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fayefidalgo



Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:57 pm    Post subject: Exploring options Reply with quote

Good day all,

I'm hoping to glean some knowledge from all of you with plenty of international teaching and living experience...

I am a 32 year old single mom with two 8 year old boys, and I am hoping to work my way to the Mid East within the next year or so. I am looking mostly at UAE, but am open to several other countries (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine/Israel, North Africa, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain etc). I have some travel experience in the Mid East (Palestine/Israel, Jordan, UAE) so feel like i know a little of what to expect in terms of being a single mother/woman etc. But not much at all in terms of working there.

I have a combined degree in Spanish and Anthropology (I know, I should probably go to a spanish speaking country....) and will have a TESOL certification from an accredited American university in the spring. I will have logged about 100 volunteer hours of teaching/assisting, and will have completed a three month student teaching practicum. I also will have completed 2 full years of arabic language study at the university level.

I think that covers my qualifications, now my question is, will I be qualified to teach in UAE? I realize each country has its differences, would I be more suited to another country? I see many listings for private and public schools, universities, corporations etc, and wonder what my options are. Is it far fetched to think that I could work in a school where my kids could get partial or full tuition covered? And these posts that offer airfare, accomodations, transportation, bonuses etc, are they just looking nice, or following through? I've read that recruitment companies should generally be avoided, is that true?
Is it a better idea to try to arrange work online, or travel to the country to get myself set up, if possible?
Is there anything I haven't considered that is really important??

Any answers and advice will be appreciated! And good luck to you all as well....
Thank you so much
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:14 am    Post subject: Re: Exploring options Reply with quote

fayefidalgo wrote:
I think that covers my qualifications, now my question is, will I be qualified to teach in UAE?

Sadly, probably not... not a job that would pay you enough to cover rent, food, and the school fees for two kids.

Question for you... after that "three month student teaching practicum" will you be eligible to get certified to teach in your state in the US? I don't mean a TESOL cert, but the cert needed to teach K-12. What you are really lacking is the type of experience that an employer is looking for... some full time teaching for a year or more.

To be honest, if you were single and on your own, I'd say to go for it and you could find something in one of your listed countries that would support you minimally. But with two kids needing schooling... I doubt that you could earn enough to pay their fees.

Now if you have a state teaching cert and could get a couple years experience, you would have more and better opportunities.

Perhaps someone has other ideas?

VS
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To add a PS after reading the responses in your other thread. Most of the Gulf countries (if not all) will require written permission from the boys' father. This is where things become sticky if you had never married him. In the Muslim culture, the children are the property of the father... no matter what your US papers might say.

That said... there are single mothers teaching there... who provided the required paperwork.

VS
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fayefidalgo



Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks VS for your advice and information, its much appreciated.
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adorabilly



Joined: 20 May 2006
Posts: 430
Location: Ras Al Khaimah

PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:03 am    Post subject: Re: Exploring options Reply with quote

fayefidalgo wrote:
Good day all,

I'm hoping to glean some knowledge from all of you with plenty of international teaching and living experience...

I am a 32 year old single mom with two 8 year old boys, and I am hoping to work my way to the Mid East within the next year or so. I am looking mostly at UAE, but am open to several other countries (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine/Israel, North Africa, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain etc). I have some travel experience in the Mid East (Palestine/Israel, Jordan, UAE) so feel like i know a little of what to expect in terms of being a single mother/woman etc. But not much at all in terms of working there.


The UAE is pretty safe, and a decent place to raise kids. So that is a good starting place.

Quote:

I have a combined degree in Spanish and Anthropology (I know, I should probably go to a spanish speaking country....) and will have a TESOL certification from an accredited American university in the spring. I will have logged about 100 volunteer hours of teaching/assisting, and will have completed a three month student teaching practicum. I also will have completed 2 full years of arabic language study at the university level.

Since you will have a student teaching practicum, will you have a US/UK teaching certificate?

If you have a US/UK teaching cert you can get employed at some of the english speaking schools, either to teach spanish, or whatever else you are certified in (if possible get several teaching qualifications... do spanish, english, math, ict).

