Job Discussion Forums

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

Avoid the place. It is in the same standing as HCT.

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

IAT is no better than HCT. Incompetence runs rampant at the place. Avoid it. There are better places in the UAE where you can work which has a pleasant environment, where teachers are regarded with respect.

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

pyramidlover · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Have any of you worked at IAT or HCT? I do not know much about IAT but the package being offered looks decent. I thought HCT was one of the best schools? I am living in Egypt and working in Choueifat, I think IAT offers more.

pyramidlover

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

Some people have to find out the hard way! At the least, we warned them ahead of time.

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

Come on guys... note that s/he is a newbie and has not yet read all your illuminating posts. There was a time not long ago that HCT was one of the better employers in the Gulf - though it has always presented challenges.

Since our new poster is teaching at Choueifat, I doubt that s/he has the credentials to get into HCT anyway. I can't imagine anyone with an MA teaching for them. Laughing

They tend to hire entry level K-12 teachers. (nothing wrong with that, pyramidlover... just two very different systems)

VS

pyramidlover · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Veiled Sentiments

Just because I work for Choueifat does not mean that I have no credentials. People live and learn. However, I live in Egypt and for your information it is still one of the better schools around. Have you lived here, do you know so much?

pyramidlover

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

You can work for HCT or IAT at your own risk! Enough said.

pyramidlover · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

I have read the posts on HCT and I am not working for them. I was asking for more info on IAT. Thanks.

pyramidlover

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

Pyramidlover... yes I lived for some years in Cairo. Nor did I say that you have "no" credentials. All that Choueifat requires is a degree in education and perhaps a CELTA if you are teaching EFL. They hire many teachers fresh out of college with -0- experience. This will NOT get you into a university program in the Gulf. They require an MA in TEFL/Applied Linguistics plus 2-3 years of related experience as a minimum.

Choueifat has one of the worst reputations in the Gulf for teacher conditions (though the Arab parents tend to love the system). The main problem being that the system used in these schools is NOT well respected by professional K-12 educators and you can read about it all here. It is a totally test test test based system with teachers devoting most of their time to paper pushing. I know that their Cairo branch was tolerable some years ago as a friend taught there, but managements change.

VS

pyramidlover · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

VS I understand that Choueifat is seen bad in the Gulf but in Egypt it is a bit different. I wound up there not knowing much about the factory work lifestyle, but to each his own I guess. I know that I messed myself up a little because these two years spent there does not amount to anything to the UAE. The October branch has a better rep because it is newer. I have been offered a decent package by IAT but do not know much about them. I have never been to UAE. Some info please.

pyramidlover

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

A lot of Egyptians working there, also looking for information. It would seem, you fit in well.

pyramidlover · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

JohnCB, could you clarify because I am not Egyptian.