Job Discussion Forums

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

Of course the low level of English required a certain amount of 'dumbing down' of the materials, but I didn't find it any different when I taught the same courses in the US at a small college - where half of the class were not native speakers. But here in the US, they had to keep up with the rest and that usually meant my giving them some extra time.

Things may have changed there and it depends on the direct manager, but in my experience the business supervisor gave me complete freedom to achieve the goals by my own methods. Of course, it is much easier to set and achieve learning goals in business classes than in English.

I can't see why any professional teacher would become "de-skilled" in a contract or two unless they wanted to be. To me every job added to my skills... and HCT taught me more than any other place I worked. That was because I was surrounded by many serious educators. (and a few oddballs...)

VS

turtlepi1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 94

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Bucheon Korea

Just a quick update, I recieved an email from HCT today. I was quite shocked that I passed the interview phase of the process. I guess that means I am in the applicant pool, but I would still have to draw the interest of one schools to get an offer. After the interview, I felt I hadn't done that well. Combined with the technical problems during the interview,
I pretty much thought I wouldn't hear anything back.

The other issue is that my family is not thrilled about me going there (in the event I did recieve an offer). I'm been in Korea for the past three and a half years and gotten by fine. My guess is that they are nervous about other events happening in the Middle East right now.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

Iamherebecause · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 8:33 am Post subject:

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hey M.D.

Our families were worried too. They heard ARAB, and freaked out. We have been doing our research, and the UAE seems incredibly stable.

The biggest issues (as we see them) appear to be 1. crime vs foreigners (usually phillipino, indian, or pakistani), 2. horrible drivers (lived in central china, your in korea.. dont' think it will be that bad by comparison). 3. dealing with micromanaging supervisors.

There appear to be very little dangers in the UAE.

After all if someone were wanting to go after foriengers (westerners), much easier in kuwait, iraq, and saudi. In order to get to us in the UAE, these folks ahve to go through 3 or 4 countries, and that is a LOT of work.

yes Iran is on the other side of the gulf... but they have a huge population in the UAE, and don't want to screw that up. Very stable, very safe. If it wasn't we wouldn't be moving our family (3 kids) there.

Tell your family if they can find ANYTHING bad about the UAE for your safety, you will consider not taking the position. (the worse we can find is child abuse of camel drivers/child molestation of camel riders, rape of single women (usually philipino maids, or eastern european). Prostitution using eastern european women. And bad drivers. Other than that, nothing is out there. And we have checked.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Bucheon Korea

I am here,

True, most of the really bad spots are quite a distance from UAE, except for Iran. Most Americans don't know much about Korea, so there is an ignorance factor that plays into people's reaction.

Adorabilly,

Thanks for sharing your information. I might be slightly worried about how my wife (who is Korean) would be treated.

Can you tell me what you meant by "crime vs. foreigners"?

Yes, the people here drive like they have their heads up their ***, so I'm use to it.

The work enviroment is one of the most important things. I've heard similar things from countless other people as well. One of the questions I asked in my interview is how they would handle a conflict with a teacher. They said they have a very open door policy and that if someone is not satisfied with the answers they got from the person above them, that it is possible to go higher up the latter. I don't know if this is true, but it was a good answer as far as I'm concerned.

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

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hey MD

Here is what I have gathered (from here, and having had some pm's with individauls who are in the field in the UAE)

There are sexual assaults on maids by their employers, women who are obviously oriental, or european will be assumed to be hookers. Women travelling alone late at night have been abducted and raped (but that is possible anywhere)

Most crime appears to happen between the eastern/oriental/phillipino groups. These are usually the domestic servents, or the construction workers/unskilled labor. As such, these folks appear to be viewed as "less than" and can be treated as inferior.

With that said there appears to be little crime vs western foreigners (well what we can find) and NO terrorism has occured in the UAE (it is very stable, and the folks there won't put up with it.)

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Bucheon Korea

Thanks for the follow up answers on that. If I do go, I've decided I would rather stay away from Dubai and Sharjah because they are too large and Madinat Zayed because it is too remote. I told them I have a preference of Fujairah. I don't think Abu Dhabi would be too bad either.

In terms of protection, does anyone know if mace is legal in UAE (not for me, but for my wife). I know it sounds crazy, but I feel even in the US I have to be overly protective of her. It sounds like in one of the smaller cities she'd probably be ok though.

David

spicegirl · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 112

... goodness me, however did she manage before she met you, Milwaukiedave? Don't you think mace is going a bit far? A hairspray or deodorant spray in the eyes, or a knee somewhere else would do the trick.

No-one's going to attack her during the day, and in the evenings I imagine that she'd be under your protection. But what am I saying ...? I've been in the UAE for 12 years and no-one's come close to assaulting me. I've had uncomfortable moments, as every female has, but it's more of the nature of stares, with the odd brushing up against me accidentally-on-purpose in a crowd, maybe once - but there are almost never crowds.

There are security guards in all the shopping malls, and females of all nationalities go shopping without male escorts with absolutely no problems. In a taxi, she could get out her mobile phone to look as if she's ready to phone for help. Don't speak to the taxi driver, even if he speaks to her - she should simply look out of the side window. For cultural reasons, and probably also as a safety measure, females here don't usually get into a lift alone if a man is in it.

If a female makes a complaint against an expatriate man, then he will probably be deported, after a cursory investigation.

As far as smaller towns vs larger cities in the UAE are concerned, I'd stay away from Dubai for many reasons, but not those of safety. You didn't mention Al Ain in your list of possible job offers - that's another possibility for you.

I feel much safer in the UAE than I do when walking alone in any city in the UK, and even in the small towns after dark.

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Milwaukie - you mention applying for Fujairah. Just be aware that at present there is a huge build-up of American troops in Fujairah because of its proximity to Iran, and at least two nuclear submarines in the sea off Fujairah. Not perhaps as safe as you think? The US troops are not allowed to speak to anybody "We are on the highest level of alert".

This is exactly what happened in Qatar prior to the Gulf war.

The Director of FC's wife, a woman in her late 50s/early 60s, was actually assaulted on the corniche in broad daylight, as was the wife of an English teacher. Another teacher had to move from a villa to the safety of an apartment, as his Vietnamese wife was being harassed by locals.

As for the Business instructors, the true thread of this site, three are getting out - two to Abu Dhabi, one to Qatar. I think that speaks for itself.