Job Discussion Forums

[maxxnoo]

I'm relatively new here and I'm having a hard time trying understand what some of the managers want us to do. Am I the only one who feels this way?

[bje]

Ask for clarification. Failing that, do what you're told- or, if you don't like 'being managed' to the point where you are unwilling to get used to it, then leaving the Gulf region is always an option.

[veiledsentiments]

Remember... it's the mysterious Middle East...

Your best source is often the other teachers who are teaching the same or similar courses that you are. As bje said, ask questions... and don't offer too many (or any) opinions if you're very new to the system.

Your emphasis on "female" may suggest that do not like being supervised by women - which is likely as much your problem as theirs. Personally I interacted with supervisors as little as possible... whatever their sex.

VS

[antonia v]

[adorabilly]

[secretsquirrel]

As always, the craven apologists say 'if you don't like it here, leave the Gulf', whereas there is quite a lot you can do to change things.

The first thing to remember, maxxnoo, is that not all colleges are equally bad, so moving from one to another can often solve the problem. The other thing is that pressure can be applied to certain spots, in order to get the result you want.

But sometimes it takes a lot of effort and real courage, a quality that VS and her acolytes don't usually display on these pages.

If you're having real problems with ADWC, just remember that they are at present the worst in the HCT pile. There are plenty of better places in the UAE to choose from.

As I'm a former inmate of ADWC, you can PM me for specific details. I can't reveal them here because of the ban on naming names.

[maxxnoo]

Thanks to everyone for the help. I did some research on this site and I can see my particular worries about one of the ADWC managment people have already been talked about on this forum. I've just come a little late to the party. It looks like other teachers have faced similar difficulties with her in RAK too. Some of her decisions and rules make me crazy. O well at least the students are fun.

[veiledsentiments]

The squirrelly one is a bit behind the times. The word on the grapevine is that transferring out of ADWC is currently not an option. Many are trying... and/or desiring to do so, but unless you have some wasta in the right places, you're probably there for the duration.

HCT is famous for having rules considered odd by many and everyone has to deal with them in their own way. Choose your battles carefully... the line between courage and stupidity is often blurry.

Meanwhile, enjoy your students... they have always been what made the job worth it for most of us.

VS

[helenl]

SS may not be aware that there is a tacit rule that you may not transfer out of ADWC. Having been an inhabitant at a campus where if you requested a transfer you were regarded as a traitor at best and an insurrectionist at worst and the penalty for both was non-renewal (if you were at the end of a contract) not "passing" probation if you were at the beginning of a contract and general abuse in between - I can certainly sympathize with those at ADWC now.

There are good campuses and "bad" campuses where the supervisors/senior management may be paranoid, bipolar, stupid, etc. You can survive. You have to keep your head below the radar (sure, you can change the world secret squirrel - tell us where you are and what you've done to improve the HCT system) do your job well, don't rock the boat and you'll be fine.

If secret squirrel has managed to make significant changes in her/his little corner of HCT BRAVO - but I think the rest of us would have been aware of it at the time.

[secretsquirrel]

Perhaps I should have been a little clearer, but let me clarify things now.

Firstly, when I wrote that there are plenty of other places in the UAE to work at, I did not mean transferring to another HCT campus, as I know full well that the management at ADWC, in their efforts to plug the hole in a sinking ship, have put the block on all transfer requests. What I meant was that there are other institutions (non-HCT) to seek work at.

As for my making changes, it can be done - just go see your supervisor and put your point of view ... but very well. There is, however, no point in shouting about it, as it attracts unwanted attention. However, when it's the senior management that cause the problems, as with 'The Claw' and 'The Vulture' at ADWC right now, you're right - little can be done, except to vote with your feet.

I hear that Qatar and Bahrain are becoming more attractive each year. Can anybody confirm that?

[antonia v]

[ckhl]

sounds like the Claw is up to her old tricks. I daresay I love reading all this from the perspective of an HCT veteran for whom none of this any longer applies. Most of the advice is sound....keep your head down, don't rock the boat, go about your business of teaching, do not offer opinions or suggestions. Remember, you're there for the money. To the extent that you follow the sound advice here, you can even coast most of the time. Hey, it served me well for twelve years, but alas, it must get ugly eventually. It was a good run.

[adorabilly]

[Pikgitina]

[Sheikh N Bake]