Unless you have the teaching cert, your qualifications are extremely limiting in the UAE. They are very, Very, VERY hung up on qualifications. In order to teach at most universities you need the MA, and most primary/secondary schools you will need a teaching certification.

Quote:

I think that covers my qualifications, now my question is, will I be qualified to teach in UAE? I realize each country has its differences, would I be more suited to another country?


see above. You might be able to do things in places like brunei, and with your quals there are other places you can get experience. But you reallllllllly need the MA or the teaching cert.

Quote:

I see many listings for private and public schools, universities, corporations etc, and wonder what my options are. Is it far fetched to think that I could work in a school where my kids could get partial or full tuition covered?

without the teaching cert or the MA, yes it is extremely far fetched... with the MA or the teaching cert your employment package would have education allowances included for your kids.

Quote:

And these posts that offer airfare, accomodations, transportation, bonuses etc, are they just looking nice, or following through? I've read that recruitment companies should generally be avoided, is that true?
Is it a better idea to try to arrange work online, or travel to the country to get myself set up, if possible?
Is there anything I haven't considered that is really important??

Any answers and advice will be appreciated! And good luck to you all as well....
Thank you so much


From reading your qualifications, I would suggest getting the teaching certification, or doing an MA and then getting experience.

If you are after the expat life, there are lots of places you will qualifiy for now, but they are not the UAE. (china, korea, japan, brunei)
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fayefidalgo



Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 3:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks adorabilly, for all your suggestions!
I am unclear about the teaching certification vs. the teaching license. I will have a certification to teach TESOL, but I will not be licensed to teach in schools in my home state. I live in Washington state, and I'd need a teaching degree specifically for K-12 to teach in public schools. What I have is a certification from an accredited university with an extremely good and well known TESOL program. What does this mean in terms of certification/license abroad? From what I understand, I need essentially the same qualifications to teach in either USA or UAE, which is a teaching license. Right?
Now, it varies from state to state, and I really don't have an idea what other states require, but I am of the understanding that I might be able to teach in other states because WA has somewhat higher standards? I dont know a lot about this and am thinking that as far as teaching in UAE or elsewhere abroad, it probably depends on the employer and their specific requirements. Any ideas?
Anyway, thanks a lot for your input.
W
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adorabilly



Joined: 20 May 2006
Posts: 430
Location: Ras Al Khaimah

PostPosted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

fayefidalgo wrote:
Thanks adorabilly, for all your suggestions!
I am unclear about the teaching certification vs. the teaching license. I will have a certification to teach TESOL, but I will not be licensed to teach in schools in my home state.


Sorry for the confusion. You need a valid teaching license (it is called a teacher certification in Arizona) for ANY state in the US in order to teach primary or secondary in the UAE.

Since you are a US citizen, you need a valid teaching license for ANY state to qualify for a primary or secondary teaching position (except for ESL english in local schools)

Quote:

I live in Washington state, and I'd need a teaching degree specifically for K-12 to teach in public schools.


Because you have done a teaching practicum you may be able to get an alternative teaching license. Look it up and see if you can qualify for it.

Quote:

What I have is a certification from an accredited university with an extremely good and well known TESOL program. What does this mean in terms of certification/license abroad?


It means you have a TEFL/TESL cert... that and a dollar will get you a bottle of coke. (actually it isn't that bad in general. In MOST places abroad a bachelors degree and a TEFL cert will get you a decent job. Those are places like China, Korea, Japan, but they are NOT in the Middle East. Here the best positions (the ones you want) will REQUIRE an MA and 3 years of experience. It is possible to get Adjunct jobs if you are here on a spouses visa with a bachelors and a tefl cert... but in general you need to be HERE looking for work with other support.

Quote:

From what I understand, I need essentially the same qualifications to teach in either USA or UAE, which is a teaching license. Right?


If you want the more desirable positions of teaching primary/secondary english speaking schools then you need to have a US license. Correct.

There are lots of states which offer "alternative paths to teaching license." Check and see what WA's requirements are.

