Job Discussion Forums

[rhinna]

I was offered a position (EE not English) that all in all pays about the same as what I get in the US. Of course there is free housing and no taxes. But I am somewhat hesatant after reading the number of comments. I have a stable (with tenure) position, but am drawn to the adventure of working overseas again.

Any advice???

[Miss TESOL]

Just my view, but I think you'd be nuts to give up tenure for a post in the ME right now.

Why not consider a one year sabbatical or something like that? Some universities allow secondment, several year breaks. That way you could return to your tenured post after a little adventure.

Miss T (no relation to Mr. T)

[veiledsentiments]

I agree with MissTESOL that I wouldn't lose a tenured position if I could avoid it. Now if you are getting a sabbatical, this is another story. BUT, HCT contracts are for 3 years... I haven't heard of any 3 year sabbaticals, but then to be honest, I have never looked into them.

As to the advisability of taking a job at SMC, you have read the negative comments, so you know that a few people have had problems with the Director there. But, I also know people who have taught there happily for a number of years. You would have to use your judgement on your tolerance levels.

There is the point that with no taxes, paid housing, and a free ticket for that long summer leave - it is definitely a good choice financially. Whether it is professionally is a decision that only you can make.

VS

[Bindair Dundat]

[well-travelled]

It's a gamble. Most people seem to manage ok - and there are lots of good people working there - but I'm not sure what the atmosphere is like there currently. (Eight months ago I was told it was still pretty bleak.)

If you're footloose & fancy free it might be worth the risk. If you've got family, kids etc (and you have a tenured post already), then I'd mull it over more before committing yourself.

And, to be honest, the job itself is not the most rewarding...

Personally, I think the place is an absolute snakepit - but that's just my biassed opinion.

(I'm also not sure what negative posts you've read about the place; most of the critical - but to me, honest - threads on this board were deleted way back by the powers-that-be!!)

well-travelled

[james van cleave]

I have to agree with most of the above comments. The faculty is often excellent in the ME, students rarely so. There just seems to be no point, no ambition, nothing.
I will say that a sojourn in the Gulf is an education in itself. It might be worth it just for that. Plus the opportunities to travel etc.

Good Luck

[veiledsentiments]

James,

Have you had any other experience in the Middle East other than MLI? Because I think it is a bit unfair to generalize about Gulf students using them - or military males in any country - as your standard. The students that I had at HCT (and other places) were very motivated and hard working - and were Emiratis, but females.

I thoroughly enjoyed teaching them!! (along with my Kuwaiti, Omanis, and Egyptians of both sexes...) They were no lazier than the average American of the same age group...

VS

[james van cleave]

Nope VS.
I wish I could agree with you, but I have found those people to be singularily anti. Anti-American, Anti-West, Anti-Education, Anti-Listening to the teacher for more than 20 minutes etc. I once taught a princess of the royal house of Saudi Arabia in a private school in Beverly Hills. She was absolutely impossible.
I have had the fortune to teach Palestinian refugees/immigrants in Washington DC. They were tremendous people and students.
I don't feel I'm prejudiced, but my expeience in the Persian Gulf has been generally less than illuminating.

[veiledsentiments]

Funny how I spent most of 13 years teaching in the Gulf and NEVER encountered anything like you described in Kuwait, Oman or the UAE.

You say that you don't feel that you are prejudiced. But, don't you think that your statements make you sound as 'racist' as you are accusing them of being? As I said, if you only taught some lazy military boys and added one spoiled Saudi princess, they can hardly be considered representative of all Gulf students. In my experience, those who leave the Gulf with strongly negative attitudes toward it were those that taught all male classes in military or oil business classrooms - usually in Saudi. I don't think I would want my own culture judged on the personality traits of army grunts or Texas oil field workers. (or Paris Hilton...)

I am sorry to hear that your experiences have made you feel that way, and am so glad that I never had to deal with students like that.

VS

[younggeorge]

My experience has been more like VS's than James VC's. Even with all-male groups of Saudi and Kuwaiti apprentices, I've never felt any animosity, either to me personally or to things western in general. Certainly they were often less than enthusiastic about studying, but no worse than an average class in a technical college in UK - that's the nature of teenagers, wherever they might be.

[james van cleave]

I stick by what I said. Forgive the spelling errors.
The people of the Persian Gulf (and it is Persian in the English language) have only been generous to me. I've known several very good teachers who went there, principally to make money, but also to teach. They were abused, ignored and generally missused.
I could write for a mile about what happens there, and I think Western Ex-pats and I include myself, are to some extent to blame. Do you guys ever feel that you teach them anything? Have you imparted the wisdom of liberal democracy? I think that's important, and I think it is gravely lacking in that part of the world.
If you're reading this in the Middle East, do me a favor. Walk outside for twenty minutes, take a look around. What is it you don't see, that you would see on the streets of London, Chicago, Osaka, Dehli,Singapore and Mexico City?
Handicapped people? Mentally retarded citizens, blind people, deaf people, wheel chair bound people etc.? I rarely saw that in Dubai, and considering the local marital customs, there must be plenty of them.

Again,I like the place, the people, and I made a lot of money there. However, as a teacher, I feel, you have an almost sacred resposibility to actually teach people something which will help them. I rarely felt that way in the Gulf. And I did try.

[veiledsentiments]

[james van cleave]

Sorry Pal,
I don't buy it.
Most of the problems of the world are caused by famine , brutality, and ghastly regimes, which are generally supported by the United States or tacitly by every other western democracy (including Israel).
The Gulf should be a case study.
I've lived there and liked it off and on for nearly 20 years. However, I think I know what I'm talking about.

PS They do judge us in terms of Wacko Texans. A lot of those guys, especially in KSA, actually love them
So, what do have against Paris Hilton?

[veiledsentiments]

Well, first off, I'm not your pal... and certainly never would be based on your prejudices.

Paris Hilton? the equal of your Saudi princess... and as representative of US culture as that princess is of the women of the Gulf...

VS

[dogzB]

Profesionally SMC is a place where you'll meet great, professional staff but make no progress - it's a dead ender for at least the first 3 years once you sign up and it's not worth your while financially or professionally if you want to get out earlier. It's a SYSTEM, not a place where professional teachers can easily prosper. The system rules and like most bureaucratic heavy organisations, you are rewarded by "time in office" rather than on experience, qualifications or any added value you might transfer. The atmosphere is generally one of confusion due to unilateral management decisions and total lack of communication between the management (yes) team and staff. Students are like many other students in the Middle East; when they're good they're great and when they're bad....they seem to be able to stay in the system anyway!! From what you say, financially there is no great gain, professionally there is unlikely to be and the UAE, while being a great place to live and teach is no longer that attractive in terms of life style PLUS savings, since the pay rise seems to have become lost in the sand storms of time. The Universities might offer something better if you really want to come. Both Zayed and Sharjah are currently looking I believe and so is the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi. This is my opinion and others may disagree - but unless others write........!!!

Good luck