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mateacher
Joined: 07 Sep 2013
Posts: 180
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 Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:12 am Post subject: |
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Thank you all for the comments, especially neutrino girl. That was the kind of stuff I wanted to hear. So, considering I have no gulf experience, it might be better to go with HCT, save some money, keep my mouth shut and when the contract is over apply to UAEU, ZU or KUSTAR to get a better deal re: vacations and teaching hours. That would be 'career progression' in the gulf right? 
SS, if I was earning 60 USD at the Korean university I would stay there for life, but if you half the 60K then you see where I am coming from.
I am also married so the chasing asian girls thing isn't relevant to me.
HCT will probably stress me out, but not having money is also a stress. Having 5 months off is great, but you have to travel and spend money as Korea isn't a great place to holiday, so you end up without any money. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| mateacher wrote: |
| So, considering I have no gulf experience, it might be better to go with HCT, save some money, keep my mouth shut and when the contract is over apply to UAEU, ZU or KUSTAR to get a better deal re: vacations and teaching hours. That would be 'career progression' in the gulf right? |
That's about it... as I said, your best chance of an offer is HCT, but I believe that you said in one of the threads that you might attend TESOLArabia. That would be the thing to do and apply to all 4 of them... heck, even AUS. Interview with anyone that asks.
The key to moving on after completion of contract is to leave with a good recommendation. Keeping your head down... not making waves... never mentioning your previous 5 month holiday and 9 contact hours out loud... and learning to sleep with your eyes open in meetings... and anyone can survive one contract at HCT. The trick is to make no management enemies that could keep you from getting a position elsewhere in the country.
VS |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:27 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| mateacher wrote: |
| So, considering I have no gulf experience, it might be better to go with HCT, save some money, keep my mouth shut and when the contract is over apply to UAEU, ZU or KUSTAR to get a better deal re: vacations and teaching hours. That would be 'career progression' in the gulf right? |
That's about it... as I said, your best chance of an offer is HCT, but I believe that you said in one of the threads that you might attend TESOLArabia. That would be the thing to do and apply to all 4 of them... heck, even AUS. Interview with anyone that asks.
The key to moving on after completion of contract is to leave with a good recommendation. Keeping your head down... not making waves... never mentioning your previous 5 month holiday and 9 contact hours out loud... and learning to sleep with your eyes open in meetings... and anyone can survive one contract at HCT. The trick is to make no management enemies that could keep you from getting a position elsewhere in the country.
VS |
I can definitely see how working in the UAE would make someone bitter like some of the previous posters here.
A lot of bullying apparently occurs in the workplace, is that correct?
HCT sounds like an abusive organization. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Solar Strength wrote: |
| I can definitely see how working in the UAE would make someone bitter like some of the previous posters here. |
To be clear, it's not working in the UAE that causes bitterness; those sour feelings likely stem from working at HCT. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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Not to mention that it depends on when you worked there and which branch you worked for...
Reality is that many have worked there for many years and the organizational silliness just runs off their back. We all have different levels of tolerance for such.
It has always been an over-managed organization with plenty to induce one to leave, but that doesn't mean that one is bitter about it. Those that are bitter are the ones that got caught up in odd purges that have occurred in some branches over the years and were forced to leave before they wanted to.
The vast majority of teachers leave the UAE with no more or less bitterness than those who leave any job anywhere. Most of us leave with lots of good memories... even those who worked at HCT... like me.
VS |
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Shakhbut
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:01 am Post subject: |
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I doubt, though, if there's ever been a time when staff were more demoralized or felt so unvalued as these days.
The crap will only run off newbies' backs, because they know no better, but those of us around for a while are getting hit hard. |
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mateacher
Joined: 07 Sep 2013
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| Shakhbut wrote: |
I doubt, though, if there's ever been a time when staff were more demoralized or felt so unvalued as these days.
The crap will only run off newbies' backs, because they know no better, but those of us around for a while are getting hit hard. |
can you eloborate in what way? |
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Shakhbut
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Private language school class numbers and contact hours.
Packages on offer are fit only for young, single teachers, oldies are being pushed out. |
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mateacher
Joined: 07 Sep 2013
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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so, how many in a class?
they say 20 contact hours per week, which is high, but just about doable if the money is ok.
What are the new packages like 15.000? and how much is the housing allowance? |
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Shakhbut
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| 15000 sounds about right, top end. Contact hrs are 25 on average, with 25+ students standard. Housing will be just enough for a small place in a not very nice part of town. No pay rise for 5 years and none in sight for a long time. |
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mateacher
Joined: 07 Sep 2013
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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25 are you kidding??
How much would the housing be? 70.000 a year? |
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Shakhbut
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 167
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Closer to 80,000, we think. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| mateacher wrote: |
25 are you kidding??
How much would the housing be? 70.000 a year? |
mateacher,
Are you sure you want to leave your 9 hours a week, 5 months a year paid vacation to have some sadistic Brit's boot on your neck at 25 - 30 hours a week for a little more cash at HCT?
I've been reading this forum for years and HCT sounds like a terrible place to work, especially compared to the hands off treatment you've been getting at Korean universities. Can you handle such an extreme change?
If you're married to a Korean, why don't you just get an F-1 Visa and just start taking on extra work to bring in more cash?
Even if you're not, you can still apply for a 2nd job permission stamp and rake in the money, in addition to privates.
I don't get it? |
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D. Merit
Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Solar Strength wrote: |
HCT sounds like an abusive organization. |
LOL.
Working for less than 700 bucks a month - now that's abusive.  |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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Obviously mateacher is looking to increase his income/savings, and is looking at HCT as a foot in the door.
It is a shame that HCT has been allowed to deteriorate in the way it has gone the last few years. But, it seems to be the choice of the Emirati government who owns and runs it. The change in the housing set-up, while a major negative, is also the way that employers in the Gulf have been heading for years now.
As to the teaching hours, when I was there in the early 90s, the hours were already moving up to 20. The first year, it was 15, but very soon it was 15 one semester and 20 the other. Because of what I taught, I did 20 hours every semester... by my choice. I suspect that it is creeping up to 25 because the Ministry is starving their budget and thus cutting their hiring. (but not cutting students, of course) As always, this will vary by branch.
It seems mateacher has got the picture from the negative posts here, and as a "foot in the door" job, it should do that and pad his savings nicely compared to what is probably lower pay in Korea. Besides, he hasn't even applied for anything yet and seems to mainly be getting mentally prepared to decide when and if he ever gets an offer. 
VS |
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