Job Discussion Forums

[elrasho]

Hello,

I recently completed the 4 week intensive CELTA course at the British Council in Cairo. I am looking for my first teaching job but I'm struggling with this. I want to work in the middle east but all the schools ask for two years experience.

So I'm thinking I should get my experience in Indonesia or China and then try applying for jobs in the middle east. I want to work in Egypt but the schools there don't advertise on-line. The problem is all I find are recruitment agencies like Saxoncourt, Bell and English First. Are they any good? I've read some nightmare stories about each one so if anyone here has any experience with them and would like to share I would be very grateful.

I'm itching to start my EFL teaching career!

Thanks for reading

[naturegirl321]

If you want to work int he ME, then I think that you should try to stay at one school for two years and get an MA in the process. The MA will really open doors.

Try networking here on the boards and getting names of schools in Egypt and then emailing them.

[elrasho]

I've emailed a lot of schools in Egypt yesterday, lets see what happens. Are Saxoncourt, English First and Bell any good?

[naturegirl321]

[HevC]

I've heard good things about English First through a friend of a friend in China.
Apparently, in his experience, they are looking after him very well. Everything paid for including flights (which are a given anyway for working in that part of the world) and decent accommodation, along with lots of support and teaching materials.
I'm not sure how the company will differ though when working for them in the Middle East...the same company may not be so good there, I don't know
Maybe try Googling for reviews/blogs/experiences with each organisation and see what comes up

Heather x

[naturegirl321]

I've heard very very mixed reviews about EF. The fact that they allowa someone with 2 years experience to be a DOS is a bit frightening though.