Job Discussion Forums

Salelo · Joined: 27 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

I've been reading the forums and have learned that to get a good teaching position in the Gulf, or possibly any teaching position at all, you must have experience, as well as possibly a M.A.

I have a B.A. and will be taking a CELTA or equivalent course at the beginning of the year. I really would like to try to get a teaching position in the UAE right away, although I will have no experience and no advanced degree.

If I can find a teaching position, I understand it will not be a very good one. But what characteristics make up a "bad" teaching job? I'm assuming much lower pay and more teaching hours. Is there anything else that makes a bad job bad? I'm thinking possibly I would be willing and able to handle such a job, if it's not too terrible, for a couple or three years in order to get the experience that will allow me to get a better job.

Can you please clue me in not only on the specifics of an undesirable teaching job but also the likelihood of me, with my education and with a CELTA soon under my belt, getting a job that most people consider undesirable?

Thank you.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Because you don't have the requisite qualifications, you are extremely unlikely to be offered a job as an "offshore" hire (where you get salary, accomodation, flights, medical, etc.) which would also mean you are extremely unlikely to get the proper work visa. And you DO need a work visa to work in UAE.

IF you should come on a visit visa and find hourly work - be prepared not to be paid in full or on time, because you won't have the right visa, you will have to do visa runs on your own time and at your own expense and you will literally be at the mercy of the most unscrupulous employers who know they have you between a rock and a hard place. You will be working illegallly, you will have no recourse should you not be paid and you are the one who will be liable for arrest, fines, and deportation (again at your expense) if you are caught.

Oh, and if you don't have the $$ to cover any fines etc, you get to stay in a UAE jail until they are paid, if you do, you will probably be banned from ever coming back.

MsParker · Joined: 29 Oct 2008 Posts: 39

Even without the requisite qualifications, you may still be able to find a job here. ADEC wants to get Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs or LTs - Licensed Teachers) into all the elementary and high schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Most of the comments/existing threads on here will discourage you from even applying to anything in the UAE without an MA.

With your qualifications, you might try looking elsewhere - public schools (NOT study mills, hogwans, private tutoring or the like, which are rife with problems) in South Korea, Taiwan etc might be a better place to start. At the very least, it will give you some classroom experience that you can then use towards getting a more lucrative post.

Of course, it really depends on what you want to do. Are you looking to travel and teach? Do you want to work in a "real school" with all the real issues that come with teaching? Do you intend to return to your home country and count years teaching overseas towards your pay scale?

There are no hard and fast rules in the EFL market that dictate how Country A will treat you vs Country B - only generalizations from people who have been there, done that. No matter where you decide to go, be sure to do loads of research before committing to anything. When I went to South Korea, I had a fairly cushy teaching load, loads of paid vacation time, and a good salary and apartment. Others who went found themselves sharing accommodation, and working 10-hour days, 6 days a week with only 5 days vacation a year!

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

Some good advice above... the UAE and the Gulf in general are really not the best choice for entry level teachers - especially if you are single and under 30.

My question would be "why the UAE?"

VS

Salelo · Joined: 27 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

This is useful info. Thank you so much. And thank you for the specific information about ADEC, Ms. Parker.

Veiled Sentiments - why the UAE? I've been wanting to move overseas and teach for some time. I visited the Gulf a couple months ago, really enjoyed it and felt comfortable there. Then I arrive home to discover it looks like my boyfriend is going to be landing a job in Abu Dhabi! Thus, my desire to move to this area. I know Korea and Japan are the easiest places to land a job without an M.A., but I really would like to try in the UAE. Apparently some other people with qualifications similar to mine do it, so I want to try.

I think I could handle the less desirable teaching jobs, as I currently am self-employed and have this work (which is done on-line) to fall back on should I end up getting a teaching position and should that school end up not paying me, closing down, etc. I understand I have to set myself up in a Free Zone (or find a sponsor) in order to become self-employed.

My question now - if I get my certificate in the UAE (CELTA as well as at least one other school has many courses there) do you think my chances of landing a job in the UAE might increase?

Thank you so much for your help.

D. Merit · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 203

MsParker · Joined: 29 Oct 2008 Posts: 39

Apply early (i.e. NOW) for the CELTA. My husband is doing it in January through the British Council, and he started his application last April.

Your boyfriend will not be able to sponsor you. You need to be married, and have the marriage certificate attested by the UAE Embassy before you arrive AND it needs to be translated and stamped after you arrive.

Once you get here, though, teaching is not the only option. There are plenty of "trailing spouses" who find work once they arrive.