Quote:

Now, it varies from state to state, and I really don't have an idea what other states require, but I am of the understanding that I might be able to teach in other states because WA has somewhat higher standards?


With a bachelors degree and about a week, you can usually teach in MOST states. They can qualify you for a "temporary/provisional" teaching license while you meet the requirements to get a full license. The problem is that it doesn't work in the UAE. You need the license to teach primary and secondary OR you need the MA and experience to teach at the tertiary level.

Quote:

I dont know a lot about this and am thinking that as far as teaching in UAE or elsewhere abroad, it probably depends on the employer and their specific requirements. Any ideas?


Most of the requirements in the UAE are NOT employer specific, but are from the Ministry of Education. And those requirements DO NOT CHANGE. Without the teaching certificate/license it is almost impossible to teach in the primary/secondary level, and without the MA (and experience) it is extremely hard to make a living teaching at the university level.

Any ideas? Lots. If you want the expat life, go to china, thailand, japan, korea. With a bachelors degree and the TEFL cert you can land a pretty decent job with nice pay (by THEIR standards, not by US standards), cheap cost of living, and a pretty good place to raise children. While working in those parts of the world do an ONLINE MA in TEFL. And after you finish the degree you can then start looking at the really plum positions in the UAE.

ETA:
Here are some links to the alternative paths to teaching license in washington state
http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/AltCertInterim.pdf
http://www.ncei.com/Alt-Teacher-Cert.htm
http://www.education-online-search.com/articles/careers/teaching_careers/washington_teacher_certification#
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fayefidalgo



Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 4:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you so much, i really appreciate it!
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15yearsinQ8



Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 462
Location: kuwait

PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

teaching in the usa is either substitute teaching (lots of paperwork, maybe a TB test, etc and they call you when they need you - as late as 0600 that day for maybe a job 50 miles away) or fulltime job (now emmensely difficult - most districtshave hiring freezes, layoofss and many expereinced licensed teachers are out there for whatever jobs exist)
given the state of the economy, getting substitute work or even an interview for a full time job is remarkable - please re-reread the last sentence

to teach full time in the usa you need a state teaching license in that state or another state which has reciporicity with thatt state
the license states your field and age group - esl/tesol is a field - it is very uncommon to teach outside your field - a licensed math teacher won't teach english....a high school pe teacher won't teacher middle school english....
you can get more than one field and age group on your license
and i disagree with adoribility, esl teachers need the same license as other field teachers (at least in my state)
i have recently been told by an adminstrator who recently was in the usa that if the license is not valid for the whole year, you will not be hired
licenses are generally good for 3-4 years and must be renewed through retesting or professional development courses

people commonly refer to the license as a 'teaching certificate' but this is totally different from other certificates like the celta, etc.
it is a professional license issued by a state like a license to be a barber or a doctor, etc

with your credentials, you could not earn enough to support your boys in the ME. even if you were at a private school, don't expect your boys to attend free, most schools allow at best 1 kid free and 2 months income would eat up school fees for the other
and yes, theoretically private schools would interview you as most now in the ME don't look at a state license as a prime requirement anymore
having a school cough up 3 round trip tickets for you is something i have not seen in my many years in the ME

for longterm security, suck up a couple of years living in poverty and get a masters in educ. (this can include a state license) in english / tefl / tesol / esl THAT checks ALL the boxes for secure jobs around the world


Last edited by 15yearsinQ8 on Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:23 am; edited 1 time in total
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15yearsinQ8



Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 462
Location: kuwait

PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

somebody wrote 'with a bacholers and a week you can teach in a state'

it was some time ago but when i took my 2 bach. degrees to new hampshire , it was 6 months of continuius full time work to become licensed
yes, provisional licensing was established when the economy was booming and teahcers were needed but i would not even start the process now due to the economy

don't think you're golden just because you've done a teaching practical
back in the day, only a supervised student teaching SEMESTER fulltime in a state district where you're applying for state license was what was accepted for licensing and the student teaching had to be in the field and age group you requesting on your license
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