Job Discussion Forums

jjprine · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Hey, I don't want to thread-jack, but I'm a 22 year-old with a BA in English, TESOL certificate (from a U.S. Univ), CA state teaching requirements, and 1 year of Univ teaching experience in China, and I'm (possibly) interested in UAE placement. I'm just wondering if you'd give me the same info in regards to placement possibilities.

Would my age hold me back? Would my qualifications get me into a Univ or good private school? I don't mean to ask you to do my research by any means, but based on your experience? I didn't want to start a new thread when half my questions have been answered here.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Short answer, you don't have the experience to qualify for any of the desirable k-12 schools (although exceptions have been known to occur, you never know unless you try). You would not be considered by any of the tertiary institutions, even the "least admired" require more (on paper) than what you've outlined in your post.

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

JJ.

Your lack of an MA in TESL (or equivalent) and lack of teaching experience would definately rule you out for a tertiary position. The Universities here require a minimum of the MA and 3 years experience (though I have heard of some getting in with 2.. but that MA is a must).

Many of the international k-12 schools may not go after you either due to the lack of experience.

Unlike China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and to some extent Japan your qualifications on paper are not enough. (of course in the countries I just mentioned a BA and being a native english speaker is almost a guarantee of a decent job). In the UAE, the paper credentials you have are more important.

There are some local schools k-12 who may be willing to bring you in, but I would suggest getting at least 1 to 2 more years of experience in China, or Korea before attempting to come here.

jjprine · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks adorabilly, that was extremely helpful. Great breakdown of the situation for me, I really appreciate it. UAE was just one of the places I was thinking about after I leave China in July. I think (hope) Brazil or Japan will fare better for me.

Sugawara · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Location: japan

Hello,
I personally DO want to thread jack this because it seems like this is the right place to post these questions about teaching in the UAE, and far be it from me to start a fresh thread for what is already being worked on. Smile

with that out, I would like to know from experienced professionals What chances i would have in getting the higher level teaching jobs in the UAE.

I have 5 years teaching experience, 2 years with various students of the middle east (or near east, mind you)at the college level in the USA, and 3 years experience at the college level at a very good univeristy in japan around the tokyo area.

i have masters in TESOL and i have published a few times. if there is more info that is needed let me know! ill check this thread as soon as i can but im busy working out grading for this semester here in japan lol

(please excuse my atrocious grammer and punctuation, im in a hurry)

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

I would say that you'd be an excellent candidate for a university teaching position (for example in one of the foundation programs, like at HCT, ZU, or UAEU). All the best to you! Very Happy

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

sugawara

you meet and exceed most of the tertiary positions requiremenst for the UAE. As such you would at least get interviews with most of the best employers who are seeking MA TESOL folks.

If possible, come to Tesol Arabia in Dubai, or attend the TESOL confrence in New York. There will be recuriters there for most of the major universities

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

Definitely hit their websites. Most of them do online applications and now is when they are recruiting for next August.

VS

Sugawara · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Location: japan

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

Short answer... no.

You will have to google up the names of the unis which you can find around on these boards.

VS
(PS... barely even partially grammatical... watch out... the ME section is full of writing teachers... Laughing

)

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

sugawara.

The only comprehensive list I can think of is through wikipedia. do a search in wikipedia for universities and UAE and you can get a pretty decent list of the schools.

Sugawara · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Location: japan

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

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

Both TESOL and TESOL Arabia are always between mid-March and mid-April.

VS