Job Discussion Forums

[oilers]

as posted in the General Mid East forum, some were disappointed by the lack of organization at the recent Tesol Arabia Conference. Job fair setup was ridiculously planned, 21st floor with very limited elevator access and lengthy waits just to get in said elevator crammed to the hilt. Location a nightmare to get into and out of trafficwise (will take the subway next time perhaps), 5 star prices for any restaurant food ($30 USD per plate for average sushi anyone?) yaddayaddayadda

can't wait til next year, it'll be at the same place!

[veiledsentiments]

Perhaps if enough people make their complaints to the officers of the organization, the venue will be changed.

I haven't heard anyone make one positive comment about the organization, job fair, or the venue. They have a year to fix a few things...

VS

[D. Merit]

Are they still fleecing job finders to the tune of 600 dirham to enter the hallowed portals?

Only to finally locate the right room and find there are 50 interviewees ahead of them for every half decent job?
Still, it helps buy the biscuits for all those Saturday morning SIGs I guess.

On food I suppose they can't really win. If they hold it in Dubai Men's College people moan that it's not in a hotel. If they hold it in a hotel people moan that the food is charged at hotel prices...

As for having a year to fix things, surely they've had about 30 years to get it right?

[veiledsentiments]

Well, it has actually been 20 years, but far be it from me to quibble with your authority. They had it right for years. I attended the first one and UAEU fortunately had teachers who had been involved in the US TESOL conferences and it was very tightly organized and well done. I also attended the last conference held in Al-Ain and it was still doing well. What with the turnover of teachers and membership, it might be time for them to spend the money to get some professional conference organizers from the US TESOL organization to help them figure out how to deal with the size it has reached.

There will always be moaners... it is TEFLers, after all... but it sounds like it is time to fix it. On the thread in the General Middle East branch there is a link to the conference survey. I hope everyone goes and fills it out... constructively.

VS

[D. Merit]

[veiledsentiments]

[robinbanks]

Well,veiled sentiments,you are going back a bit if you remember when it was outside Dubai.I even remember helping collect the "day fees"at the Hilton in Al Ain and the then the Intercon there.
I think it should move around,at least to Abu Dhabi/Al Ain for the odd year.i know people come from all over these days so RAK or MZ maybe a little bit far for the non UAE ers.
I think the point was jobs so how did people get fixed up?How were the 'usual suspects"UAEU (zilch?),HTC(zilch?)ZU (zilch?).

[veiledsentiments]

I agree, but has it become so large that only Dubai or Abu Dhabi have hotels large enough?

VS