Job Discussion Forums

[Sara Avalon]

Some advice:

Be prepared to run around and bleed to death. The whims of your employer come first over your health.

I've been teaching the government system curriculum in Kuwait for almost a year now.. the parents will drive you nuts because they want MORE than it's miserable offering. Little children hate it with a passion. The government officials will swear they know best (but are not native speakers). Some of them will preach their dictionaries and "resources" over your common knowledge for the usage of words and phrases. Their own rules for teaching will change every few months and you'll have to write DETAILED lesson plans daily. Not of your own creation, but using THEIR words.

Language schools (like HumanSoft aka. Direct English) are even worse. I worked there for about 4 months and saw 3 different GMs come and go. Instructors could be given the boot over ridiculous comments by consumers. Yes, consumers. It's a business out to make money, not to teach. Educational material was taken off the internet 5 minutes before a class. You worked day and night, often at the drop of a pin.

The level of disorganization is staggering. The crazy demands are jaw-dropping. You'll find yourself wondering aloud with your equally frustrated colleagues as to the possible level of intelligence of your employer(s). The children, as much as you love them, will drive you bonkers with their crude immitations of the societies stubborn rudeness and boisterously egocentric rants. I had a seven year old stand, leaning against his desk, twisting his hand in a "yeah yeah" fashion, let me know with no uncertain terms that he could complain and get me fired if I forced him to write his ABCs.

It's a challenge. It'll endow you with saintly patience. But it's a damn interesting experience. It's definitely NOT for the faint of heart.

[veiledsentiments]

Sara,

So, don't beat around the bush... what do you really think?

I haven't seen you around here for awhile. Was your internet provider blocking Dave's?

If you've read my posts, you probably know that I am not the biggest fan of Kuwait. I'm one of those who thinks that the only really good jobs are at university level. Rare does one hear anything good about a language school in the Gulf - actually it might be even less than rare. And the primary and secondary schools are not much better.

So, now I can refer everyone who asks about the topics to this post.

VS

[Sara Avalon]

[veiledsentiments]

Sara,

Proctoring/invigilating is pretty dull stuff, and there is a lot more testing at university level. But, I couldn't imagine trying to corral a room full of kids. There is good reason that my first degree was in secondary education, not primary.

If you wander about this section of Dave's and peruse my postings, you'd find that I'm retired after spending many years over there. I only spent a year at KU in the 90's and can I ever relate to the horrendous hassle of dealing with the Kuwaiti bureaucracy - absolutely the worst in the Middle East!! I would rather deal with Mogamma in downtown Cairo.

The rest of my time over there was spent between Egypt, Oman, and the Emirates. Definitely get an MA... that would let you into the chance for higher pay, shorter teaching hours, longer holidays, and usually better employers. ...relatively speaking, of course.

VS

[Sara Avalon]

[veiledsentiments]

[rbaxter]

Sara,
Is there a big difference between Language Schools for Elementary aged students, International Schools and Private Schools ? I will be teaching at a private school for the handicapped . Any insight ?
RB

[Sara Avalon]