Job Discussion Forums

[helenl]

Fujairah Colleges have a good management rep. The town itself is fairly small (two traffic lights but then, it's considered to be really busy if you have more than 3 cars waiting to enter a roundabout - my kind of traffic).

It is about 80-90 minutes to get to Sharjah and the outskirts of Dubai or RAK where the shopping (except for RAK) is much better, RAK is only marginally so if you want to visit a smallish mall with a Carrefour.

Accomodation in Fujairah is pretty good, when the weather is fit a lot of teachers are able to walk to the Women's College.

Drawback #1
There are only 2.5 real supermarkets. However, you can usually find what you need/want on a daily basis - and can stock up on other items when you travel to Sharjah/Dubai. There is even pork available but it's a limited selection.

Drawback #2
It is a small town, and social outlets (dining, beer on the beach) are fairly limited - and that's where all your colleagues are congregating too. I've heard there's a fairly active gossip network (did you see/hear/know what soandso was doing/wearing/talking to/etc.)

However, that's life in any small town anywhere in the world. The beaches are nice but you do have to watch out for 4x4s and quad bikes on the public beaches as well as gobby bits of oil washed up on the beach sometimes - it can be removed with any kind of vegetable or baby oil BTW - but it is unpleasant.

They have a vibrant fish and vegetable souk - which is a lot of fun (careful of the detritus in the fish souk if you visit). The scenery is interesting but being dismantled by rock crushing companies.

[BrownSauce]

"Which, if any, are known to produce frustrated, demoralized teachers?"

As VS rightly pointed out, ADWC has undergone large changes in recent years, especially since the Director MOD edit left, and is none the better for it - far worse, some would say, especially for EFL teachers. The current English Supervisor/Chair is mostly responsible for this.

Many (too many) good teachers have left over the past couple of years, - although, to be fair, there is still a fair contingency of 'long-termers' who just shrug off the latest management bullshit and get on with their jobs. There again, there are also those who (appear to) lap it up - TEFL donkeys, in fact.

But in general, the rating has fallen from 'buy' to 'sell'. So that's probably one to strike off the list!
(MOD: avoid posting names)

[veiledsentiments]

Of course, one problem is that new hires don't have much choice on location. That said, I wouldn't tell people to avoid ADW yet. But, it certainly has moved down the recommended list. Much of the unhappiness is to be expected when there are management changes. We all hate change. I think a key to survival in the Gulf and especially at HCT is an ability to stay out of the politics and just do one's job in spite of management histrionics. One thing that I have noticed over the years is that bad Directors seem to be able to hang on, but bad supervisors don't last. (and it is pretty easy to avoid the Director in most colleges) Come to think of it... even the good supervisors don't last... they get moved up.

HCT is a place where new teachers need to keep their heads down (and mouths closed) until they know who has the ammunition and will use it. With their top heavy management, it has always been overly political.

VS

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

I can understand the mod advising against posting names (that's EXACTLY what brought me into this game...if you doubt me, look up post number 1!), but what I don't think is understood by him/her/them is how admired this man was to those he led! I had the honour of teaching a class with him after he left the Woman's. How rare is it when a Director will absent him/herself from their cushy office to keep his/her hand in the game? To keep the mods happy: HERE'S TO DR. N! Um, a personal hero of mine...

NCTBA

[veiledsentiments]

Well... I think they try to keep the rule consistent... whether you say something good or bad, full names are avoided, except in the case of recruiters who often use their names in their ads.

VS