Job Discussion Forums

bluenight · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 5

Hi everyone,

I am a recent US university graduate and I am looking to expatriate to the MENA region. I have decided to take the English teaching route for a number of reasons relating to my long term personal and career goals.

I am having a dilemma regarding my next step though. I could:

A) do a 1 year Ed.M in TESOL at Boston University at a high cost

B) do a TESOL certificate at BU or another school and get out quick (although I have read this forum extensively and know the downside of this)

C) find a fellowship of some kind

D) find a rare situation where my degree/experience will suffice (please don't jump down my throat!) (also can be non ESL teaching)

I am not looking for extravagant pay or living conditions. I am looking to find work in an authentic, credible, and enjoyable learning environment and institution. I am trying to avoid these sketchy companies and a situation where I become another ESL horror story on this board (by the way- thanks board for informing me about Sabis Wink

)

I have work experience with ESL, but no certs or anything. I love teaching though, and I think it would be fantastic to do it in the Middle East. I have been studying the region for years, but I am yet to go there. I am also in need of Arabic immersion for my language skills. In light of this, I am very flexible about the nature of the position and pay (but of course, I am looking for a good experience).

If any of you have any insight or guidance for a person like myself it would be greatly appreciated. I know this board has a tendency to attract a lot of "your totally unqualified give up, you'll never find a job, they'll beat you and lock you in a cage" type responses to inquiries, but I hope you understand I am new and I am just starting my planning. Also, I hope a job teaching English is the base/ start for my larger plans in the region, so perhaps some of you may have something to say about that as well.

Thanks!

bn

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Preferably C if not then A. You don't say what your degree is in, so can't comment on that.

The better employers require a master's no matter what your discipline and usually related post grad experience.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

bluenight · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 5

thanks for the advice. I am looking into fellowships now, and talking to the admission coordinator at BU. And to answer your question about my degree helenl, I studied international relations with an emphasis on the Middle East and Islamic studies. To give you an idea of my other reasons for being in the region (long term goals), I am involved with a number of humanitarian/alternative education organizations and NGO's that allow for entrepreneurial operations in various parts of the world. The work is fulfilling and can lead to very valuable experience. However it is unpaid, and in fact, requires that one gets his/herself into another part of the world and can live, work, earn a salary, ect. Hence the decision to teach English

3 questions:

1) do you think getting an MA at a more reputable and expensive school like BU would be worth it over a lesser known and cheaper school? For example this school/program: http://www.cambridgecollege.edu/download/ED-esl.pdf

2) Does anyone know of any other fellowships like the AUC one and do they ever take applicants for the spring semester

3) Based on the description of my ambitions/work outside of teaching, does working as an English teacher allow for ample time to do things other than teaching? I am wondering if anyone here is or knows someone who taught English and maybe started a business, or did independent research, or did something similar to what I described above.

thanks!
db

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Setting up a business (outside of the freezones in certain countries) requires a local sponsor who automatically owns 51% of the business - most just sell their sponsorship and might take a %age of any profits earned thereafter. There's a LOT of red tape, and even MORE hoops to jump through. It's not something generally done from your spare bedroom. Without the proper permits/sponsorship you are subject to fines, arrest and possible deportation - depending on how it is viewed on your day in court.

It is slightly easier to set up in a free zone (no local sponsor required) but red tape is red tape and you are more restricted in what you can do and where you can do it.

As VS says, your employer gets the final say in whether you can set up and operate a business - your contract will state as much and it is grounds for termination if you try to slide it by them. I don't know anyone who works in education AND has a business on the side (though I know some whose spouse has set up a business)

scrog_420 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 47 Location: State of Jefferson

You actually want to work in the Middle East? I suggest you instead ponder the question of which education path to follow to avoid the necessity of a career in ME. My advice to anyone who has what it takes to be a good ESL teacher is to use those talents elsewhere.

Check this post out, and consider whether you're making the same mistake I did.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=13054