Job Discussion Forums

[wonder-r]

hello
I've looked through subject related topics, that was useful.
now I got a general idea. but still some leads would be of a help.

I might move to oman in a year or two. I'll be living in a family, don't have to work even if I wanted. yet ...

I'm Russian. now I'm 22, getting my diploma this summer.
since it's Russia, we got totally different degree system.
5 years here equals to international 6 years, masters.
but does it make sense in oman? I guess not)).
another "great" thing for me is that my major is French.


questions!
1. I assume that I can start working in some language school?
I mean language courses, teaching French. I found some French centre and even a French school, but not sure that it's located in Muscat.
2. What are ways to become more qualified? I mean generally and English proficiency as well.
I guess I should be doing some certificate, CELTA for instance.
or maybe another one will do better?

now would you tell me pls whether it sounds reasonnable

[wonder-r]

is there anything wrong with my question?

[balqis]

Zdrastie Barysznia,

I knew a few Russian ESL teachers who worked with me in the Middle East so there is nothing wrong with your question. Hard to say anything about teaching French in the Gulf - it is not too popular, though people do learn it there and I know that certain government universities have small French departments.

So don't get dissuaded by any means! Gain experience wherever you can and polish and embellish your certs, credentials and qualification degrees as much as possible. Being as young as you are, langauge schools are a good idea to start with for you in order to brew/bloom. But with a few years of on-the-job experience, good certs and a uni degree, i.e. with all that razzmatazz that goes with ESL, you can tray and knock on any door in the Middle East and some may be opened for you and you may be ushered in.

Keep in mind that Saudi Arabia will be a ''booming market for the female eduaction'' [ excuse my French ] in years, if not decades, to come so there will be ESL jobs for young, courageous and enterprising women who are not too scared to descend into the innards of the Saudi culture. And a descent it really is. And innards they truly are.

Good luck,
balqis

[wonder-r]

Zdrasti, zdrasti
Thank you for your reply.
It's encouraging and sounds reasonnable to me.
The essence of it could be smth like "keep going", rather fair)).

I really doubt about Saudi, but never say never.

Thanx for wishing me luck
All the best

[helenl]

How does a 6 year degree equate to a masters degree? From my calculations, it would mean you would have started your undergrad at 16 and your master's at 20? Not impossible, but were you in the gifted program?

Sorry, coming from a North American perspective where if (for example) you wanted to pursue a degree in medicine, you would need great grades in highschool (to the age of about 1 an undergrad degree in a science (another 4 years) plus graduate school and internships another 4 - 8 years. Even in the Arts - graduate students are usually 26 - 28 years old with 4 - 8 years post high school education. 16 years of age is the end of " middle school" here. Not high school.

I'm interested because I (obviously) know nothing about the Russian school system.

[wonder-r]

Medecine is a special subject. Here in Russia it also takes much more time than for any other qualification.

We graduate from high school at the age of 16-17. Then we do not have any difference in BA or MA, we just have 5 years university program. Next comes post-graduate education, it lasts 3 years. Then you got preparations for PhD, another 3 years.

So our higher education system comprises 5 years. These days in order to facilitate the access for Russian students to international educational system or job market, the state offers international two-stage system, bachelor and master's. But we will still keep our one-stage system, it will be a choice. Yet for example medecine degree does not have this international system option, the traditional russian scheme only.

Your question embarrassed me a bit, cause I've always thought that BA takes 4 years, MA takes another 2. Which results in 6 years. Starting with the age of 17 that would be 22. If you state 18 years, then you graduate at 24 with a master's degree. Is that right?

[helenl]

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, normally a person would be about 24 when they finished their Master's (always assuming of course that they were not in an accelerated or "gifted" program - which wouldn't be the case for me:lol: )

[wonder-r]

mmm, a gifted program? that wouldn't be my case either especially now that I look at my thread and ... 17+6 makes 23 and not 22!

Well now I know you graduate from high school at 18. Never got a chance to learn much on American culture. High time to do it.

[veiledsentiments]

Just to add, age at graduation depends on a number of factors. One of them is the month in which you were born. For instance, I was 17 when I graduated, but had turned 18 by the time I started university in September. Americans can start the first grade at 5 or 6 or 7 depending on a number of issues and the rules of the local schools. Our education system is decentralized and every state sets its own rules. So, I graduated from university at almost 22.

But then, I was 39 when I finished my MA. I guess I'm slow...

VS

[wonder-r]

I'm afraid I'm slow too I'll be graduating in 3 months and few weeks back only I decided that I actually want to study... isn't it great?! but I also think that it is quite natural in some way. Being a kid at school or a youth at uni, few are really motivated. If there is any kind of motivation, that is getting a good job. But if not, then how many are willing to study just for the knowledge itself? I guess one has to be mature enough for that and though I've met such people, they are rare. eh...