Job Discussion Forums

[caballo]

I would like to know if anyone has any information in regards to this school. Reputable? A good place to work? Thx.

[survivorkitty]

Hey I am from New York and I have been offered a job at this school. Seems like a pretty good school to me.
Were you offered a job there as well?
Where in the states are you from?
were you able to gather any other information about this school?

thank you

[veiledsentiments]

Obviously no one here has heard of it or has any information. Be very careful about taking a job at an obscure school unless you are able to communicate with current or past teachers.

VS

[elmilehimaestro]

I can't find anything on this school either. Has anyone ever heard of them? Their website is very limited. Anyway, a few days ago I sent them my resume (through a 3rd party recruiter). They say they offer the standard perks (air, living arrangements, etc.). They offered me a job without even having interviewed me, let alone references. Salary a bit too low though. That seems a bit too fishy to me.

[bengt]

Fresh out of college, my overseas search turned up two offers: Modern Knowledge School in Bahrain and American Bilingual School in Kuwait. This was the same situation for other newbies that made the decision to go to ABS (when I say "newbies," I mean unexperienced college grads with no certification whatsoever). Almost everything about the two schools seemed comparable, besides MKS offering a lower salary.

In retrospect, aspects from both offers seemed fishy, including the fact that they seemed to just want any body willing to take up space. I picked ABS and it was one of the worst, most unprofessional experiences I have ever had. This might be faulty logic, but with all the other similarities between the schools/offers I would have to guess one would have a similar experience with MKS. You should at least be wary of schools that hand out offers with their reply emails.

I would agree with veiledsentiments that you should contact someone who works there first; and not just the one "hype man" they tell you to talk to, but a few different people. Unfortunately there's no staff contact info on the site...

[7atetan]

Bahrain (and much of the Gulf) is not the kind of region where you can go with your TEFL certificate and a backpack, and land a job. China, Turkey and parts of South America may be, but here even poxy language schools require a college degree (a B.A. or B.S., that is), and anything higher up will want a graduate degree. That is, in large part, because the governments of these countries (certainly Saudi and Bahrain) will not issue a work visa otherwise. End of story.

Now, Bahrain has very few job offerings in the TEFL/TESOL/TESP/etc. generally, but language schools and such have next to none. The reasons are that language schools here (I'm working in Bahrain at the moment) (1) have a large pool of expatriate spouses, usually wives, to choose from, and (2) do not have the budget to arrange for the airfare, visa costs and accommodations of an overseas hire. When companies DO go thru the bother and expense of hiring expatriates, it is the higher learning centers (colleges and universities) that do so, and they will expect some very solid credentials (a master's degree at a minimum).

Sure, there are always exceptions but none of the situations talked about in this thread is one of those.

[scot47]

7a has got it to a "T". Opportunities in Bahrain are few and far between. Higher level jobs , which are few in number, will need at least a relevant MA.

You would not want to work for a school that offers you a job in Bahrain.

[Arabian Hawk]

Bahrain is a great place to work. It is possible to earn USD3000 + per month as a TEFL teacher and you don't have to be a volunteer housewife to do it!

[7atetan]

[survivorkitty]

Do not work at MKS... the owner is not dependble and is never there unless she is coming to collect money. The high school principal is great but he is retiring this year and we do not know who is coming to take his place. He is the only one there that supports the teachers and who is ethical. If a student fails and never does any work-the owner or his wife will MAKE sure you pass that kid especially if they are friends with the parents-there are no standards, no curriculum, no benefits for the teachers, no rights for the teachers, nothing. Expect to be talked down on by the owner-she is a control nazi and about 80 years old, inconsiderate, frigid, insensitive, old woman who doesnt know anything but how to count all the money she rakes in. It is a private family run school and therefore has many of the family in the school and you know how that goes. The staff of teachers are great, most of the admin is great. The pay is really low, I have a MS in TEFL and I make only about 1600 USD- I have loans and bills I have to pay and that doesnt cut it. There are no incentives. There is 300 BD for housing but if you want to reside in juffair good luck finding an apt for 300.
Life here is not so bad.. its ok.. but there are many negatives as well. If you are an American try your best to stay home.. I cant wait to get back home-I hope I will find something back in the states for next year. At least people are treated with respect and there is humanity.

[veiledsentiments]

I have to ask. Why in heaven's name did you take a job paying $1600 when you had an MS in TEFL??? I was paid more than that in Oman in 1988 in my first job after getting my MA. (and the same year a friend of mine got the same pay at Bahrain University)

There are jobs all up and down the Gulf that you could walk into and start at double that salary.

...just sayin'...

VS

[7atetan]