Job Discussion Forums

RestiveBob · Joined: 21 Jan 2009 Posts: 4

I'm thinking about applying to HCT as an EFL instructor. I have a bachelors degree (English), a TEFL certificate (Pass-A) and 4 years in the Middle East an an English teacher.

Do I have a chance, or do they really insist on an MA?

MrScaramanga · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 221

http://recruit.hct.ac.ae/job_details.asp?job_seq=328

MrS

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

For a full time staff they demand the MA and the 3 years experience.

If you are living in the UAE as a local hire, you can get picked up as an adjunct (and work just as many hours, making almost as much as a full time w/out the benefits).

but they won't hire you from another country, fly you in and all of that with only a BA, a tefl cert and 4 years as an english teacher.

Arab Strap · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 246 Location: under your bed

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

Are the pay and benefits now the same as HCT? Recently, they weren't. Salaries were much lower and teachers were sharing accommodation. Many left after the first year.

TruthHurtsButIstheBest · Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 5

I believe that they are in need of teachers right now so you should be fine. I know lot of people in HCT system without a proper teaching qualification.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:57 am Post subject:

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

Is the CERT program system-wide in all the parts of the UAE or is it only in Abu Dhabi and ??

I'm wondering if the housing shortage in AD caused them to start to double people up.

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

Iamherebecause · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:43 am Post subject: CERT

They certainly have CERT in Al Ain, so it's not just Abu Dhabi.

Now, what does it stand for? I have this vague idea that it's Centre for Excellence in Research and Training - surely that can't be right.... Everyone seems to agree that it's less, how shall I put it, prestigious to teach at CERT than HCT proper (after all you can teach there without an MA). Or is there a whole lot going on there which mere EFL teachers don't know about?

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:16 am Post subject: Re: CERT

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

As I recall from back when the CERT program was developed in about '93/'94, it was supposed to be for the students who were too low academically to be admitted to HCT (or UAEU)... to train them for low level clerical jobs... requiring just a bit of English... and the CERT suggested the certificate that they were to receive at the end.

But, since this was HCT with its love of acronyms, it probably did mean something pompous... although what relationship could it possible have to "excellence in research and training?" The "R" would have more accurately been "remedial." Laughing

It was some years later that it morphed into an idea to make money by offering training to companies and ministries.

VS

nstick13 · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:13 am Post subject:

Here's a question:
Does HCT hire year-round, or only leading up to the beginning of the school year?

Also, when would their school year start?

Arab, you'll have a PM.

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

The vast majority are hired in March-May to start in late August and then there will be some hiring for the second semester which starts... any minute now. (surely finished hiring by now)

It is rare for foreign hires between those times. Emergency needs are normally hired locally, adjunct with no benefits.

VS

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hi Nstick.

HCT will hire year round, but the teachers only really have a 6 week window in each semester to come to the UAE. But as VS says, the majority are hired from march until july to come in the fall, and they hire as needed for the spring term.

So they may hire you in January, but tell you to come in August.

There seems to always be a "shortage" of teachers when the terms start, so they will rush to hire a few more teachers and get them in country and teaching within a month to 6 weeks of the start of the semester.

As for the question about the school year. That is a difficult one to say because of how and when Ramadan falls in the upcoming year. I have heard they may just have a normal start in the first week of september and run a Ramadan schedule for the back half of ramadan, or they may cancel school and push the start date back until Ramadan ends. (my contacts are vague on it all because at the moment they don't know themselves)