Job Discussion Forums

[sisyphus]

Is it worth visiting the Arabia Tesol conference and job fair prior to completing your MA? Or do you need to have completed it before going for it be of any use? How far in advance do ME employers recruit?
Has anyone been to this -is it worth visiting in terms of employment?
Regards...The Sisyphus

[MrScaramanga]

Sisyphus,

Yes, you should complete your MA and get at least 3 years teaching experience before you can really get your money's worth at TESOL Arabia. This is especially true for tertiary institutions who will not employ anyone without these quals. By the way, the MA should also be in Applied Lings, TESOL, or TEFL.

Once you have these quals, the job fair is definitely worth the trip, as employers from all over the Gulf send reps there to interview candidates. It's kinda like one-stop-shopping

MrS

[sisyphus]

I have the experience but not the MA?! I know its been mentioned that employers look for 3 years post MA , I have many years pre MA and at various levels..not sure if i can get a tertiary job with that.

[veiledsentiments]

If you have extensive (3+years) experience teaching adults... preferably university level... any Arabic speakers?... Academic English... reading/writing..., I think it is worth the trip once you have the MA. The experience may not count towards your pay level at some (many? most?) employers, but would increase the chances of offers.

I know of people with brand new MAs who got an offer from every place that they interviewed with at a conference. (and the offers were from the top employers) But they had extensive experience teaching Arabic speakers at varying ages.

VS

[sisyphus]

thanks ..
my experience in a nutshell: two years teaching Political Philosophy at a UK Uni, 4 years teaching english at secondary level(not UK) , the rest , about 8 years teaching adults (corporate, military,private language school) , have ran my own language school as DOS . Will be doing some EAP at the local Uni next year but only a few lessons a week....

Extensive experience making tea and reading obscure novels...

The Sisyphus

[MrScaramanga]

I'm afraid tea-making doesn't count as experience at TESOL Arabia Wait it out and go when you're ready for the big guns. You're still a light weight as it is.
MrS

[sisyphus]

Mr S. Thanks for that. I used to be a Metaphysical poet..does that count?
Seriously, you think my experience is not enough?

[MrScaramanga]

Well, if I read you right, you really don't have university-level experience teaching English. That, and not having an MA, makes you a light weight at the TESOL Arabia job fair.

To get a job at a respectable tertiary institution in the Gulf, you really have to have experience teaching the subject (English, ESL, EFL) at the university level (minimum 3 years).

So, there you have it!
MrS

PS. I'm afraid metaphysics and poetry also do not count as relevant experience at the job fair...

[veiledsentiments]

[Harvey]

Jazz up your CV.

[PC Parrot]

Sen misin, Harvey?

[sisyphus]

Yes I am not applying now, I will obviously do the MA first. Im surprised that with the number of years experience I have , I wouldnt be considered. But yes I dont have EFL experience at Uni level..and not much chance besides part time experience here..there just isnt any jobs in this field. Perhaps Qatar or Oman may be easier to get Uni jobs...

[veiledsentiments]

QU hires quite a few teachers with new MAs. The money isn't bad at all at entry level. SQU in Oman is worth a try... or even the University of Nizwa. The money isn't grand, but any of the three would be great for the CV. You can read all about them on the various boards.

VS

[sisyphus]

Great. Thanks for that...

'Packs books into rucksack and a few packets of Twinings tea, ...'

[veiledsentiments]

Kindle... I'm tellin' ya... a Kindle is the "must have" item for the ME teacher. If only they had had it back in my day. I can't tell you how many bad books I had to read because there was nothing else around.

VS