Job Discussion Forums

[katers]

Hi there

I am 24, female, have 2 years TEFL experience in France, Poland and the UK, a degree in French from Oxford University and the CELTA qualification. My boyfriend is 25, has CELTA, 2 years teaching experience and an MA in psychology/neuroscience from University College London. We're both British native speakers.

Will we be able to find reasonably well-paid ESL positions in Dubai for 3-6 months? How should we go about finding work? Is it possible to work there for a few months and save up some money as well as living fairly comfortably?

We would like to know about accommodation, pay, teaching contracts/hours...and I'd quite like to know about whether being female in Dubai could be difficult....!

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Katy

[helenl]

In order to qualify for the higher paying jobs at desirable institutions you need an MA + at least 3 years post grad experience.

Your qualifications might get you a job with Berlitz or similar - they do not hire offshore, meaning you would not get tickets, housing or medical and housing is very expensive still in Dubai.

You would not be advised to live with your boyfriend unless you are discrete and you can manage not to offend any muslim neighbours (by offend I mean living together without marriage). It only takes one vindictive busybody to dob you in to the police.

Contracts are 3 years usually. The only places that offer short term employment are those that pay the least and tend to abuse employees. You probably wouldn't even get a work visa and would be breaking the law by working on a visit visa - again, it could get sticky.