Job Discussion Forums

[robertpablo]

Hola a todos,

I have consistently been reading this forum for some time now and thought it might be time to weigh in.

There does seem to be a lot of venom on this forum but hey, such is life.

I started workng as an ESL teacher in Japan some many years ago (I have noticed that the wages have not changed much), and then continued in various places around the globe. This field chose me, I don't really think I chose it, but given the choice I probably would.

Now I am approaching what I would like to think is the end of a successful carreer.
and am looking for a place to do the last 3-5 years. I am not that old really and have saved my pennies, but looking to get out of the game in the next five years or less.

Always with a newbie you guys want to know the qualifications. MA in Linguistics with a TESOL certificate. Undergraduate in Biology with a secondary teaching credential, since lapsed.

Years of experience. Japan for two, Korea for two, the US (God bless Texas) for two, Mexico for six...and that is where I currently am working. Six years and in my seventh, my second ITESM campus (Torreon and Morelia)

Top of the pay scale in Mexico doesn't amount to much. I am looking to make a move next academic year to the UAE with a wife and two boys. I would like the next job that I come up with to be the last and am looking to be retired on a Mexican beach in not too many years.

I know I have just opened myself up to a lot of slings and arrows. This board is vicious at times but also full of good information.

The flames don't really matter to me. My question is, about the reality of bringing family there, when is the hiring season, what might I ask for at the negotiating table and most importantly...are you enjoying life there, whether for a few years or longer or less.

I love Mexico, but they cannot pay me. So. Fire away.

[veiledsentiments]

I don't think there is anything in your message to draw much fire. A large percentage of Gulf teachers are there to pad the retirement account. With your MA and university experience, you should be able to pick and choose the better places.

Are you looking ASAP or for next year?

VS

[robertpablo]

Thanks VS for your response and insight that maybe no fire will be drawn.

Anyhow, I have a contract here with ITESM that goes through the end of May. From these boards I expect the hiring season for UAE in the fall, next year will begin soon.

I am looking at being there in August or September of next year, so right now just at the beginning of the process.

Will keep this board posted. It seems a rather rigorous application process but that worries me not. Expect that one way or another I will be able to secure something.

Thanks VS.

[kiefer]

Roberto,
I'm sure you are already aware of the conference and the job fair, still, just in case, here's some info: 2008 TESOL Arabia International Conference, March 13-15, 2008, at Dubai Men�s College, Dubai, UAE. And a link to the TESOL Arabia website:
http://tesolarabia.org/

Both HCT and Zayed University will interview via video conferencing. Go to their websites and fill out their online applications. Chances are, with your quals, you'll be shortlisted for an interview and they'll send you the details on where to go for the interview in Mexico.

And if you've read this site enough, you probably know caveat lingua magister when you apply to the private unis and colleges.

Depending on your posting, life here can be laid back and staid (Al Ain, Abu Dhabi) or feral and rich with night life (Dubai).

[773]

My husband and I have just moved to Al Ain (about a month ago) and have noticed that there are a lot of families with kids here...it's quiet and very safe, relaxed, and very pretty. There's a lot of greenery as it's an oasis town, and driving to Dubai or Abu Dhabi takes less than an hour and a half.

You might want to try applying for a position at UAE University if Al Ain appeals to you. They are a good employer here.

[veiledsentiments]

I would get my applications in by December so that you are close to the head of the queue. HCT, ZU, UAEU... all good choices... also American University Sharjah (not Dubai).

Another good family destination is SQU in Oman, though the pay is less. There is also the Academic Bridge Program in Qatar which pays very well.

Attending TESOLArabia would be a great advantage if you could swing it.

VS

[mishmumkin]

So what happens for people who don't attend TESOL arabia? Are HCT ad AUS more likely to hire candidates they see face-to-face vs. those interviewed via teleconferencing?

[trapezius]

People typically work for 30-40 years before retiring.

You have worked for 12 years, and want the last 3-5 years in UAE.

WOW, I am jealous! Or perhaps you did other stuff before the work experience you mentioned here?

[WD40]

How old are your two boys. How important is their education to you (are you looking for the best education) Have either yourself or wife lived in the Middle East/Muslim environment before? Would you be willing to live a modest life in order to save for your retirement? What kind of teaching experience do you have tertiary, high school?

