Job Discussion Forums

cptgulliver · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 13 Location: EU

Do you think some folks are doing ESL to ride out the economic crisis?

How is the economy effecting ESL?

Is there anyway to have some retirement from doing this or is it just endless travels and adventures?

007 · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:58 am Post subject: Re: ESL and the economy

freesoul · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

I would suggest seeking a position in government institutions as they haven't 'yet' suffered any lack of financial flow of money due to world recession.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

007 has a new school for repositioning and retooling: Its called The School of Hot Camel's Milk Mixed with Zanjabeel. All ESL teachers displaced or just booted out of their dwindling classrooms can sign up and learn how to jockey a caravan.

007, what's up dude? Haven't heard from ya in a while! Smile

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject:

Acquaintances of mine who are currently in the ESL job market in the Gulf are saying that the market appears to be noticeably tighter than it was even a year ago. In the not so distant past, talk in staffrooms was about how employers were 'desperate' and would take 'anyone'. Not so these days. Employers seem to be raising their minimum requirements and/or simply don't have any openings for teachers - many are letting staff go.

Part of this situation may of course be due to the fact that the institutions employing ESL staff in the Gulf are themselves suffering from the slowdown - doubtless this is the case for the private colleges. However, one also has to factor in the large number of teachers who have lost their jobs in private language schools around the world, and are now looking for positions in the Gulf. Also, many ESL teachers only practice this 'profession' as a second career, and many of these people may have lost their business-related jobs over the past year.

So, no, sadly it does not appear that ESL is immune from the slowdown. In fact, 'luxuries' like language training are among the first things to suffer when companies start cut-backs, as they almost all are doing now.

12 Monkeys · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82 Location: paradise lost

Colleagues of mine in another semi middle east/european country that borders Greece, Bulgaria, Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria say that their hours have been cut due to lack of enrollment. Plus, they are not hiring anymore.

Cornelius

Citizenkane · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Xanadu

Agree with the above.

Have been in KSA for many years and have NEVER seen the market as tough for teachers as it is now. Even KSU - which not so long ago was known as the place where 'anyone' could get a job - is firing people and rejecting more and more applicants. Universities and other employers which require an MA may still be OK because they're limiting themselves to a fairly restricted pool of employees. But those places, like KSU, who are happy to accept people with BAs and CELTAs will now have lots of applications from people laid off by language schools in East Asia and elsewhere.