Job Discussion Forums

BJardIm · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 32

Hello all

A fairly straightforward question, I hope at least

I have a CELTA (pass B) don't know if this counts for anything

One years teaching experience (business and general English)

but... No degree to keep me warm at night!

Is it at all possible to to be able to enter an Asian Country or the Middle East and earn a good wage ( talking saving money ).

or what country could I get into without a degree but earn a good income?

I'm currently in South America and the wages aren't that good here, I'm saving roughly $400 p/month thats with a 20hour per week teaching job and 4.5 hours (also weekly) in private lessons.

Ideally I'm looking to save $800 +

Your thoughts, experiences and recommendations would be highly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

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

Middle East employers are sticklers for degrees. They want to see those pieces of paper. A teacher with 10+ years of experience might sneak into a job, but I'd say that your chances in the Gulf of any job is extremely low.

Asia is probably your best bet for a job. I don't know anything about the chances for savings. Your best bet is probably to increase your private lessons where you are already established.

VS

BJardIm · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 32

hmmm... or just finish Uni...

Thanks for your reply Smile

rocketchild · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 96

well my dears the UAE has made up some new rules within the past 12 months.

they want all degrees to be RE-CERTIFIED thru their official process.
each teacher no matter where they are from must re-submitt their documents for proper certification.

this is regardless of wether or not you have had them certified thru your embassy etc....

when you apply for a job they will advise you, or more likely once you do it all, they will bring you over, start your job and make you do it all again the M.O. E .way....and you pay.

don't recall the link, but its all very official and it probably means that no degree, no chance. but you know ...there are now LANGUAGE schools which do slip thru the MOE loop holes.

BERLITZ, and the BritCouncil and a few other have popped up in the UAE.
I hear they pay well, and are often happier places than many of the Unis and schools due to being run by Western staff etc...

but pay well is a relative term. I truly believe the UAE is now not a good place to work with the low dollar and soaring costs. Unless you have double incomes, then maybe....

I single out the UAE because of Dubai, it is one of the most expensive places to live now in the entire Gulf.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In the Middle East it is simple. No degree - no teaching job.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

The above posters are correct, as usual.

There is virtually no chance of you getting a teaching job in the Gulf region without a degree. In fact, most of the better employers require a Master's degree in a relevant subject. Even in the unlikely event of you finding an employer willing to hire you without a bachelor's degree, the embassy would not grant you a visa.

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

I don't know what planet most of you people are on but it certainly isn't Planet Kuwait......

For starters The British Council in Kuwait has recently dropped its standards ( after Carl Reuter appeared, trimmed the fat and left) and will employ teachers with only a CELTA.

If it's easier kids you want, good holidays and few classes ( 22 a week / 40 minute slots) try any school. While the more reputable ones will not offer you much , the ones 'with teething problems' will......
I know of at least 8 people working in Private schools in Kuwait without a degree -lowest salary 400 and highest 750 ( which is $2200).

So it CAN be done. Go on the tes.co.uk website and just apply. You ma be surprised by the results....

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject:

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

No check with the British Council, they are offering the CELTA course without any pre requisites. But apparently the standard of teaching leaves a lot to be desired now too-.

Re my last post, I actually know of one school in Kuwait where I am calculating ( guessing) that 9 / 14 of primary staff have no degree but perhaps either a CELTA and/or a lot of experience.

How many schools in Kuwait bypass the Ministry is by either employing staff who are on their spouse's visa ( illegal) and don't register ( sponsor) them....OR...put staff through as either assistants or 'nurse' or 'accountant' etc. Pathetic.

rocketchild · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 96

with no degree you will not be given a work visa to enter any
Gulf country.

unless you are there on a tourist visa
or as a spouse of someone who can sponser their partner, you can't work.

downside to working without a visa;
get into a car accident (and gazillions will and do), and you will find yourself immediately on the wrong side of Middle Eastern law.

your passport will not protect you in this barbaric legal system, and in the end its so not worth it.

the Gulf is not a place of happiness overall. You can have happy moments, a few happy weeks, but generally all those around you are miserable, isolated, and either desperate to make enuff to retire, to pay off a loan, or just trying to make moola to get ahead. Or, and here we go...are men who like the 'all male' society aspect is so many ways, both with the straights and gays. In the gulf you will find the sort of men who have 'asian' brides. As in, they went to Thailand/Korea/Vietnam/India/Filipines on holiday and came back with a 'bride'.

Have yet to meet happy well adjusted humans working in the GULF, except for myself of course. Why go there just to work illegally or at a language school level, it's not worth it.

Embarassed

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I work in the Gulf. I am tolerably happy. I am not homosexual. I do not have a bride from SE Asia.

rocketchild · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 96

Well sadly it is true that there is a high concentration of dysfunctional expats in the ME. Perhaps made more visible by the smaller numbers of 'us', so they 'stand out'.

Scot47 is happy and well adjusted. Ya, I've been reading your posts over the years. You do seem to know how to survive in the ME, that is certain.

Of course all my friends are well adjusted to the bizarre reality of being an expat. And some yes, they are gay(they are really happy), some with Asian brides, some with Indian spouses, some alcoholics, some addicts of varying addictions, and some who are not my good friends, but I do find myself mingling with by chance, are Brits who live in a perpetual alcoholic coma of happiness. Constantly talking about the 'rain' back in the UK, and the sunshine in the ME. That and of course, everytime they purchase something major, or minor, they again refer back to the UK and the prices there as compared to here. Pour another G&T, dream of the next 'embassy' gathering, and lounge by the hotel pool.

Oh damn, did I leave out my 'convert' mostly AMERICAN friends. Where shall I put them? In the really well adjusted or ?

Why is it that mostly yanks convert, esp. African Americans? It's wierd.

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

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

Not really weird rocket... many African Americans turned to Islam in the 60's as an escape from the racism that was still a part of US law. It may partly have been a search for their roots. The history of the Black Muslims in the US is interesting enough that you might want to read up on it a bit.

Many of them go to the Middle East for the experience of living in a Muslim culture.

VS