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Soft Machine
Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 8
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: Getting Started in the Middle East |
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I'm a career ESL teacher with 15+ years experience (mainly in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam), an M.Ed., CELTA, and undergrad degrees in English and Asian Studies. I've been contemplating a move to the Middle East but have a few questions:
- Aside from Dave's, is there a website that advertises university jobs in ME countries?
- I'm married with an infant. Is raising a child in the ME much more of a challenge in terms of medical, schooling, etc. than, say, Korea or China?
- What are average salaries like for ESL teachers with similar backgrounds?
- What was the biggest challenge for you in terms of teaching and living in the ME?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. |
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mishmumkin
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Have you narrowed down your search to a few countries? "The Middle East" is such a broad search area fo such a specific question. Are you thinking specifically of the Gulf States (Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, KSA, Oman, etc.)? |
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NadiaK
Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed. Your answers would vary wildly depending on country. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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To fully answer your question would require a book. The variance is very large between various "Middle East" countries.
It also depends on your goals too. Are you looking to make the most money or experience another culture?
VS |
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Soft Machine
Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 8
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:33 am Post subject: |
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To narrow it down, money is very important with a kid, but other factors include education, medical and lifestyle. We're both very interested in experiencing the Middle East and are prepared for most of what that encompasses. I guess Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and KSA are the places I was focusing on....I just would like to make an informed decision before relocating my family.
Thanks for the replies. |
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mishmumkin
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:52 am Post subject: Re: Getting Started in the Middle East |
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Soft Machine wrote: |
I'm a career ESL teacher with 15+ years experience (mainly in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam), an M.Ed., CELTA, and undergrad degrees in English and Asian Studies. I've been contemplating a move to the Middle East but have a few questions:
- Aside from Dave's, is there a website that advertises university jobs in ME countries?
- I'm married with an infant. Is raising a child in the ME much more of a challenge in terms of medical, schooling, etc. than, say, Korea or China?
- What are average salaries like for ESL teachers with similar backgrounds?
- What was the biggest challenge for you in terms of teaching and living in the ME?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. |
Is your spouse going to be caring for your child as opposed to working outside the home?
Your 15 years of experience: Was it academic English? Tertiary level?
Dave's doesn't really like it when we advertise other sites, but I can't say that I know of a better resource out there. The TESOL site does have advertisements, though. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:06 am Post subject: |
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Soft Machine wrote: |
To narrow it down, money is very important with a kid, but other factors include education, medical and lifestyle. We're both very interested in experiencing the Middle East and are prepared for most of what that encompasses. I guess Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and KSA are the places I was focusing on....I just would like to make an informed decision before relocating my family. |
OK, so it looks like the Gulf if your best choice if money is a major goal. I might delete Bahrain because there are very few jobs and it is a very small place. If 'lifestyle' is important, you may want to put Saudi low on your list too. Or at least look closely at such details as no booze or cinemas if they are an interest.
That leaves Qatar and the UAE, and you may want to add Oman onto the list. If you are in Muscat area, it ranks quite high for 'lifestyle' for families... medical is good too. Lifestyle is good in the Emirates and decent medical care is there. Qatar is a bit small, but probably fine if you are married. Much depends on your employer and benefit package for all of them.
Not sure what you mean by 'education' since you said that your child is an infant.
VS |
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Soft Machine
Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 8
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:48 am Post subject: |
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My ESL experience has been mainly at universities (11 years), but I've taught English at an elementary school in the USA (1 year....1 year too long) and at camps in Japan and Korea. I've taught businessmen, soldiers, coal miners (avoid coal country in China!), freaks (at an Egyptian language institute filled with rich kids with the sole intent of abusing the teacher, each other and anything else to do with education).
As for educating my child, when I move to the ME I plan to stay for a bit....learn Arabic, travel the area, expose my family to a new culture. That's why I really want to research thoroughly before making the move. |
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NadiaK
Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:06 am Post subject: |
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The Gulf is quite different from Egypt in pretty much most ways. I'd say the UAE is definitely worth a shot. I've lived in various Middle Eastern countries, and headed towards the UAE mainly because the employers tend to offer more family-friendly packages in the Gulf.
I can't compare anything with either Korea or China, but most *good* employers in the UAE will cover or contribute to education costs (as of the year in which the child turns 5) and medical insurance for children. In terms of day-to-day life, I'd say it would be considerably less challenging to raise children here than in Egypt, which you are already familiar with. Plus you're likely to be making more money, which does tend to make life easier (e.g. you can afford a car, nursery fees etc.)
In terms of exposing your family to a new culture and learning Arabic, to be honest it will be *much* more difficult to do that here (assuming you mean indigenous culture) than in Egypt. Not that the multi-cultural environment wouldn't be beneficial to your kids, but it's just that - multi-cultural. It is hard (though not impossible) to make friends with, or even mix with on a superficial level, locals. If others disagree, please chime in, but I'd hate for you to come with unrealistic expectations in this regard.
Good luck!
NK |
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mishmumkin
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: |
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Good points, Nadia. Having lived in Egypt and the UAE, I can say that I experienced much more culture shock in the former. But then, you really have to learn the language in order to get around. It is very easy to come to the UAE and fall into your English-speaking community. It's also not-so-easy to jump into Emirati society. Impossible? No. Just very difficult (easier for men than women). |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:20 am Post subject: |
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Soft Machine wrote: |
As for educating my child, when I move to the ME I plan to stay for a bit....learn Arabic, travel the area, expose my family to a new culture. That's why I really want to research thoroughly before making the move. |
I agree with Nadia and MM. The gulf presents a dynamic multi-cultural environment that presents kids with the chance to gain a wide experience of many different cultures. But, if the culture of interest is the local Arab culture... they tend to be a very family-oriented closed society. We tend to get invited in for wedding parties and other large celebrations, but you don't really live within the culture as you do in a country like Egypt or Morocco or Syria.
For the same reason, it is not the greatest place to learn Arabic. Whereas in the previous three countries every day you get to practice the language with your neighbor and taxi driver and shopkeeper... in the Gulf, they are more likely to speak Hindi or Urdu or Tagalog (and almost all will communicate with you in English)
Of the Gulf countries, Oman probably gives you the most chances to interact with the local culture since Omanis fill jobs at almost all levels.
VS |
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