Job Discussion Forums

[csanaya]

What can anyone tell me about working for this organization? I have an interview soon.

I want to know about salary expectations (I taught 11years of ESL in Texas, USA and 1 year in Abu Dhabi, UAE+Bachelors in Communications and Masters in Ed Administration), working environment, anything you can tell me, please. [/b]

[scot47]

i have never heard of them. Do you have a website or further details ?.Could be a Nigerian Scam.

[csanaya]

They are listed on daveseslcafe job board and I am asking them for their web address as we speak also have a skype interview... would they go that far for a scam?

[scot47]

What has motivated you to choose them over other, better-known and well-established organisations ?

look at
IPA
Dammam Community College

etc before considering these people.

Warning signs -

No mention of salary.

They are talking about a "2 x 21-week commitments". My guess is that salary will be low !

Their website looks very dodgy to me !

[veiledsentiments]

I would also assume that the salary is low as they are asking for very minimal credentials. I should think that with your MA and 11+ years of experience, you could get better...

It doesn't appear to be a scam though...

VS

[scot47]

OK, probably not a scam but nonetheless not the place for the OP. He can do much better !

[killthebuddha]

Here's more info(?) about AHEd, I hope.

A search here at Dave's ESL doesn't provide much, and even the regular contributors haven't heard of them (above). The Craig'slist ad, referenced in another thread, is gone. Someone else said they used to be part of Knowledge Village of Dubai. Here's the link to their website:

http://www.ahedglobal.com/

They're recruiting for something called the TVTC English language (sic) Program, hiring "lecturers" to provide "college level students with appropriate EFL instruction...around relevant vocational themes and topics."

They're offering a base pay of $3,000 monthly for the 11-month term of the contract, with a "discretionary bonus" of one month�s pay based on fulfillment of the full term of the contract and performance. The "annual" paid vacation is for 30 days.

There's nothing specific about the type of visa that will be secured, except that "such information will be provided under separate cover and on (sic) acceptance of the offer."

There's nothing about the required number of contact or office hours. Neither is there any mention of class size, but given what someone else said about their need to place 80 teachers in so short a time, one might reasonably expect to pull more than the average weight.

There's no mention of where the new recruits will be placed.

Finally, it is understood "that the details of this offer are to remain confidential."

Hope this clears things up a bit for someone.

[veiledsentiments]

[kai.logan1]

Perhaps by suggesting the details of the offer are to "remain confidential" they simply mean it would be inappropriate to share salary information amongst colleagues. That wouldn't necessarily signify that the agency is "screwing" anyone yet. There isn't evidence enough brought forth by any poster thus far to suggest anything malicious.

[veiledsentiments]

After many years of working I have found a very consistent detail... employers who insist that salaries must not be discussed with other employees have only one reason to do so. It is because their salary schedule is erratic, shows favoritism, or an ability to low ball the unwary to their disadvantage. In the Gulf it will be one that also decides salary based on nationality, passport, and/or skin color.

It is a HUGE red flag.

In education salaries are easily made transparent. The truly professional institutions will have a scale readily available which is based on educational credentials and experience.

VS

[killthebuddha]

There isn't much out there, which is why I posted. The lack of available information about them may be due in part to the strict confidentiality agreement, in part to their novelty (or re-branding, if that's what they've done), or to a combination of these. They've also selected a name which is virtually impossible to Google.

Nonetheless, the vagaries and omissions are glaring; these and some of the terms remind of the new trend begun by Bell, ICEEL, et al. They're also likely to be recruiting newcomers to the KSA, and as a service to these I thought I'd provide what little I've been privy to. I certainly didn't mean to impugn their integrity or attribute any sinister motives, and I don't see how anybody can if this really is the new way of doing business outside of the more professional, established institutions.

My friend, from whom I got the information, has otherwise been very pleased in his dealings with them (especially their professionalism) and is considering accepting a position. It will also be his first foray into the Middle East and, as VS has intimated, his credentials are not yet sufficient to gain him entrance into the "better" programs. He's also weighing this offer against one in Oman, with a company called ELS, but again, the details there are just as difficult to pin down.

[veiledsentiments]

Detail on ELS in Oman should be easy to search up here. They have been in Oman since the late 80s/early 90s and have had their ups and downs. They are one of a batch of recruiters, but they also have some typical language schools.

Pay will be less in Oman, but the lifestyle is certainly freer.

VS

[killthebuddha]

Yes VS,

Thanks. An ELS search for Oman did turn up 4 hits for the last two years and a lot more dating back from 2008. The recent posts were brief and of a very general nature, but they were surprisingly positive for a language school. (The majority were from Duffy, who has since departed and who also had good things to say about one of the branches.)

My friend has decided to go with them to ease his transition abroad, thanks in (very!) large part to your posts and those of the other "regulars" here. You've all been an invaluable resource.

[veiledsentiments]

Oh noes... does that mean if he hates it, it is all my fault?

Be sure to tell him to have low expectations and if the job isn't the greatest, getting to know Oman is a good way to spend a couple semesters.

VS

[killthebuddha]

He's young and flexible, and kids don't have much of a memory beyond tomorrow, so I think we're all okay. From what we've read about the KSA, and if he ever gets there, maybe he'll have just enough recall to thank us! (Some day)