Job Discussion Forums

[Floridaguy]

Hello All,

I have been reading the posts for EFL jobs in the UAE and I have more questions than answers!

First, I have a master�s in technology education and have taught high school students for several years, in recent years I earned my master�s in TEFL from an accredited university in Florida (NOT an on-line school).

I have been teaching ESL in a mosque for a couple years, something which I very much enjoy. I feel in full disclosure that I should mention I have converted to Islam and I intend to mention this in my curriculum vitae. I do not wish to mislead my potential employers. Could this affect my employability in the Middle East? Islam is something that is very important to me.

It is my intent to teach adults somewhere in the Gulf States, preferable the UAE, I want to be in the city and not out in the middle of the desert.

Can you recommend universities or colleges to which I could apply? For a time HCT in UAE seemed to be the ticket but lately it seems to resemble a Dickensian workhouse.

I feel I should mention that while I am a single, white, American male, I will be bringing my 86-year-old mother with me to my teaching assignment and hiring a maid (from the Far-East?) to care for her in my absence. Moreover, I need to be near halfway descent hospitals should my mother take ill.

All constructive advice is most welcome.

This will be my first foreign teaching assignment and with all the discontent, I am wondering if it might be better to stay in the US of A.

Thank you and peace be with you.

FG

[helenl]

Not all HCT campuses are created equal - the majority are at least tolerable and some can approach rewarding. (All of which may be subject to change if there is a change in the local management).

Why mention religion in your CV? HCT and most other tertiary institutions don't ask about religion until you get a job offer - and then it's mainly to know what should be included on the visa application.

With your technology background you might be considered for a content position (at least at HCT) which usually means a higher salary and less hassle IMHO.

As for your Mom - mention that at the interview process (and the pobssible need for good medical facilities) - HCT for example has been accomodating for access to quality children's education institutions. But look into the cost of any kind of international medical care - it can be astronomical.

[veiledsentiments]

[Floridaguy]

I agree that the trip may difficult for her
but at this point there seems to be no alternative.
Thanks for your input guy I really appreciate it.

[Floridaguy]

Just trying to get my 5 posts.
Being mom is from another country I doubt the
limited command of the English language would bother her.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[Dedicated]

Floridaguy,

You might want to look into the visa issue for your mother. They are easy for children and spouses, but an aged mother might be problematic, especially if they think she might fall sick in the UAE.

Good luck!

[uaeobserver]

You might be able to purchase insurance for your mum from a company like Daman. There's a variety of coverage options. The further west you want to go - the more expensive.

I'm not sure how Daman works on elderly - but I had a colleague who purchased it when he was self-employed for awhile in AUH. He was spry and energetic, though.

Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai all have good health care.
I'm not sure about the remaining locations.

I've not seen religion sway one's employment prospects with HCT. I am aware of one campus that would really prefer you be LDS. Last I checked, most campus admin are just secular Christians trying to make a few extra bucks before retirement.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[scot47]

You want to bring your 86-year old mother to the Gulf ? I admire your sense of filial duty but think it extremely unlikely that you will be able to do this.

[Incedere]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

I likes ta call it "DEMON HEALTH"...

NCTBA

[elmoro]

well, here it goes!!!

firstly, as for your mother, check THOUROUGHLY about the process and keep in mind that nothing is written in stone here. things can, have, and will change quickly and without notice here. the other point is that as a single man, you will have a hard time being able to sponsor live in care for your mother. you must be careful of two things, one is "hiring" a maid sponsored by someone else (this is punished under human trafficking laws); and two, being alone in a house with a maid (eventhough your mother will be there) can lead to a mountain of problems.

secondly, (and i posted this same more or less response in another topic of yours) if you are convinced to teach in the uae, teach in 1. zayed university, 2. hct or iat (TECHNOLOGY ONLY), or 3. american school dubai (but not a good place for you if Isalm is priority).

thirdly, don't mention anything about religion on your cv. i too am a convert to islam and i changed my name several years back. BOY! if i had known! recently, i have found myself either using my former family name or explaining in detail that i am not an arab with american citizenship. someone posted about employers not caring. yes they do as there are no laws prohibiting descrimination here. it's a free for all and the truth is, the more WASP you are, the better chance you have. i have PLENTY of proof and stories to back that up.

lastly, yes it is paradise severly compromised. please, don't come here with an idealistic view of finding "the balance between islam and the west". it's not and there will be STRONG challanges to everything you have been raised to believe as an american and have come to believe as a convert to islam. you will have to go through life here with the three monkeys in mind, "hear, see and say no evil" and "saying evill can mean simply giving islamic advice to someone (whether muslim or not). you may come here with the idea of living in a muslim country being better than living in the states like many of us did years ago, and you will soon find out that means hearing the adan as a reminder to pray and having access to mosques, having fridays off so that you can enjoy friday prayer, enjoying ramadhan and the two eids, and being able to eat anything without worrying about ingredients. other than that, your very survival here as a teacher will come down to financial decisions and decisions based on staying (especially since you will be responsible for another), and thus you will eventually find yourself severly compromised also.

i can only begin to scratch the surface on this last point. if you or anyone else for that matter wants to know more, feel free to pm me and i can share. all in all, i would say it has been a interesting experience and that i don't regret leaving the states. i came here knowing nothing and i would advise you to come here with a plan - saving and exit plan.

best case senerio, you come here and marry a nice muslim girl from malaysia and you and your mom go to malaysia to live. very similar to what has happened to me and all i can say is that is what has made this place worth the struggle. the exit plan is now in motion!!! what a cost i paid!

elmoro

THE HORROR, THE HORROR

[Sheikh N Bake]

A nice Muslim girl from Malaysia?

Well I was married to a nice Chinese girl from Malaysia. Which are the "nice" girls depends on the eye of the beholder.

Since you advise living there, I would advise against it. Again, eye of the beholder...but I know even one or two Muslim converts from the US who couldn't stand it there because of the lack of tolerance from the Malays. I'll certainly NEVER go back there, though admittedly I'm no convert, revert (or pervert).

Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion that the OP wrote a fake post just to generate wacky replies.

[007]