[Bindair Dundat]

Que tal Robertpablo,

You have my undisguised envy for being in Morelia. Wish we could trade places for, oh, a month or so.

Come to TESOL Arabia and drop your resume off to all the higher-paying recruiters; there's a pretty strong correlation between good pay and tolerable employers. Nobody can tell you who "the best" is, because it's very much a matter of who your immediate supervisor turns out to be, what stage of transition the program is in this year, what phase the moon is in when you arrive, whether it's Tuesday and your uncle's eyes are blue... "One man's meat is another man's poison" is the rule in the Gulf, so you just have to cast your hook, see what bites, and hope it isn't a piranha.

Good luck. Expect some pain, but expect to save more in your first year than you can make in Mexico in two or three...

[Bindair Dundat]

[robertpablo]

Hola,

I am quite pleasantly surprised. I posted the first post last night in a fit of indecision and am pleasantly surprised to see the responses that people have taken the time to write. Thanks

I should clear up a couple of things. I am in Torreon, Mexico and have been for the last academic year and will be for this one. A Mexican city in the middle of the largest desert in the northern hemisphere, the Chihuahuan Desert. It is probably as hot here as it is there.

Morelia, BD, yes a beautiful place. I too, wish I were there right now, but the admin. on this campus is much more amenable to my work ethic than the admin. at a new campus in Morelia, though I was there for three years.

My two boys are both in elementary school. Their English is not all that good. Why? Well, they are not mine, but my wife's. We have two years together but I think at their age their English can come easy enough that they could succeed in an international school with the language of instruction being English. Unless somebody knows a school that teaches in Spanish. Hmmm, thought not......

I did not post my entire resume. Yes I have been working at other things than ESL for periods in between. It has always been about teaching, even though I spent a Cesar Chavez fall /winter north of London picking baby carrots in the rain. Tour guide in Mexico, Canada, and Alaska. Janitor in a hospital emergency room (and yes I did have my own mop cart) in Salt Lake City, cleaned up a lot of blood...and stuff. Funny. First job I had after getting my MA.

So, maybe I am getting out of the game before the requisite 50 years but not by much so nothing to be envious about.

OK. I'm taking ths Friday afternoon off because this is the weekend of the "grito de Dolores" in Mexico. My students don't show, then neither do I. The rest of the weekend I will stay off the roads. Too many drunks.

And just wanted to thank you all for your positive and very helpful responses. I am checking into flights from DF to Dubai for the conference in March. Not sure I can swing it on a my macho Mexican salary but probably. Any ideas on "moderate" (meaning "cheap") hotels should some good flights come up? Nice but cheap lodging for a couple of three or four days, near the conference???

Sombody please flame me. This is too sedate..... (yes, "somebody" is intentionally spelled incorrectly, so please do beter than that).

Thanks ya'all.

Pablo

[veiledsentiments]

Where is Scot47... we can usually get him to growl at people who make grammar and spelling errors...

BTW... when you are polishing up the CV to send off, emphasize your time at ITESM. I assume that you are mostly teaching Academic English. My friend at their place in Culiacan teaches only academic essay writing. That is exactly what they would like to see as reading and writing are the two skills one spends the most time teaching. That is the part of your experience to fluff liberally...

VS

[scot47]

Growl ? I was too busy counting my riyals. Conclusion ? Not enough ! I would also suggest the UGRU in Al Ain.

[robertpablo]

Scot awakes and growls...?

OK. I am growling too after starting on an HCT application on-line. What a bunch of bogus questions.

Yep, whatever. So perhaps I should go through the same inane process with the other places rather than waiting for them to post an opening on Dave's or the Chronicle or somewhere.

My most successful experience was a girl named Rita when I was in the seventh grade. Well, nothing happened really but all the guys heard that it had. If you know what I mean. That was successful. I didn't even have anything to do with it, just all of a sudden there was a rumour and a rumour about sex amongst seventh graders can go a long way.

Should I put that on my application. Hmmmm, thought not.

With two kids and a beautiful partner things are almost as complicated as seventh grade these days.

So hit them directly, eh? and don't wait for the job announcement should it ever come.

OK. Answered my own question by writing this mail. Just had to reflect on seventh grade...