Job Discussion Forums

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

What do you think about a fresh graduate native speaker teaching at the elementary level making 500KD plus 180KD housing allowance? My husband is Arab and will follow me later so my income is to suffice initially.... any thoughts?

Rommel · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 121

If you haven't signed a contract yet, I'd seriously recommend that you look elsewhere. 500 kd a month is crap. Schools are finding it very difficult to fill positions these days and they are starting to realize they have to increase salaries in order to get good teachers to come here.

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

a fresh graduate you mean what? ba in educ (with teaching license from usa or national ceritication from uk) with student teaching exper of at least a semester, a celta 3 month course, what?
and i take it you have NO experience
many schools have a pay scale and you may be on the bottom - that's the fact
if you have a ba/teaching license you should get 550 with no experience - maybe 20-40 for each year experience
and my dear,
you will not be allowed to sponsor your husband as a dependednt
he will arrive on a 3 month visit visa (if they allow him) but will have to do a 'visa run' every 3 months if i doesn't get a job which gives him residency

to be a mediocrely paid school teacher in kuwait you need
a degree(s)/license or many years experience

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Actually I just have my AA in Arts and 2 years exp... I know I'm at the bottom of the pay scale. I need to know if I can live on that?? My hubby will be looking for work. We have some family in Q8 and he works in x-ray so hopefully he could find something ???500KD + 180KD housing... can we live?

OP

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

your housing will be absolutely basic - expat slumville in abuahlifa 150-220 kd - i never go there even to visit
small , basic and in a crappy neighborhood
ask about moehawks...there can be 100-150 kd for 2 rooms and a bathroom in the back of some kuwaiti's villa
110 kd monthly to lease a car - a/c bus 250 fils a ride
dinner will be rice and beans - forget tgifridays twice a month - travel outside of kuwait ? nope, not unless you get the al jazeera to india and be a backpacker living at hostels at 500 ruppees a night -
want more info?

Rommel · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 121

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

I lived in Abu Halifa for year just before the invasion. We had a lovely beach walking distance from my flat and two excellent little restaurants nearby (one Syrian and one Iraqi). Fahaheel is just down the road and even if the city is 20 km. away it takes minutes on the expressway. I've since lived in Hawalli and Bneid Al Gar.
If I ever returned to Kuwait I would prefer to live in Fintas or Abu Halifa.
(BTW Bneid Al Gar IS a slum).

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

LOL Abu Halifa has one of the most expensive apartment blocks in Kuwait- the Mermaid, $1,500,000 to buy.

15 years, you need to take a drive down here one day and have coffee with me at Coffee bean!

Orangepeel : as a BA graduate with 2 years experience you need to ask for 750 KD to start, + living allowance ( which is better than mine by the way).

What school are you heading for?

You can find a flat in Salwa for about 250 I think.

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Hey, well thats the thing... I didnt do my student teaching so I only graduated with an Associate's degree....I'm thinking about American Bilingual School... some people have warned me against it but Im running out of options. I would like to go to UAE to be honest but others have said that you cannot work in the UAE with an Associates degree, even as an American....

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

DO NOT GO to American Bilingual Scool. You DO have other options even with an associate degree. Try Al Shaya Group of Schools ( tes.co.uk)
( lol) ; they won't know what that is!!!! They are looking for quite a few teachers and should offer you overseas contract ( rent and flight ) and at least 600.

Just close your eyes , breathe deeply and get your foot in the door.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=675819#675819

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Anyone care to tell me why American Bilingual School is so bad? I am going to research other options on your advice, but still time is running out! Alot of times a school can work for one teacher and be living hell for another. Then there are schools like Sabis which are hell for most teachers, but then there are reasons why...Care to share? PM me if you like...Your secrets are safe with me...

orangepeel1