Job Discussion Forums

lizard · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 14

The American University of Iraq has just posted an ad. Can anyone provide updated/current info on the place? Are any of you current or ex-employees? Their website still says "coming soon" under the Faculty and Staff section, and their ad - for faculty of the English Writing Program and Language Institute - is not all that specific. I'm wondering if they're just looking for warm bodies. Any info is appreciated!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

lizard · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 14

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

SJ is right - his message is DO NOT GO TO IRAQ. By doing so you are putting your life in danger and collaborating with the occupiers who are there illegally..

hawlermonkey · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 34

Suleimaniya is fine. There are some interesting and beautiful areas to visit -Halabja, Lake Dokan, Haruman etc. The people are nice and extremely friendly. I lived in the Kurdish region of Iraq for nearly two years and never experienced any crime. There is a dark underworld of espionage, shady politics and social problems -honour killings, abuse of women and drug addiction (Suleimaniya is on the heroin smuggling route that goes from Afghanistan to Turkey) - but as a foreign English teacher these things will be very well hidden from view. The main problem you are likely to encounter will be at work with poor local management and issues with other foreign teachers.

Unless the KRG decides to claim the Kirkuk region and trigger massive hostilities with Arab Iraqis and Turkey - Suleimaniya will be a nice place to teach especially when compared to Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. Also the looks of horror and wonder you get when you tell people you live in Iraq is quite fun, even though where you will be living is safer than London.

hawlermonkey · Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 34

Lizard, I just noticed that you worked in Afghanistan - that is hard-core. You should never take two hardship posts in a row for mental health reasons - unless you are masochist. Suleimaniya is ok but it is not lots of fun and excitement. After Afghanistan you should take a year off from very conservative messed-up countries. Teach in Vietnam or Italy - somewhere nice where you can have intimate relationships and be free to let your hair down. The pay is not as good but there are other considerations. Otherwise you may do permanent damage to your personality. 2-3 years on 1-2 years off works well.

007 · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject:

Well, I think anybody who just returned from Afghanistan, Iraq, or Somalia, needs to see a psychological doctor to help him overcome his post-traumatic stress disorder! One solution is to look for a 'location decompression zone' where you can switch your brain off and live a lifeless life! Laughing

lizard · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 14

hawlermonkey and 007 -
Thanks for your concern for my mental health. Smile

I am well aware of the issues involved in working in "post-conflict zones" and have had plenty of time to relax and 'let my hair down' since working in Afg. Like any other professional, I wouldn't consider living or working in any locale if I didn't know I could handle it. Regardless of those issues however, AUI may not be the place for me. But I will make that decision for myself. Cool

Thanks to all for your input!

Van Gogh · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 71

Hi Lizard,

I'm working at AUIS now, just arrived. I'd be happy to let you know how I get on and how things are here.

pstevenson · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 8 Location: USA

lizard · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 14

Van Gogh,
Thanks for your reply. Do keep us all informed; I'm sure there are many other readers who are interested in hearing about your experiences as well. Good luck with your new job; hopefully you'll have positive stories to share! Smile

Linguist · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 202

Van Gogh, what happened ? Still there ?

Van Gogh · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 71

Hi Linguistic,
Yes, I'm still here and enjoying Kurdistan. The people are very friendly. It's been a long time since I walked through a souk and had locals say 'Thank you for being here' & 'Welcome.' My wife has had fruit and vegetables given to her in the market. However, there is a strong anti Arab feeling here, which after 12 years in Saudi and the UAE I can live with. AUIS is recruiting, see the Jobs Section here on Dave's ESL.

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

Can you give us a report on the general employment details? How is the housing? General cost of living? Teaching hours? Class sizes?

You know... the usual things that people ask about. Cool

VS

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

Thanx for the posts everyone.
One thing I noticed was that they will possibly be sending teachers to other posts for special assignments in Iraq. They mention Erbil and teaching in the south (which I guess may be in and around Baghdad, which they mention pays more money) but any teaching that requires a road trip could very easily end up in loss of life or being maimed for life or being kidnapped.

Check out Antiwar.com to keep up to date, contract workers who are on the road to and from the job in Baghdad die at the rate of about 3 per day.
From all my research I am guessing that the pay starts out at around
$80,000 a year for AUIS, and teaching in the "South" around $100,000 a year.

Kurdistan is armed to the teeth by the Peshmerga (180,000 troops) and its probably the safest place to be at this moment in time, but that could change overnight for a number of reasons.

Overall, I calculated the chances of being killed in the south between 10% to 15% more likely than teaching in a non war zone country. Is it really worth the money? Crunch the numbers, if you have about 30 years of teaching ahead of you, you might come out ahead by teaching in other middle eastern countries in the long run.