Job Discussion Forums

[teacherbel]

I've been hired by Aswan Language School in Dubai for $3,800/month plus all the usuals -apartment, holidays, medical, meals, tc..
1. Anyone knows about this school? I couldn't find its website.
2. How much is the living expenses in Dubai? If food,clothing, and house are already shouldered by the employer? What other expenses that one MUST spend on in Dubai?


Please help me with my questions. Thanks,

[veiledsentiments]

I don't want to be alarmist, but have you read this thread: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=58448

Unless you are being hired as the manager, the pay and benefits sound unusually high for a "language school" that doesn't even have a website. Providing food and clothing for employees (outside of some military related jobs) is unheard of.

Beware the scams and I hope you haven't sent them any money.

VS

[mishmumkin]

I've never heard of that school. New schools are popping up all the time, though, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was legit. The salary is in line for a qualified k-12 teacher w/ a good bit of experience under his/her belt. Is that you? If you are unqualified, then my red flags would go up.

[teacherbel]

I guess I am qualified. I hold an MA in Education from a U.S. Ivy league school, and am certified in NY and TX, has been teaching for 20 years, 6 years of which were in NY..Am I qualified?

[mishmumkin]

[teacherbel]

Hi!
Sorry, I was not trying to be a braggart. I was not sure about "being qualified", that's why. I do know that I am technically a qualified Filipina teacher if I applied in the U.S. I presumed it is another ballgame in the UAE.. One never knows for sure. I've never taught in the UAE.

[scot47]

Improbably high salary. It has SCAM all over it. I have 40 years experience and teach in a State Uni in a neighbouring country. I erarn less than this !

[mishmumkin]

It's not an impossible salary for those teaching k-12, though.

[teacherbel]

Hi!
As per advice of my would be employer, I contacted the site they gave me - The Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department. Now, I have the forms which I am supposed to fill up and to send back to them "with the pay" which of course, I can't send and I won't. Our POEA office insists that the visa must be sent to us by our would be employer. I understand that I will do nothing but wait for this visa to be sent to me.

I don't know what is supposed to be the standard procedure when you are hired? You just wait for the visa to be sent to you, correct?

Anyone here can help me? I would appreciate this very much.
Thank you.

[veiledsentiments]

From what I have seen over the years at university level, you send copies of your passport to your employer. They do all the paperwork with the Ministry and pay all fees. Then a ticket is sent by the employer. When I arrived at the airport in the UAE, there was a person there to provide the papers and immigration stamped in a temporary visa to get me in. The employer then took my passport to somewhere and got the proper work visa stamped in during my first month there. Nowhere along the line did I pay anything.

I realize that there may be some difference in procedure since I had an American passport while yours is from the Philippines. But, you have good American teaching credentials and experience.

Hey Mishmumkin... is this proper procedure in the international schools?

Did your friend ever find out if this place actually exists?

VS

[mishmumkin]

99% of the time one does not pay the visa fees for teaching positions, but I was chatting with someone else on the board recently who was recruited at a job fair, and though the pakcage was decent she was told that she'd have to pay her own visa fees. A school unaccustomed to hiring expats might ask one to pay for this. I haven't heard specifically about this school, though, and how legit it is.

The process is generally the same as post-secondary positions, though. The HR person for my new position in the UAE said they will mail me my ticket and visa, so I'm not sure if that's normal. In the past the work visa was either ready when I arrived or I came in on a visitor's visa.

What I would do, just to ease your mind, is give them a call and ask for them to arrange for you to speak to other teachers. Is the phone number a landline or a mobile? (mobiles begin with "5-0" so the number would be 971.50.xxx.xxxx)

[teacherbel]

Hi!
Our recent law in the Philippines does not allow us to pay for our visa etc. to work in the Arab countries. In fact, the law also states that foreign employer in the Arab countries must give us a month advanced salary upon arrival (which I thought was ridiculous, and which I don't like cuz I will have to stay for a month even if I don't like to anymore.). The reason for this is there have been many Filipinos who were victimized in Arab countries and the media lambasted our President and our Congressmen and Senators everytime this happened.
I don't know...I just wanted to teach in UAE as many Filipinos think that is the best place in the Arab world to work in...and then..the students are not as difficult as those students in the U.S. schools where we were assigned..In the U.S. , I taught in the Harlem-Bronx area..
Oh, well..I really don't have to go to teach abroad anymore...I guess, I will have to forego this dream..and stay home..

Thanks, guys..

[teacherbel]

My friend's friend at the philippine embassy in Dubai said the phone number is in Bahrain..and Ms. Fahd said this is because the school in Dubai is new..in fact, they're still recruiting and we have to get in there earlier so we need to be trained of the system that they still have to put together..

I am still waiting..The Filipino at the embassy still has to find time..as it is quite far from where the embassy is..and she needs to find the direction, too..from someone who can help her..

[teacherbel]

Do you want me to give you the address and phone number of Aswan?

Thanks,

[mishmumkin]

Sure.