Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Pakistan ? There are NO EFL jobs in Pakistan ! At all

sliim · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 55

It is really sad to see the responses carmo85 is getting.

Carmo85, there is nothing wrong with filling in an 18 month gap teaching English. Not everyone is a career EFL teacher. Once upon a time, I thougt I was going to be one, but a few years of experience made me a little wiser.

If you ask me, EFL is best when approached as a passing interest, not as a big career choice.

Now, should anyone jump on that, let me clarify my last satement so as not to offend anyone: STAY AWAY FROM EFL--lest you become a miserable, snorting old grouch hissing at newbies on an EFL teacher's board!

Regarding the best place to teach, it really only depends on what you are looking for. For a lesser qualified teacher, jobs in the Gulf can kind of, well... suck, and workers are often ill treated, overworked, and poorly paid.

That said, if you are looking to do this as a temporary gig, why not try with an NGO like Amideast (reasonable pay, good treatment), or as you poll suggests, just go work in Oman? I personally haven't been there, but I hear some good things. And Oman is pretty quite, comparatively speaking.

And don't mind the bitter grinches you find on a message board like this. You would be grouchy too if you were a career ESL teacher in the ME.

Good luck in your search.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

syria but .... i can't seem to vote for it Wink

best
basil

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

I will try my hand at teaching in Spain for 6 months and I will then make a decision to continue teaching or go back home to Ireland and do my masters in Public policy.

Regarding what my friends have said, they have said that yes it is corrupt but it is a job and that's how they approach it. They, like me, have absolutely no intention of getting into teaching as a career. So let's see.

OK so why even ask? You said you have no intention of getting into teaching as a career. SABIS is what it is - if you can teach to the test, put up with micro management and nit picking as well as sharing accomodation and the lower end of the pay scale - go for it.

One of the reasons why you feel you might have been jumped on is because the GCC is not generally a place you "drop into" and EFL job, it's a career decision (for "lifers" - not a gap year type of gig.

As for countries, Oman is beautiful and you may actually get some social interaction with the locals. UAE, not bad - but more costly just because there are more options where you can be soon parted with your money and more frustrations because of the traffic etc.

Qatar, you won't be offered work there with your lack of quals. Can't speak to Saudi. As for the rest - if you're considering a master's in public policy - I wish you luck.[/i]

washingtonpost · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 61

No question, it's Oman. I tried Qatar which wasn't too bad but nothing much to do. I am now in the UAE which is choice number 2. When I earn enough, I am going back to Oman. It's not the place to make a lot of money but there is job satisfaction and a good working environment, especially at SQU where I hope to go back.

ryder · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 21

Carmo

How about a poll on the worst places to work in the ME.

Pakistan is sometimes considered to be part of the middle east - depends on who's doing the classifying. The US does not consider it to be part of Asia!!!

redsoxman · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 51

Ignore VS and her rude comments. She is often snide to people and makes false accusations. A lot of really great teachers started their careers by doing a 'gap' stint as a volunteer teacher or taught somewhere for low pay. Then they found out they had a vocation. In fact VS came to teaching from another profession according to one PM I got, I presume that information is accurate.

A lot of top notch teachers started out in other fields; they did the 'gap' teaching stint and then ended up being darn good teachers. Many teachers, myself included, came to teaching by doing volunteer teaching. I spent time in Latin America as a volunteer teacher. I also learned Spanish. The more varied your background, the better informed you are and you can bring that knowledge to the classroom. The problem with a lot of places is not the teachers, it's the management.

Avoid SABIS as they have a very bad reputation. Also avoid Choiefat Schools. Cambridge Schools isn't too bad. The UAE is a great place to work. I haven't worked anywhere else in the Gulf but I like the variety the UAE offers.

Good luck, Carmo85.

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

ryder · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 21

This VS woman wrote a very snide reponse to something I wrote on another post. Quite right, she is rude.

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

Only to sockpuppets (like redfoxman and his many personas here) and trolls... and new posters who choose to be rude to other posters without cause... as you did on the other thread. You got what you gave that time. Besides I wasn't rude. I merely pointed out that this isn't your board and you don't get to make the rules.

But, I do see that you have redeemed yourself with a number of helpful posts since then.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

What is wrong with being rude ? Just another word for sassy or feisty !

ryder · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 21

In response to the topic, I have to say Oman is the best place to work. I spent 9 very happy years there. Unfortunately the salaries are very low for families so it's hard to make ends meet when you have children to educate. That was the only reason I came to the UAE - more money but certainly less job satisaction. Much of Oman is spectacular and it's a real pleasure to spend weekends camping out in the desert, the beaches, the hills or the mountains.

Bahrain would be my second choice. I spent one happy year in Bahrain where I met my wife. Bahrain is nice too but very small and insular and very little to do for people who like spending time outdoors.

washingtonpost · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 61

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject:

If you have a problem with one nationality or several, take it someplace else.
Insulting comments along such lines are not appreciated here and members who post such comments will be sanctioned accordingly.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Carmo85,

PLease note that two of the people who have been nastiest to you on this thread are both retired and neither of them is living in the Middle East.

The SABIS thread that you were referred to is nearly three years old, and a lot of things can happen in that time. I know of two organisations in the Gulf that were quite good to work for a couple of years ago, but which have gone rapidly downhill since then. Conversely, it is entirely possible that places can improve. Certainly, I would take historyman's comments with a very large pinch of salt - it's hardly SABIS's fault that Homs has a chemical plant!

Finally, if you are really thinking of using your 18 months gap to get some experience and make some money, then to some extent it really doesn't matter where you choose to work. But be careful. Years ago, here in Oman, I had a colleague who had signed on for a three-years contract one dark night when he needed money and three years didn't seem a very long time to be away from his family. It was. He hated every minute of his time here, and made himself and everybody else around him miserable at the same time.

Best of luck.