Job Discussion Forums

[branbuddy]

Hello all,

I have been looking over many of the posts here for UAE. I still have a few questions though.

My boyfriend and I have a background consisting of a BA, CELTA, and 4 and 5 years experience teaching mostly in Asia.

We are looking into starting a MA TESOL very soon. We are considering doing a MA online. I have read many posts that state that the Ministry of Higher Education does not accept many online MA's. Does anyone know of specific universities that they do accept?

We would really like to teach at a university or at least adults. I know a MA plus three years experience is needed to teach at the top universities but what about second or third tier universities or private academies? Would it be worth our while to apply for these? Would they pay enough?

This said, we have found some websites through posts which include:

www.alghadschools.org/currentvacancies.aspx
www.uaeinteract.com/education/collegesetc.asp
www.charterhouseme.ae

Are there any other websites that would help point us in the right direction for finding jobs?

Finally, there seems to be some contradiction in these forums where some people say that a MA + 3 years experience is required to get any sort of decent job, whereas others are saying that people with the same qualifications as ourselves (plus a recently acquired MA) will get a good job there. Which one is more accurate?

Sorry if any of these questions are repeats but after searching for quite awhile we couldn't find the exact answers we needed.

Also, thanks to those with any information you send our way!

[Iamherebecause]

[helenl]

Iamherebecause is correct. You don't have the quals and post grad experience to compete with the many candidates for the few tertiary positions available at this time. The MoHE does accept distance MAs, the MoE does not recognize them. Without a recognized teaching credential for K-12 you won't be eligible for any of the desirable schools either.

You can always throw your hat in the ring and see if you get a nibble (what a mixed metaphor that is) from the desirable institutions but don't hold your breathe.

Don't know what you mean by 2nd or 3rd tier universities or colleges - anything less than HCT, UAEU, AU, UGRU, etc. aren't even worth considering IMHO because the salaries would be very low and the benefits even worse if they even considered your application

[veiledsentiments]

[Zoot]

veiledsentiments, how would the Ministry of Education know if a degree has been studied online? I'm assuming the degree certificate does not say this.

[NigerianWhisper]

The Distance-Learning MA TESOL through the University of Leicester (UK) follows exactly the same course as on-campus. The transcripts make no reference to any distance-learning element.

The Unis verification office will neither confirm or deny any distance-learning elements. They will simply confirm all details regarding yourself, graduation date, class of degree and subjects and modules completed. (Been there, done that)

You will be invited to the graduation ceremony in England on completion.

The institute is a pretty good one and is recognised as an accredited Uni in all countries. Currently ranked 12th out of 123 UK Universities and features in the Times top 200 of the world.

Mine cost 7000 UK pounds.

Now doing my Phd.

[helenl]

The only way they might be able to determine if you studied on line might be to cross check dates of study and places of employment at the same time. If you were working say in Asia and have a degree from UK Leciester (for the sake of argument) which show that you graduated in XYZ month 2002 but your CV showed you were employed fulltime in Korea from 2000 - 2003 they might catch on.

However, this would concede a certain amount of critical thinking going on at the MoE - don't know if that is the case or not but critical thinking is certainly not something most Emirati students (at least in HCT and ZU) excel at.

[veiledsentiments]

You beat me to answering helen1. The dates would certainly give it away, but I have to say that I haven't heard of anyone being caught out by this.

Has anyone heard of it happening?

VS

[Zoot]

I think the likelihood of the MoE being able to do that would be most unlikely, wouldn't it? NigerianWhisperer, I agree with you, if the Uni is a valid and accredited institution, I can't see where the problem would lie, frankly speaking.

[sundrieddate]

Not issues here, distance degrees are welcome here. The UAE has recently opened its own online programs, read about it just last week.

[Winstonio]

I have a B.A., a university TESL Certificate, and 15 years of experience. Would my lack of a Master's exclude me from any good jobs in the UAE?

[helenl]

Because you don't have the Masters. GCC countries thrive on pieces of parchment and letters after your name. These pieces of paper have to be authenticated/attested to as well.

That's the way it is here. You can have the most experience and be a gifted teacher but without the parchment, most will not even look at your CV.

[veiledsentiments]

[MsParker]

There is no magic formula.... I don't have an MA, and yet I am here, working with a PPP provider. I am also working with several people with all manner of diverse experience - from former school principals, to people who have simply taught overseas for several years, or people with online certificates, or who are holding MAs in fields other than Education.

The education field here is *not* like Korea or China, where a uni degree in anything (not even a teaching qualification) will get you a fairly good job.

Give it a bash! Apply to the advertised posts. Try out a recruiter if you want. What do you have to lose?

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, it seems that the PPP providers vary widely in whether they require any credentials... but... I suspect that helen1 and I were not including them in our list of "good employers."

There have been way too many tales of woe... and downright nightmare posts about this program for the last couple years.

But, for the adventurous, they are an option, of course.

VS