Job Discussion Forums

[crocus]

I see this place is advertising for staff for their English Language Centre and CAD.

Does anyone have any information about what it's like to work there? Salaries (with Masters in ELT + years of tertiary experience in the Far and Middle East), housing, life style - anything, in fact, that you think may be of any relevance.

Many thanks.

[ellteacheror]

I have visited Ifrane and Al Akhawayn University. I would totally work there and live there. The housing is very nice and the students are wonderful.

[crocus]

Thank you for your information. It certainly sounds very nice. I just wonder whether the cash is enough to live on!!

[thelmadatter]

Im interested too. Any suggestions as to getting in touch with current and/or former teachers there?

[alac]

I know I"m a little late in responding to this, but I did work at AUI a few years ago. At the time, it was a very comfortable salary. I made enough to take international trips during holidays, save a bit of money and live well. The salary then was around 1500-1700 euros after tax, but they will deduct rent if you live in campus housing. It is still very cheap to live there. Remember that most Moroccans live on about 200 euros a month.

The housing was very nice, clean and clean but cold - though I hear that they have included heating costs in the rent now, which may make things better. It may be better to find your own apartment in the city center after you've arrived to save a little money and be closer to the the world.

The town is very small and you won't have any privacy. As a foreigner, everyone will know your business even if no one ever says anything to you and you think no one knows.

Morocco is a great place to live and work. The people are super friendly and the food is delicious (despite what others have written...)

[thelmadatter]

Thanks for the feedback! Its not too late so dont worry.

[solsocks]

I was just offered a job in Ifrane and was wondering the same very things. I was put in touch with one of the teachers their. She mentioned that Ifrane is a beautiful place with lot's of natural wonder. However, she also mentioned that if your one who enjoys a new restaurant every night then it probably is not the place for you, but if you like hiking and enjoying the outdoors it's great. If I hear anything else I'll post something.

[alac]

In terms of the town size, I can't stress enough how VERY small it is (approximately 10 000 people). There are tons of cafes, but only a few restaurants that are mediocre quality. At the marche, you can find food stalls that serve up very tasty meals for about 5USD or less, but the atmosphere is a little less....comfortable. There is a nightclub, but it is usually crammed with students, so may not be advisable if you are teaching at AUI.
On the AUI Web site (http://www.aui.ma/VPFA/vpfa-info-faculty.htm) there is a section for faculty - there is an FAQ document as well as a 'settling in' packet I advise anyone considering a position to read through these.
The nature is really beautiul - there is a 'waterfall' (tiny if you're used to bigger ones) and park in town close to the university and of course since the city is in the mountains, there is nature all around - lots of hiking and and mountain bike trails (both are popular). You can ski in Michliffen (close by) in winter also.
There are no big supermarkets - you buy meat from the butcher and vegetables from the market. Most imported products are not available in Ifrane, but would be in larger supermarkets in Fes or Meknes.
Many people who worked with me often travelled on the weekends or went to Fes/Meknes for the day. But transport returning to Ifrane in the evening is not reliable. The last grand taxi could be at 6 or 8 or 10 and you never really know.
Within our department, we often had social gatherings and if you speak French or Arabic, you may make friends with locals. Plus there is the faculty club which is on the off-campus housing. I never went, but you could go to eat a meal, hang out, watch movies, etc. I hear it's popular for couscous on Fridays.
The town does attract a lot of people on the weekends, so it's usually busy 'downtown' on weekends - particularly when there is snow, a heatwave in other parts of the coutry, the king is in town or a school holiday.
It comes down to this: if you want to live in a quiet place and have a nice comfortable life, Ifrane is a good spot for you (you'll be able to save some money since there isn't a lot to do). If you are into night life and dining out, etc, you might want to consider another city (or country for that matter).

[jwesl]

I have applied to Al Akhawayn and I'm waiting for a reply. This is all very interesting and helpful. It sounds like my sort of place.

I have one question about the summer semester. Is it optional for English instructors? It seems as though there would be very little vacation if you are required to work summers too.

