Job Discussion Forums

blues clues · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 61

Then why the continued complaints about HCT? If people are so unhappy working there, why stay? Money isn't everything? Or maybe it is, for some people.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Judges usually only judge those in the dock ... not every one in the court room...

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

blues clues...If no one complained about anything in these threads, then people seeking information would find only rosy superlatives in which the ESL world is perfect. If scores and scores of people complain, I would pay close attention. That's what I do in other consumer matters.

Easier said than done, of course, since jobs don't grow on trees. But I hope you get my drift.

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

The reality of HCT is that it has many branches and many teachers. As always, there are some who are not happy... and some who just do their job and are content with being able to save. Many branches presents the factor of different managements. Each teacher/management combination presents the possibility of personality conflict.

It is probably about 10% or less of their teachers who unhappy and the number of them that show up here to complain are not that statistically significant. I think this board presents the pros and cons of HCT pretty well. Anyone pondering an application can spend an hour or so reading the various threads and make an educated decision.

VS

redcliff · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 46

So after reading the various comments on HCT for a few weeks now and finally getting around to getting a login and password the question I'd love to throw out is "so is it worth it?"

The package that HCT offers appears to be above and beyond what most teachers especially of ESL could expect to receive almost anywhere else in the world. The money, the housing, the flights for up to three kids etc sounds awful generous.

Are teachers paid so much to put up with the school, the country, or is a supply and demand issue?

I've got an application in at the moment for a business faculty position. Most of my concern in the "it sounds too good to be true" department comes from having three kids and a wife I would be moving 1/2 way around the world. While it is encouraging that they will pay for tuition for the eldest, all the flights and housing I want to make sure the quality of life is worth it. I'm more worried about this than I am the school's idiosyncricies.

Naive? Wishful thinking? Any thoughts and advice would be welcome

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

Apply... see what the offer is... hopefully your offer will include what branch you will be teaching in. I'd say that most of the problems occur in EFL.

Unless you can happen on a specific warning, I'd take a position in the business faculty in a minute. I taught business courses too, but was hired as English faculty. Business depts are smaller and less bureaucratic...

But... as I said, get the offer and then you can see what you can learn on specific situations at the branches...

VS

Shakhbut · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 167

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

The Petroleum Institute is better, if you can get in. Personally I don't think starting out at Dh. 11,000 is so great when you have to teach 20 periods of 55 minutes each. Already, GMU is much more competitive than that. Just that you have to live in Ras al Khaimah, and temporarily in apartments that don't match up with HCT RAK.

Shakhbut · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 167

Spin duck · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 25

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

An automatic 6% annual rise may soon be a thing of the past as the new package is reported to have a performance related rise.

Alecca · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Location: USA

That's interesting that the raises will be merit-based, especially after reading about some apparent apathy with regards to extra work.

hafniumite · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 18

I have heard a rumor that some of the HCT colleges are only hiring single/unmarried teachers for their January intake. This way they minimise their cost per hire by not having to pay out additional housing, medical, ticket money, etc for depends. Have others heard something similar?

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

That's certainly not true in my college, Haf. No idea about other colleges.

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

Redcliff, the quality of life is worth it for me. My standard of living is higher than it has ever been, and we enjoy a pretty good quality of life. Like you, I have small children, and I think it's a pretty good place to raise them.

I am also happy enough working for HCT. Of course I find certain "idiosyncracies" frustrating, but as long as I am able to keep my head down and get on with teaching, which I enjoy, I'm OK.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like my personal opinion (apologies for the tautology) on life in the UAE and/or at HCT.

NK