Job Discussion Forums

[chuckd74]

I usually just let things go, but I just saw their ad on Daves and I (and 5 of my friends) had such an absolute horrilbe time there last year I felt compelled to write somethign here


I wont waste much time as there is a nice long string of ADU blogs here, with tons of "facts and fiction from both sides"

all I will say is this:

1) they constantly lied about visas and contracts (fact)
2) continuously hired and fired over 5 teachers ever my 3 months (fact)
3) student placement, grades and exams are very poorly structured (fact/opinion)
4) very nasty highschool mentality (fact/opinion)

and, for anyone out there who wants to chime in here with "I am just sour grapes," here is a clue

i am now the General Director for a 3000 student program in Yemen, making x2-3 what I made at ADU and I manage a staff of 100

I know what I am talking about


ADU is only a good job if you desperaltey need 90 days of cash flow

choose your own adventure and do some serious blog researching before taking any job anywhere

ha'laas

[ESL Hobo]

I tried applying but my email got sent back several times,
reason: over quota.

I am not sure what this means but I am guessing it means their mail box was too full to accept any more applications. Is that right? Does anyone know?

Anyway, if this is true perhaps thats why they feel free to toss out teachers ad naseum, from a business stand point this is no way to run a school.

Thanks for the heads up.

[MissMao]

I have been working at ADU for over a year now, and I am joined by a large group of people who are busily renewing their contracts as we speak.

Chuck, when you worked here, it was a very disorganized, nasty place to work. Our staff didn't work well together and there was some pretty nasty relations between teachers which ended up stressing the general teaching population out. Hence there were a few firings that you talked about.

However, some people didn't have their contracts renewed because they were found not to have the proper qualifications. This is not the same as getting fired. it was just a move to make sure all teachers were properly qualified. ADU did lose a few good teachers because of this (and were well aware of it), but the law is the law. I'm sure if those people got the proper qualifications they would be welcomed back.

We have some new bosses now and old ones shifted into new positions and everyone seems to be working hard at getting things in line and systems in place. There are a lot of new contracts coming up which takes a lot of coordinating but creates diverse opportunities for teaching that can't be found at other universities. There are more training opportunities coming up. In fact, they have brought a CELTA course on campus that teachers can take at a discount to brush up on their skills or replace their TEFL certificates with the more widely accepted CELTA. Recently we were paid a full days' wage to attend a three hour TESOL Arabia Conference.

Is it a perfect place to work? Absolutely not. But it's a lot better than it used to be. You still need to be flexible and roll with the punches when the photocopier isn't working or there is a glitch with HR etc. But we seem to have a really great group of flexible, professional people working here now who help each other, look out for each other, and are genuine friends. This also makes villa life a lot different than the time you were here.

Anyways, everything happens for a reason and leaving ADU seems to have been a blessing for you, Chuck. I'm sorry you had such a rotten time here, and you are certainly welcome to your opinion. But it hasn't been everyone's experience. It hasn't been mine, for example. I wish you great success in life and congratulations on landing such a great position in Yemen.

[eha]

'.... very nasty highschool mentality (fact/opinion) ...'

Sigh of vindication. I must have been before my time! Why weren't you--or someone like you--- at **** U and at **** when I was saying the same thing about so-called Language Centres in the Gulf region, up to two decades ago?

Just one caveat: you find this kind of thing not only in the Gulf; you find it anywhere where people are underemployed; where people's professional background doesn't match the environment; where there are other kinds of mismatch between management and the professional situation. In fact, education in England (and probably the US too; not familiar with current scene) is absolutely plagued with similar anomalies.

[manxmanuae]

I feel sorry for those folk in the Yemen.

Landed a dud there, so they have!

[bouncycastle]

Chuck

I know ADU is a farce of a workplace and put a sticker of buyer beware before taking the offer as I experienced some difficult times with visas and the short term contract but I also had good times as well and with writing your blogs about ADU you could fcus on your new role in Yemen which seems to be good. By constantly writing negative things about ADU you are also tarnishing the fact you worked there which is not good if you have it on your CV and it gives the people who work there a bad name as well. You should move on with your new career and forget ADU as the place is not worth blogging about.

Bouncycastle

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Lessee, here...

1. This "chuck(y)d74" (I guess revealing his longevity) person who had worked with SO many good and reputable companies like (if memory serves) I.B.M., and, I forget all of the prestigious firms that he worked for...seemed to be about as many as the years that he worked.

2. Worked in Russia and for that other outstanding Saudi entity, TINS.

3. Stayed at ADU because he was sooo enamored of that $3000 tax free manna from Heaven (an amount to be envied by all!) and testifying that that was the only reason "why I have not done a runner".

4. Got fired from ADU and wound up in Sharjah renting a car and was driving out to Knowledge Village (a hell of a commute as I understand!), because he was sooo sought after.

5. Started not 1, not 2, hold for it... but 3 threads castigating ADU (probably deservedly so) of which two got pulled by the MODS because, I guess, of his ranting. Then, COMPLETELY lost it on his last, and most memorable rant about ADU.

6. Was repeatedly advised to use a spell-checker�which he still doesn�t!

7. Was actively asking about Adjunct teaching positions at the HCT.

8. Put numerous student's names on this board including their student numbers, and was simplistic enough when chided by posters that he shouldn't put people's names on the board, to fake us all out by saying that he had changed the names...possibly to protect the innocent, duh?

9. Got Net laryngitis for an extended period of time.

10. Suddenly surfaces, licking his ADU wounds by revealing that he is currently lodged in that EFL Mecca, Yemen, and the he is now the "General Director for a 3000 student program in Yemen, making x2-3 what I made at ADU and I manage a staff of 100... I know what I am talking about" (I remember going by where I knew my ex-girlfriend would be, so I could show here the new babe that I'd picked up, just to let her know what she had lost).

And, you offer him advice? Who are you (or I) to talk down to this mover and shaker in the EFL world. I simply want to warm in his incandesent glow!

Good going, Chuck, the best to you in your unbelievable future! Not a slam, just...just...I am in awe!

NCTBA

[manxmanuae]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[eha]

'....I remember going by where I knew my ex-girlfriend would be, so I could show here the new babe that I'd picked up...'

Nice, chivalrous attitude to women. I hope she took one look at yr new 'babe' and thanked here lucky stars!

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[bouncycastle]

Chuck

It is good to see that you are focusing on your new role in Yemen and a lot of people have recently quit ADU since things have apparantly got much worse since the summer in regards to the employment conditions. Maybe you could have your old job back there and ask for a pay rise and improve the situation as a director.

Bouncy