Thanks

[alac]

When I worked there the summer semester was not optional, but there were different kinds of courses offered: short intensive courses - longer sayd for a shorter time and regular courses class that are about 2 hrs per day. I think it's kind of luck of the draw. I do remember having quite a few holidays throughout out the year. Remember - there is the two Eid holidays. Those will come at the end of September this year and the end of November. Plus there is the mid-semester break. If you're concernced, ask the Director now if all teachers work the summer courses so you know what to expect. I travelled quite a bit when I lived there - I saw almost all of Morocco, went to Spain on the long weekends and went abroad for the break in between semesters.

The only bad thing about working in the summer is that then (maybe it has changed) there was no AC in the classrooms. It's OK most of the year (though a little cold in winter - be prepared to wear your coat in class if you are a person who gets cold easily. I wore a fleece over my clothes for most of the winter), but in June it can get a little hot. There is a nice breeze and there is almost no humidity (which is VERY nice compared to other parts of Morocco in summer).

[Rawdata]

I traveled through Ifrane on a couple of occasions and what surprised me was how European it looked architecturally. I had a sense of being somewhere like Switzerland. That was a while back, things change and, that may no longer be the case however. Its located in the Moyen Atlas (the middle Atlas as opposed to the lower and higher) and is about halfway between Fez and Marrakech. The climate seems definitely cooler as others have mentioned.

In those days the Fez to Marrakech journey was a daylong event. Now, with better buses and roads (and drivers too maybe) that has probably been reduced by a few hours.

I have never worked at AU but I know of someone who did for a couple of years, he liked it, the salary was good, for what one could expect to get in Morocco. Seems the U caters pretty much to the richer Moroccans. I would expect the work ethic to be a notch or two above what one finds in the Gulf but that may just be wishful thinking.


RD

[Rawdata]

I traveled through Ifrane on a couple of occasions and what surprised me was how European it looked architecturally. I had a sense of being somewhere like Switzerland. That was a while back, things change and, that may no longer be the case however. Its located in the Moyen Atlas (the middle Atlas as opposed to the lower and higher) and is about halfway between Fez and Marrakech. The climate seems definitely cooler as others have mentioned.

In those days the Fez to Marrakech journey was a daylong event. Now, with better buses and roads (and drivers too maybe) that has probably been reduced by a few hours.

I have never worked at AU but I know of someone who did for a couple of years, he liked it, the salary was good, for what one could expect to get in Morocco. Seems the U caters pretty much to the richer Moroccans. I would expect the work ethic to be a notch or two above what one finds in the Gulf but that may just be wishful thinking.


RD

[alac]

[Rawdata]

Hi.

Like I said, it's been a long time ago, more than 25 years the last time.
And there's that old saying that memory is the faculty of forgetfulness or something to that effect so, when reading your post, curiosity got the best of me and I had to recheck mine, just to see if the slippage was serious.

http://encarta.msn.com/map_701514808/morocco.html

This shows Ifrane south of Fez (on the way to Marrakech).

Meknes is west of Fez on the way to Rabat, a journey I've also a few times by rail. While I'm sure you could go from Fez to Meknes via Ifrane you'd be taking a serious detour and probably lengthen your journey by a factor of 5 or more distance wise. I'm also guessing it would take a lot longer to complete the last leg of the journey (Ifrane to Meknes) than the first one as the road from Meknes to Ifrane looks more like a secondary one.

As for the mountains, I'll refer to that same map which shows the "Moyen Atlas" in much closer proximity to Ifrane than the "Haut Atlas" which is near Marrakech. I spent several months in Morrocco and every Moroccan, I encountered and discussed local geography with, always referred to the Marrakech region as High Atlas and Middle Atlas as the region surrounding Ifrane and Kenifra (south of Ifrane). The latter BTW should not be confused with Kenitra which is on the Atlantic coast where a US Air force base was, again, a long time ago.

RD

[alac]

When I said: