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Vgrace
Joined: 16 May 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Plattsburgh, NY
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 Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Well? I am curious to know who got the job and what working there is like? I sent my resume to AMIDEAST Morocco a while back, and got absolutely no response. I will be sending it again shortly in hopes of least getting a reply stating it was received.
Anyhow, anyone want to talk about their interview experience and/or work experience at AMIDEAST? |
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Vulcan Warrior
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 8
Location: Aboard the Vulcan Combat Cruiser Tal'Kyr.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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I would also like to hear what others think about working for AMIDEAST - not only in Morocco but also for AMIDEAST centers in general. I understand that one can be employed by AMIDEAST as a teacher and as a manager. Obviously, the capacity in which one is employed influences one's treatment, salary and benfits package.
AMIDEAST is presently recruiting for managers in several Gulf countries. I would be interested in hearing others experiences with AMIDEAST - particularly those who hold or have held management positions. |
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j. remy
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Dar El Be�da, Morocco
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| Hod wrote: |
| There was even a poster called JRemy on here who I met on several occasions for drinks at Cafe France. |
Come on now, Moulay Hod - that's a bit mendacious - is it not?
I'm quite certain Hod and I never met even once in person, unless he was using a different name in real life and didn't bother to inform me of his esl caf� nom-de-plume.
We never had coffee together at Caf� de France. We talked on the phone briefly and that's really the extent of our contact.
It's been a while since I've read or posted here, but skimming the forum this morning, I couldn't let that one slip. I've noted that Hod's prolific Morocco-related post count has only expanded in recent years.
I'm currently teaching English freelance in Dar-el-Be�da (obtained my patent number/commercial authorization/10-year residence card) - generally doing one-on-one sessions with execs and middle management types at both local businesses and multinationals (billing myself as a 'consultant en anglais') - and making decent money, although I certainly haven't been included on any Fortune 500 lists. This is simply because I've lived in Casa for almost 5 years and made lots of contacts in the business community, know the market for English Coaching and am well aware of the astronomical fees companies like Amideast, BC, BPEC, Wall Street, Berlitz, et al. charge corporate clients for 30 hour t�te-�-t�te sessions. Obviously I can offer much more reasonable prices to companies and earn more myself by eliminating the middleman. I couldn't have done that when I stepped off the plane in Casa back in 2005 - so naturally, I needed to start somewhere.
Concerning Amideast Casablanca - I'm not going to post petty personal diatribes (then again, you be the judge of that), but I will simply note some changes they've made and provide relevant assessments of their working conditions.
When I started with Amideast in 2005 they offered 2 weeks in a hotel while I was flat-searching, 10k Dirhams settling-in cash and a year-end bonus of 5% of your take. As far as I know, they no longer offer this. They offered no bonus after my first year, in fact.
At some point during my tenure with Amideast, 230 Dirhams/hr was standard off-site pay for profs. It has now plunged to 150/hr regardless of how long you've been with them. I believe their standard on-site rate has fallen similarly. Odd, considering the price of living in Casablanca has climbed steadily.
If you consider 'sometime in the first two weeks of the month' being paid in a timely manner - you'll feel right at home. But in all fairness, they did pay us - just be sure to check your pay-stub (fiche-de-paie) for errors - oops, ya don't get one.
My first year, US teachers paid no American taxes - subsequently, however, Amideast decided that we would be paying Soc Sec. to Oncle Sam. Apparently, the rosbifs didn't have to pay taxes - but that may have changed.
They certainly don't offer health insurance (but I don't think that's shocking for you seasoned ESL mercenaries), holidays or sick pay - but then again - you folks are the linguistic equivalent of Blackwater, right? - grizzled rough riders. Mount up, regulators.
Don't ask for a raise.
Again, during my time with Amideast, it was not uncommon for them to be out of stock of, say, TOEFL books for 5 weeks of a 10-week term. Photocopies, you say? I don't think paying customers want photocopies but, Amideast rarely had a functioning copy machine.
Teaching hours (they state up-front that there is no monthly guarantee of hours) were assigned based upon which teacher was more effective at schmoozing the director (i.e. who took more ciggy breaks on the balcony or ordered more Lebanese take-out with him). A bit juvenile at best - downright nepotistic at worst.
They regularly scheduled classes of 15-plus students in rooms designed to hold no more than 8 to 10 people. I recall TOEIC classes in which new students were still being admitted 4 or 5 weeks in to the term - and, surprise, couldn't buy the requisite textbook because Amideast was out of stock.
Their plastic 'kiddie desks' were falling apart (difficult to explain to professional adults) and the sanitary conditions in the restrooms and teachers' lounge were often abysmal (roaches'n'reek). This would have been easy to shrug off except that the customers' ire was usually directed at the teachers and receptionists - the direction was typically not available.
The security firm contracted to guard the facility was laughable - essentially in cahoots with a disgruntled former errand-boy who broke in and absconded with all the cash in the safe. That is funny, but when they weren't grilling spliffs or playing footie on their PSPs they were chatting up female students. If you're nervous about miscreants targeting Anglo-American institutions in Casa (you really needn't be - but it's the principle of it all) - don't expect to be reassured by the security arrangements.
I could go on - but I'll wait until some helpful troll shows up to lambaste me for my libelous tirade.
Concerning Casa - it's the economic capital - you'll find work here. If you want to appreciate Morocco - you need to travel. The Rif and Mediterranean Coast are spectacular; the Atlantic coast south of Agadir and north of the metro-plex (between Assilah - Cap Spartel) has gorgeous, pristine beaches; the Ourika Valley (High Atlas) east of Marrakech is breathtaking; the kasbahs in the Berber south are stunning and the mint tea is second to none.
Morocco can be amazing, or it can be amazingly mundane and schlock-laden. If you haunt dive bars in Casa's centreville and consider Marrakech's medina a great place for artisanal bargains - you'll no doubt have basked in the mundanity. If you have Moroccan friends and/or a spirit of adventure - you can experience the Maghreb at its finest. I have the impression that Hod only associated with Brits and left every weekend for the Costa del Sol.
Mediterranean fruit and vegetables are seasonal and cheap (good citrus fruits and riffi almonds/nuts year-round, but don't expect to find jet-shipped free-trade raspberries) and generally of good quality. If you avoid the ubiquitous 'snacks' - fries/chips galore - you can find many a spot for reasonably priced tagines, whole grain khobz and decent Moroccan fare. You won't find a tandoori joint/pad thai stand on each corner, but, is that why you want to come to Morocco? Cooking at home is certainly a good option and i would expect most folks do anyway after settling in. Fresh seafood is widely available, poultry is cheap and the spices/olive oil are certainly world-class. Moroccan wine ranges from decent to excellent (though inconsistent from bottle to bottle) and there are several palatable local beers.
Hod - try to be a bit more honest. The folks are counting on your vast storehouse of "wisdom." Have you married a Thai woman yet? You must have a fascinating real-world quotidian existence - you certainly astound me with the time you devote to posting here. |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I know I�m interesting J+Remy, but this is the Africa Forum. |
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TwinCentre
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 273
Location: Mokotow
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Hod - try to be a bit more honest. The folks are counting on your vast storehouse of "wisdom." Have you married a Thai woman yet? You must have a fascinating real-world quotidian existence - you certainly astound me with the time you devote to posting here. |
Hod is doing very well for himself and left TEFL in true style...last time I saw him he had an apartment the size of Casa Port.
I guess I left his not so humble abode with the lingering after-thought that 'leaving Morocco and TEFL sure suits some'. |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Enough about me already. It's more relevant to this board and the Africa Forum to get an insight into why AMIDEAST fired him. From what J+Remy says, it sounds way better than the British Council. |
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j. remy
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Dar El Be�da, Morocco
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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Ahhh... The Mahdi has arrived.
I loved how you neglected to acknowledge any of the misinformation you've been spreading in this thread.
| Hod wrote: |
| There was even a poster called JRemy on here who I met on several occasions for drinks at Cafe France. His tales of teaching Nirvana had me crying in my nous nous. You can imagine my shock when he got fired after two minor complaints, though. If you're reading JRemy, why not say hi? |
Perhaps "you can imagine my shock when" I read this paragraph you apparently typed several years ago. It seems the best reason to spend more time at ol' Dave's ESL Caf� is to keep your propensity for fabrication in check. Why not simply admit that you lied and that we never had drinks together. True, it won't give you any credibility, but I might be less inclined to treat everything you type as complete poppycock. My "tales of teaching Nirvana" you say?
| Hod wrote: |
| Well OK, he told me he was going to get fired. My mistake. |
That must have been what I "told you" after you "told" me about the time you'd awoken from a fainting spell in the hammam and your orifices were a bit sore. I'm sorry, my mistake - you didn't say that and we've never spoken face to face. But, yo dude, it sounded mildly informative and a little scandalous.
| Hod wrote: |
| I know I�m interesting J+Remy, but this is the Africa Forum. |
I admit, you are a riveting character - in a very Pinocchio-esque way, mind you. Although I agree that I've contributed nothing to the compiled knowledge of TESL in Rwanda and Burkina-Faso - I did provide some info on Amideast Morocco, in accordance with the thread title. Even so, with 500+ posts to your credit, the mods should consider opening a 'Hod Forum'.
| Hod wrote: |
| Enough about me already. It's more relevant to this board and the Africa Forum to get an insight into why AMIDEAST fired him. From what J+Remy says, it sounds way better than the British Council. |
Kind sir... Have you stopped beating your wife? |
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j. remy
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Dar El Be�da, Morocco
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| TwinCentre wrote: |
Hod is doing very well for himself and left TEFL in true style...last time I saw him he had an apartment the size of Casa Port.
I guess I left his not so humble abode with the lingering after-thought that 'leaving Morocco and TEFL sure suits some'. |
Is it Twin, or Clone? And are you a card-carrying Hod fanboy or simply an admirer?
In any case, I'm no great conspiracy theorist, but the fact that you posted a mere 3 minutes after His Royal Hodness and he posted again around ten minutes later suggests that "you are he as you are me and we are all together."
He must have room for at least two in that Casa Port-sized flat he's rockin' these days. Heck, he and I had tapas just the other night.
It was Colonel Mustard, from the grassy knoll - after Mossad staged the moon landing!!!
I suppose you kind gents will have me banned from the forum soon - i assume you're well-connected - but I must confess that I haven't felt quite this petty since my initial introduction to HRH back in '05.
Maybe someone should post something relevant to the original poster's questions and we can all go back to being the insignificant grains of sand we are. |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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For what it's worth, I'm glad you're back and doing well in Casa. Why would anyone want you banned? You�re the only one on here to have succeeded in Morocco. Everyone else failed and left or �did� Morocco tied to a local partner�s apron strings, if you�ll excuse the rosbif vernacular.
Less interesting, but the administrators of this and any discussion website can see all our IP addresses. Twin Centre and I, we meet up for the odd mint tea, but we live thousands of miles apart. |
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TwinCentre
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 273
Location: Mokotow
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| Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| j. remy wrote: |
Is it Twin, or Clone? And are you a card-carrying Hod fanboy or simply an admirer?
In any case, I'm no great conspiracy theorist, but the fact that you posted a mere 3 minutes after His Royal Hodness and he posted again around ten minutes later suggests that "you are he as you are me and we are all together."
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Yeah, looks suspect, but I am me and no-one else, I just use the alert option, whenever Mr Hod posts, I take a wee look and see if I can add anything. Irritating I guess?
You have been in Morocco a long time now? Has Casa changed much recently? I was last there in town in 2006. |
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eclectic
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
Posts: 1122
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: |
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| way to nebulous for me ......... who is who here? |
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