to the uAE looking for stellar mgmt, but hoping to teach and be reasonably well compensated for your time and effort, then i think you'll be fine. There are problems in mgmt all over the world, and you'll need to adjust to the workplace norms just as you did in Asia. Certainly some institutions are better than others, though there is no guarantee. Something about the gulf and incompetent managers (often brought over from the west)...those two things go hand in hand.

[Noelle]

Thanks for the reply, mishmumkin

What are students there like...? Communicative, shy, overconfident, resistent to learning another language.. spoiled, stubborn, racist...?
All of the above..?

[veiledsentiments]

I'd say that you will find all of the above...

BTW... I wouldn't limit myself to the UAE, I would also look at Oman. One problem with the Gulf for people who want to experience the culture is that because there are few locals and mostly expats, you don't really experience the Middle East/Muslim culture as you would if you went to North Africa and the Levant. But the mix of cultures among the expats can be interesting too. In Oman there are jobs in the smaller towns that offer more contact with the local culture - though that comes with trade-offs that many are not interested in experiencing.

If you spend a couple of hours reading around here on the board, you will find plenty of descriptions of what the teaching is like and about the various employers. Keep in mind that it is mostly the disgruntled that post here. They are the ones searching for a job and with a vendetta against the previous employer. Often it is obvious to see why they are unemployed... again.

Just as in Korea (and anywhere else) this board is good for learning the pros and cons of each employer and knowing which of them you can live with for a contract or two. Management is erratic and it changes almost as often as teachers... and it depends on how much one is able to deal with it all.

Unless this is your second career, with 4 years of experience, I assume that you are younger. It is hard to know for sure if you will enjoy teaching in the Middle East or not without actually jumping in and trying it. If you don't like it, at the end of that contract, the US and Asia will still be there and you can always move on. Most of us go into this field because we have nomadic tendencies. Right?

VS

[jiminycricket]

This is my first post on Dave's. About five of us were on the roof enjoying a beer on my birthday yesterday. Interestingly, we had all 'done time' in Korea. But now we are all here in Taiwan. I have to say, N, that change is good (and I can hardly wait to move on outta here). There's a very strong chance of being in UAE next school year. It sounds like a solid place. From the postings, people seem relatively happy in UAE. I don't think that Korea is the 'end of the rainbow'. Far from it. Neither is Taiwan for that matter. Don't feel that you have to psych yourself out on staying some place if it doesn't fit. It seems that UAE is tolerant enough and Christian churches seem to be around, if that is what you need to be happy.