Job Discussion Forums

[orangepeel1]

I have interviews this week with the following schools... Any info that you could provide would be MOST helpful!

I need to know about relationships between the staff and admin, ex-pat teacher treatment and packages, and any info about the students...

The schools are Dubai National School, Al Mawakeb, International Academic School, and Itihad-Al Ain....

Thanks in advance!

orangepeel

[mishmumkin]

Run screaming from Dubai National School. I interviewed w/ them a few years ago. A former colleague of mine worked for them. During their interview at TESOL Arabia, they gave me a list of "rules" to look over. They hadn't paid for a room like most recruiters, so all this was happening in a chair in their booth. I asked for a few moments alone while I went through a list of their "no-no's." I never went to their location to see the newly-built school, but that didn't stop them from making an offer several months later via email. It was a pitiful offer, at that.

Al Itihad in Dubai was ok-I think their contracts tend to pay a bit on the low side. I can't speak for the Al Ain operation, but I imagine it's the same or similar.

International Academy School: I'm curious to find out about their curriculum. I might be wrong, but I thought this school was a spin-off from a former Choueifat/Sabis employee. I thought they hired maiinly local staff (saves them a lot of money on expat hires).

It's late in the season to be looking for work, otherwise I'd suggest you try a number of other schools. What country did you do your teaching degree in?

If you need help deciding what offers are good, feel free to PM me.