Job Discussion Forums

[tweaka]

Hi all,

It's summer and I am again toying with the idea of chucking in all in and doing the overseas thing. Now that my US job has really got me poed.. I'm VERY ready.

I have an interview coming up with al Ghad and wondered what the packages were like. I have 13 years in public education with the last five in counseling and administration. I'm certified ESL,Counseling and General Education and am working on Principal's certification. I hold a M.Ed and am working on a PhD.

What do you think they would offer? I am married and have a son who has a speech impairment so I would need to find services for him (he's 4).

Also, would I do better off applying at a college or university?

Thanks a million

[allyp]

Hi Tweaka,
How did you apply to Al Ghad through the website or email direct to DS?Have you read the other posts here on Al ghad?
I can't make up my mind to apply or not. The program sounded like a disaster last year but it may settle a bit nextyear and be more worthwhile.

A lot of the Al Ghad schools are in the more distant Emirates. Make sure you are clear at interview you need somewhere where your 4 year old has access to education.

[Zoot]

DON'T PACK UP AND LET GO OF YOUR SECURITY to work for Al Ghad. They cannot offer anything of the sort! If you've got money to burn and want to have fun, then do it, but don't expect stability. They're in a hell of a mess!!

[kiefer]

I believe your credentials are sufficient to get on with almost any intensive English program in a university from Kuwait to Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE or Oman--maybe even Saudi Arabia.

The problem you're facing is timing. Most schools already have their ducks in a row regarding new hires for the fall. However, some may just be finding they have resignations.

If you do start applying now and if you do get an interview soon and if you do get an offer right away, don't resign your current position, sell the car and have a yard sale until you have a ticket and visa in hand. The time lapse between the offer and travel can take months.

[veiledsentiments]

Check carefully the availability of speech therapy for your son. It can be very hard to find help with special needs children and you will likely have to pay for it yourself.

With your qualifications, this place sounds a bad choice based on all the information posted here so far. Definitely do a search and read the previous threads so you are aware of the issues.

Teaching at tertiary level seems to have fewer issues... or at least a different set of problems. But, as keifer said, it is getting late for August jobs. I noticed that HCT was just running ads again, so you might check out the information here and on their website and see if you want to apply.

VS

[tweaka]

I know that I'm late in the game. I looked into it earlier in the year then I had a lead on something here that totally didn't pan out and.. well..Don't want to ruin my evening. What has happened is that I start out the year hoping that things will turn out right but.. it didn't get TOTALLY crappy until May and then I was swamped.

Ok so I don't know what HCT is. I guess I can do a google search.

How much hiring do they do for Jan.? I can always ask out of my contract.

[veiledsentiments]

Sorry... that is the Higher Colleges of Technology and here is the ad they just ran: http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=17673

They do normally do some hiring between semesters.

VS

[tweaka]

Actually looks pretty good. I'm heading over to complete the application process.

Thanks!

[mishmumkin]

A friend of mine works for Al Ghad in Dubai. She says that things are on for next year, and all is well in the cycle 1 (primary) group-no problems.

[boondoggle]

[Sunburnt Individual]

I don't know what they're looking for because I have more than their basic requirements, yet I was "screened out" a while back. I don't know what the black mark on my CV would have been if they're still looking for teachers.

[mishmumkin]

I met all of their qualifications and then some. A friend working for them in Dubai suggest I apply, but I wasn't even short-listed.

[tweaka]

I'm still waiting on an interview. I'm hoping to hear something in the next couple of weeks. They didn't respond and now I'm going on vacation. Talk about timing.

[lynnknows]

MAG does not have the money it once had. They are not putting money into overseas teachers like before. This is one reason you may not hear from them. They are really looking to hire teachers from Jordan and other Arab countries.
That way they will not have to pay them as much. They are now giving more money to the MOE teachers. Now the MOE teachers that will work for MAG will make 17-18000 a month. They will make more than a trained teacher from the states.....They will earn as much as a Team leader. How can the people you are suppose to train earn more than the trainer???.....go figure

[wannago]

That's because MAG has never been about helping the students as far as the MoE is concerned. NOTHING they do is for the students. EVERYTHING they do is about keeping up pretenses and protecting whatever territory each of the Emiratis have in UAE society because of their position. The MoE teachers are threatened by anyone from outside and willingly go along with any grade altering that is wanted. The big mistake westerners make when coming into a nation like this is that they think they will make a difference. They won't, mainly because no one wants them to make a difference.

It was a very frustrating year and definitely a year from hell. It was a mistake that I will never make again. Never again will I sacrifice my professional integrity for people who are content with having substandard education. These people deserve whatever lack of respect they get.