Job Discussion Forums

[Nozka]

I see that the call for 2008 - 2009 English Language Fellows has been recently posted. I was wondering if anyone on this board has had any experience with this program either as a fellow or as an applicant. How competitive are the fellowships? How demanding and/or rewarding are the assignments? Has your experience as a fellow been useful in advancing your career? Do you have any other insights into this program? Thanks in advance for any information that you have to share.

[mishmumkin]

My friend is doing this in Jordan right now. Her first assignment was in a more remote part of the country, and the university managing her was seemingly not working out. She is now in the capital and loving it.

She lived in multiple countries w/in the ME before going, but she noticed a lot of green candidates at the orientation. Many people w/ no experience in the region were being sent to places like Yemen (single women) w/o much preparation for the cultural adjustment. In fact, she said very few of the teachers in the orientation had every worked abroad.

The junior fellowship pays around $25,000 plus a one month gratutiy. You also get around $900/month living allowance (this might vary, but that's what they geti n Jordan) plus accommodation. Senior fellowship positions require 3 years of teacher training, I believe, and pay around $35,000 (same benefits).

This seems like a fun gig. The junior fellowship requires at least a MA TESOL and two years of experience. You cannot stay in the same position for two contracts in a row unless they are having ah hard time filling the position.

My friend is enjoying it, though, she has taught in Jordan before. Like I said, a few bumps in the road early on, but she demanded a change and it was granted after much aggro. If you are lacking uni experience, but have some teaching experience this would be a great leg up to better gigs in university teaching down the road. Experiences are inevitably going to vary from institution to institution. There is also an embassy contact involved (to what degree, I'm not sure). I think your experience will also vary based on how involved and useful this individual is. I have heard reports of some of the single female teachers in Yemen struggling (poor accommodation, the inappropriateness of single women living alone in a small town, etc.) though I'm hearing that 2nd hand.

I believe you do have some input into where you'll go. You name regions that you're open to, and I believe you will be offered positions which you can accept of reject. I would imagine there's a limit to how much you can reject. I hope that helps. L

[riyadhteacher]

Thanks for the information. Would you please pass on my email to your friend? I would like to hear more information about the fellows program and talk about it off-line. I'm thinking about it for the future.

Thanks,
[email protected]