Job Discussion Forums

Trumpcard · Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 50

Hi, I am a 29yr old esl teacher currently working in South Korea. I have a good undergraduate business degree from an Australian university and a CELTA. Teaching experience includes around 3 years (previously 2 years in Japan which included a year of business English). I teach mainly university students and businesspeople in my current job and am about to star an ESP par time position teaching reading and listening comprehension at a univeristy in Seoul to science major students. I have also compiled the book for this position.

Based on my experience, can I expect to get a decent university job in Dubai? What has sparked my interest is the need to move away from Asia and I recently saw a job advertised which kind of sounded nice ($3500 tax free, all airfares, SHARED accomodation teaching at a university, 6month renewable contract). Is it better or even possible to work multiple part time jobs in the UAE? Am I underqualified/inexperienced? I'm actually only seeking a 6 month contract and thinking of coming over around June next year.

All advice is appreciated!

Iamherebecause · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:40 am Post subject:

Where was the job? Private or public sector? The salary sounds OK. However the better universities require an MA and offer 3 year contracts only. I know Abu Dhabi U has offered shorter contracts (and also rather mean salaries).

Part time work as you describe is normally only feasible for people here on their spouse's sponsorship. Many university contracts specifically ban you from taking on part time work of any sort other thanovertime organised by them - if they wanted an excuse to fire you, and discovered you were doing a little private IELTS coaching, they could cite breach of contract.

MGreen · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 81

In June the universities go on summer holiday. The only jobs available then would be language schools. It takes a couple of months to get a visa for the UAE, a 6 month gig wouldn't be worth the hassle for an employer to start the process for you. Plus once you're in the country, it takes another 3 plus weeks to convert the visa to a residence permit.

The job ad you're talking about, might be the scam that was mentioned on this and the Middle East forum. Be careful.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

This sounds like it could be another "Global Recruiter" scam. One obvious detail that makes it look bogus is "shared accommodation" because there are no universities that have this. Only the language schools and a few of the lowest international school jobs have teachers in shared housing.

The salary is also much higher that you would qualify for with your limited credentials. That is a salary for people with an MA and a few years of teaching academic English at tertiary level on their CV. This is pretty much the standard requirement for university EFL teaching in the gulf.

The Gulf is not a place where teachers can come and pick up a few part-time jobs and survive because the cost of living is VERY high. Rents are skyrocketing. There are few temporary summer jobs here since most people leave to avoid the worst of the heat and short-term contracts are very rare. It appears to me that the type of work that you are looking for is mainly to be found in the part of the world where you currently teach.

VS

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

CERT had people in shared accommodation last year. I think they all left

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

Yup. And pay was around 3500/month. Perhaps this is the job the OP saw advertised.

ETA sorry, pay was a little under 3000/month. I'm afraid my maths is not what it should be.

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

That figures... along with all its other problems. They are also the only university in the Gulf which has had to go to short term contracts to get teachers because of all their problems over the last few years.

VS

Trumpcard · Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 50

Thanks everybody for all your replies. well guess i'm underqualified then, no biggy! And yes, I believe the advertisement was for Abu Dhabi University. I saw the ad placed on the worknplay korean job site.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

If your plan is only for six months and you can tolerate shared housing and a certain level of management problems, ADU is a known commodity. There have been no short-term teachers here complaining about not getting their pay. (and we would have heard)

The catch may be your June time frame as most universities shut down for the summer as everyone that can migrates to somewhere that it isn't 50 degrees and suffocatingly humid. Cool

(at night it gets down to about 36 or so)

Now that we know it isn't Global Recruiters, do a search and read the old threads on ADU... see if you think you could take it for the short term. Better to try for a Aug/Sept start though.

VS

Iamherebecause · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:17 am Post subject:

I met someone recently who was on a 6 month ADU contract - not teaching the regular ss, but working on a work preparedness programme. Seemed happy with the work, wanted to renew. No accounting for taste...

Suggest you check whether there's a big deduction from the salary to cover that shared accommodation!!