Job Discussion Forums

[PierogiMonster]

Well, I'm just about to accept TATI's offer to teach at Ibri starting Sept 2010.

I've read and reread just about everything I can find on the forum and the net about Ibri, the college and TATI. I think I've got my eyes open and hope for not too many surprises! Oh, apart from this youtube link, which I'm sure you've all seen ...

(MOD edit)

Please, please, please tell me there are no more like her!

Also, I've received a 'Conditions Of Employment' letter, which includes the following remarks:

Academic year:
Currently academic year is divided into 3 semesters.
Semester-1 is from Sept to Dec. Semester-2 is from January to May and semester-3 is from May to July. But this is a tentative schedule and the Ministry can modify the semester schedule year to year.

Vacation and Holidays:
Lecturers will avail public holidays as declared by the
Ministry from time to time. Similarly vacation dates will be
finalized by the Ministry. At present, there is a summer
break of 8 weeks during July and August.

Annual Leave:
As per Ministry of Manpower rules and regulations

Looking at the above, I'm not too sure about the paid holidays, so I asked my TATI contact, who wrote this in response:

Annual Leave: 50 Days (from second week of July to the first/second week of Sep 2010)

Public Holiday: Depends on Government as the colleges are under the Government

So I get 50 paid days which I have to take at the end of the third semester, through to the beginning of the next semester? What about other (end of semester, half-semester etc) breaks?

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here but can anyone help me out on this?

Also, this from the 'Conditions Of Employment' letter:

Overtime:
Occasionally, the College may want the Lecturer to do some overtime work for which he will be compensated directly by the college.


Sounds fair enough. But is does it work like that in practice?

Thanks for any and all help and if there any other existing/newby Ibri teachers out there right now, please say hi with a PM (I've been on Dave's as JPM for years but lost my password so PierogiMonster doesn't have PM rights yet).

Cheers

[veiledsentiments]

[PierogiMonster]

Sorry MOD, I didn't know posting youtube links was a no-no.

Still, at least it's spared you all the horror, the horror ...

[johnslat]

Help for the (others) morbidly curious:

Google: Teacher in Oman YouTube

Warning: very painful/embarrassing to watch

Regards,
John

[PierogiMonster]

The very same!

Now, come on, own up people: it's got to be one of you! And we're not leaving Dave's until whoever it is owns up.

Now, having at least made us all a little more confident about our own teaching methods, any advice on the OP's holiday question?

[johnslat]

Dear PierogMonster,

Well, that was uploaded in 1988 - 22 years ago. So, let's hope that the "teacher" has either found another profession or has checked herself in to a rehab center.

Regards,
John

[ETG]

Actually the post was 7 months ago or so, the 1988 is part of the poster's moniker, likely DOB.
Ibri is a newish college. Interesting, we should all beware of GSMs.
E.

[johnslat]

I Am A Camera - but ever worse, They Are All Cameras.

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

Yes John... in 1988 there was only one tertiary institution in Oman and that was SQU in Muscat... so I would have known her. (I swear... it isn't me!! I've never drank to excess and then taught a class on how everyone is using the internet to spy on us and make files on everything we do or say...)

Mr Monster... I suspect it was removed because it was quite new and although this website can't control Youtube, it is best not to link an embarrassing video like that unless it is of oneself. (just like giving out real names)

But, as to the holidays. From what is said above, besides the usual couple summer months, you should get the government holidays which consists of the two Eids, a few days in November for National Day, and a random day here and there. I would bet that there are also a couple weeks between semesters, but there may not be formal "mid-semester" breaks. Really... one is hardly overworked in these colleges.

The biggest problem with going by government holidays is that you are never really sure when they will be. The beginnings of Ramadhan and the Eid are controlled by the moon sightings and I usually had to call the TV station to find out (because teaching hours change or there may or may not be classes). It makes it very difficult to plan any travels during these breaks. I finally gave up trying to make flight/hotel reservations and stayed in country.

VS
(and... one more post and you can actually do PMs)

[PierogiMonster]

Please don't bother to read this post. It's only so as I can now start PMing again, after JPM's sad demise. However, JPM was Krakow and so PierogiMonster will be Oman.

Anyway, cheers VS for the info on holidays.

So, next step: any good leads on Ibri accommodation?

Anyone looking for a flatshare this September? (I promise to be better-behaved than the youtube woman!)

[santivalle]

[newbienicki]

Pierogimonster, you seem like a hardy, adventure loving sort. I just turned down Ibri. I really wanted to be in Oman, but didn't think I could tough out the wasteland that Ibri appears to be. I thought about it, but couldn't do it. I'd love to hear what you think of the place and the college when you are settled in. Good luck. Maybe, it'll be my loss but as a single woman, I thought I wouldn't do well. Besides, I'd hate to end up like our "off-balance" teacher on Youtube. Frightening

[PierogiMonster]

santivalle: PM sent.

And newbienicki, as to me seeming 'like a hardy, adventure loving sort', don't believe the hype. It could just be that, as a newbie to The Gulf, I'm not exactly swamped with offers. Or not. Perhaps. Maybe.

BTW, can anybody recommend a good webcam site so I can observe firsthand the speed of my job application process: perhaps it'll be under something like 'TATI ... Ramadam ... watching ... paint dry ...'

As Freddie used to sing ... 'I'm going slightly mad ...'

[santivalle]