Job Discussion Forums

[littleoldlady]

Dear Mr. John
Very impressive. I hope you didn't study Catullus like I did all those moons ago. I guess they didn't use those particular texts in the seminary.

[johnslat]

Dear LOL,
No Catullus - too risque - but we did the usual suspects: Cicero, Tacitus, Pliny (the Elder), and Livy, plus some Horace and even some Juvenal.
Ah, the good, old pre-Vatican II days.
Regards,
John

[littleoldlady]

Vatican 11 spoilt all the fun. I loved Virgil ( not of Thunderbirds although he was ok too). Livy was too long winded. You spend 5 minutes looking for the verb and it's hidden on the other side of the page.

[johnslat]

Dear LOL.
Lordy, how did I forget to mention Virgil - but he was TOUGH. Unlike the historians and "naturalists" (scientists seems a bit premature), he indulged in all those "poetic conceits" that make translation such a minefield.
I definitely agree about Livy - Tacitus was/is much better.
Regards,
John

[Cleopatra]

Daily Mail a punishment too far?

A week's viewing of Sky News perhaps?

[johnslat]

Dear Cleo,
If you want to get REALLY harsh, even a single DAY of "Fox (Faux) News" (if LOL is unfortunate enough to be able to view it) would be the ultimate penance.
Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

One hour of Beck or O'Reilly would be punishment enough for anyone... (don't even ask LoL... too awful to contemplate...)

VS
(Glad that I don't know the woman in question that caused this radical punishment... must google her up...)

[mistral]

OK folks let 's have a closer look at AUIS. Just got back from a short visit to Suli as they call it. Considering this is Iraq, the teachers are grossly underpaid. Most are new to working in a "post-conflict" situation so AUIS gets away with it.

AUIS claims to be

[mistral]

A guy I met in the small hotel where I stayed last week said that for that money he could send his sons abroad to study. AUIS isn't exactly the talk of the town.

Not wanting to add insult to injury, but AUIS staff apparently frequent the hotel. He said he didn't want his children to be taught by "that lot".

I'd considered applying to AUIS. Think I'll give it a miss.

[veiledsentiments]

The real question is what do they offer as pay to the expat teachers. For a local teacher, $400 is probably considered good pay...

VS

[mistral]

It's probably "negotiable" and AUIS get you to sign a non-disclosure agreement stating you won't discuss you salary with other members of staff. Anybody know whether they use an agent?

[veiledsentiments]

Nothing unusual about people being told not to disclose their pay... and a universal ignoring of it the moment they depart... so I don't see why these teachers would be any different.

VS

[Van Gogh]

Thanks for the heads up Minstral. Thank goodness we have such a reliable source as you keeping us all so well informed about AUI-S. I've been here 4 months; I wonder when the sneaky management will spring that 'non-disclosure agreement ' on me so I won't be able to tell a soul I started on $��.. oops no, best keep that to myself.

Local salaries for teachers in Sulimaniyah are under $400 US
I�ve yet to meet any locals teaching here, but there is lots of happy local admin staff who are working hard along side 'that lot' to make this place work. Although, to be fair I have met a poor badly done to driver who's only on about $800 a month, the lad can at last afford to get married, and guess what? 'that lot' are all invited to his wedding. Shameful!

TOEFL students (6 week course) pay $4000.
Tish! Fancy charging students money to attend a university, who ever heard of such a thing. Next thing you know greedy AUIS will be pumping some of it back into the university to help develop new programs, make laptops available to all the students and provide the latest text books, standardized exams and, even offering financial assistance to students.
It makes ya wanna spit. Or maybe that�s what they meant by "a non-profit institution of higher education ��

"Professionals" at AUIS's "Continuing Education Division" are charged $1500 for a 40-hour course. $1500 per 40 hours!
That's 37.50 dollars an hour. (22 quid in real money, cheaper than a UK driving lesson) That's outrageous. Those poor, hard up 'sponsored' professionals are paying far too much for Con Ed courses; someone should tell the hundreds who have been applying and seem amazingly glad of the chance of improving their education.

Sounds like sour grapes to me. What's up Mistral, Did you apply not get hired or is just spreading disinformation and rumours your idea of what Dave�s ESL caf� is all about?

PS: Do you always believe what strange men in hotels tell you?

[mistral]

This isn't disinformation or rumors. I know what I'm talking about. I've visited Erbil and "Suli" several times and seen the university, but would never apply. Van Gough. I hope you realize you're teaching at an overrated, overpriced university in one if the poorest areas of Iraq. Why should students in a postwar situation be expected to pay for their education?


Here's the price list

Conversational English - $1,000 ?????????????????

Description:
This intensive English program is designed to spike student interest and curiosity in verbal English. The topics give students an opportunity to share their own ideas, experiences, and opinions. The context gives students numerous opportunities to revisit previous studied language structures and vocabulary. The new language and context presented gives students the chance to use their analytical and critical thinking skills.

Prerequisites:
Take the TOEFL or TOEFL Equivalence Test.

Start Date for Sulaimani and Erbil: Aug 5th - Sept 30th

TOEFL Preparation - $4,000

Description:
This intensive English program is designed to spike student interest and curiosity in all areas in the English language. The topics give students an opportunity to share their own ideas, experiences, and opinions. The context gives students numerous opportunities to revisit previously studied language structures and vocabulary. The new language and context presented gives students the chance to use their analytical and critical thinking skills to develop skills in a foreign language

Prerequisites:
Take the TOEFL or TOEFL Equivalence Test.

Start Date for Sulaimani July 5th to Sept 30th

High School English $4,000

Description:
Private English classes to understand and improve all English language skills.

Prerequisite: Take TOEFL or TOEFL Equivalence Test

Start Date for Sulaimani July 5th to Sept 30th


Business English - $1,500

Description:
This intensive English program is designed to educate applicants in all areas of Business English. Emphasis will be placed on the difference between common English usage and Business English usage. The topics give students an opportunity to share their own ideas, experiences, and opinions. The context gives students numerous opportunities to revisit previously studied language structures and vocabulary. The new language and context presented gives students the chance to use their analytical and critical thinking skills to develop skills in a foreign language. Due to the �refining� nature of the course a relatively high level of English must already be achieved in order to be successful in the course.

Prerequisites:
Take the TOEFL or TOEFL Equivalence Test.
TOEFL score of 475 or higher

Start Date for Sulaimani and Erbil Aug 5th - Sept 30th

http://ced.auis.org/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=6



Oh and Van Gough. What are the fees for courses in painting by numbers?


And this is who the university hire:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/amer_univiraq_chancellor_hired.php


Who does the hiring? Do AUIS still have the same vetting process?

[InterRick]