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elmoro
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 58
Location: The Emerald City
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 Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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Triffid wrote
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| As a woman I would really like to know whether I am going to be made to feel like a second class citizen in the workplace too. |
you do realize that you will not be a citizen anymore. as a westerner, you will enjoy a first class resident status. as far as workplace is concerned, you are either admin, spy, or teacher. this is the norm in all of the english instruction (or lack thereof) asylums. just remember, you are not a citizen and you have very few rights. those rights that you do have are subject to very shady interpretation. in other words, nothing is black and white; everything is a shade of gray. life as a teacher here is definitely an exercise in socio-economic darwinism. make no mistakes about it!
elmoro
THE HORROR, THE HORROR![/quote] |
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Triffid
Joined: 05 Dec 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| elmoro wrote: |
in other words, nothing is black and white; everything is a shade of gray. life as a teacher here is definitely an exercise in socio-economic darwinism. make no mistakes about it!
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I think I've done this before, but not for a good salary.
Another very general question - do expats just hang around with expats or can you mix if you make the effort. |
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elmoro
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 58
Location: The Emerald City
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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since being here, i have adopted and promote a "separate but equal" lifestyle. i have very few friends among the natives. maybe three at most and i'm muslim. there is a really disturbing secret life here that you do not what to have any knowledge of. IGNORANCE IS BLISS!!! best thing is find a small group of like-minded expats and enjoy your time away from the asylum. as for the natives, you will have your fill in the classroom. your human side will need a break.
i know it may sound bad but i am holding back.
elmoro
THE HORROR, THE HORROR |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| elmoro wrote: |
| in other words, nothing is black and white; everything is a shade of gray. |
Ah but it seems that this is not true of you. Everything is black black black for you. I hope all readers understand and I believe that you should make it clear that you are one person with your particular experience and opinions.
The fact is that your experience will NOT be shared by others. (unless they are also a male convert of seemingly unusual background and goals.)
| Triffid wrote: |
| Another very general question - do expats just hang around with expats or can you mix if you make the effort. |
Yes, for the most part expats hang out with like-minded expats. But there is quite a variety of expats from various countries. In the Gulf, the local people pretty much to stick to themselves... actually pretty much their own families. That is how the culture works.
VS |
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Gus Barkley
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Posts: 78
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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I was surprised to log into Dave's tonight and find a broken record. 
Oh, the horror! |
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Havana
Joined: 07 Feb 2011
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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They have recently dropped the minimum salary for this position from AED 12,198 to AED 11,998 and require everyone to start on the minimum salary unless they have had experience with Kaplan before.
Disorganisation bedevils this project from top to bottom. |
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cam
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 124
Location: Maine, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| The fact that Kaplan/IAT have lowered the salary so soon may be an indication of the number of qualified teachers who applied for positions. Anyone who applied for a job with the orginal salary should not accept one with a lower salary. This will only encourage the company to reduce salary and perhaps even benefits more. |
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GriffinParka
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 41
Location: West London
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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I can't recommend this outfit at all. I applied last year and promptly received an email from the UK recruiter (not Krapland). We did a brief phone interview and they got back immediately to say they had put my name forward for an interview with Krapland in AD. All very professional so far.
After that, my fears began to surface. Krapland didn't get in touch for three weeeks or more, and then asked me to get back to them immediately with skype details, and an interview time and date that was suitable for me. I did that, suggesting a time and date three days in the future. And then ... no phone call ... nothing.
Two weeks later I received the SAME email, asking ... me to get back to them promptly with an interview time and date that was suitable for me, etc. Same old story though - no follow up from them at all.
If they ever bother to contact me again, I'll be telling them where to stuff their underpaying job.
I suggest everybody else does the same. |
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GriffinParka
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 41
Location: West London
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Warning Bells
Joined: 10 Mar 2011
Posts: 87
Location: Always Changes
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Havana wrote: |
They have recently dropped the minimum salary for this position from AED 12,198 to AED 11,998 and require everyone to start on the minimum salary unless they have had experience with Kaplan before.
Disorganisation bedevils this project from top to bottom. |
Wow, they'll be saving/losing a whole 200 dirhams per month! 
Will someone please tell me where to find any well organised TEFL institute, university, college, school, training centre or whatever in this universe?! Most of these so-called managers and administrators in the field can't even manage to get their own coffee... I just wish they'd learn how to speak English and tell the truth (at least some of the time). |
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happyroofus
Joined: 08 Oct 2010
Posts: 80
Location: Middle East
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| Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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It's at the 12K-13K level for 2011-2012 now with the lower rate for all new-Kaps. Housing allowance offer is not great.
It's a very large org so don't expect the "personal touch" if you're considering. In fact, I'd have to say they're borderline rude when hiring (go figure?).
They will sometimes take months to respond to applications.
Though not following up after an unsuccessful phone/Skype interview is common enough with most institutions in the Gulf.
HR |
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JohnCB
Joined: 28 Oct 2010
Posts: 59
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:51 am Post subject: IAT/KAPLAN |
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| Avoid IAT and Kaplan. These schools are worse than HCT. Everything from finding your own accommodation, management and salaries are a hardship no one should have to endure. Save yourself the frustration. |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: IAT/KAPLAN |
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| JohnCB wrote: |
| Avoid IAT and Kaplan. These schools are worse than HCT. |
Wow. That's a strong statement of condemnation. I won't argue with it except to state that I believe HCT to be a bigger threat simply because they are bigger.
MEB  |
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Kally Wally
Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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MEB,
So where would you say is a decent place to work in the UAE?
or maybe the least bad |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Kally Wally wrote: |
MEB,
So where would you say is a decent place to work in the UAE?
or maybe the least bad |
Interesting you should ask.
This past year HCT, in its ongoing infinite wisdom, forged an agreement with UAEU to force a large number of their teachers to go to FWC. Most of these teachers were quite unhappy with the arrangement and didn't care at all for FWC either. But they were a great group of men and women who I respected. They like their work at UAEU.
So, perhaps UAEU is decent. Their location is pretty cool--Al Ain. I had a great weekend there once. Quite a nightlife there, actually.
Another thing--Fujairah sucks for singles (at least this one).
I'd refer you to VS for more recommendations.
MEB |
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