Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

I received this email on another education discussion group that some of you may also be on. The current discussion is about the abyssmal situation of ESL teachers in the US stuck in adjunct h e l l. It gave me the impression that someone at PI (whose name has been deleted) is looking towards justification to try doing to their UAE teachers what is done to teachers in the US. In the last 10 years there has been a steady move by employers to lower benefits... while freezing pay. Is PI planning to join those ranks?

Or maybe someone is doing a thesis to show why no one should go into this field in the US?

>>>>>>>>>>>

Hello,

If you are a school director or coordinator of a post-secondary
university
preparation program (IEP, Foundations Program, Bridge Program, etc.), would
you please take 5 minutes and fill out a brief survey. This survey was
designed to collect information about faculty workloads and
compensation at
post-secondary university prep programs. The aim is to provide members of
school management with a snapshot of where their institution stands,
relative to other programs, on these two criteria. Overall results will be
shared with participants by mid-May 2006, however, your school-specific data will remain anonymous.

Please follow the link below (or copy and paste the URL into your
browser) to do the survey:

(message cut)

[Manny2]

The days of wine and roses are over.At least in Foundations so all you prospective hires who interviewed in the US and Uk beware .

Increased teaching loads and bigger classes. Increments at a lowly 2 % if you are lucky, so chance what ever salary you start at although it may seem high by what other institutuins here offer if you never get a raise well...Medical benefits also bad as you have to use the local hospitals only...schools fees average .The contract actually has little to say about anything , one page if you are lucky.

Students ( males) are notoriously unmotivated and 'helping each other' is rife, but hey this a world class institution according to the new messiah in charge.

[abufletcher]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[seemore]

Far from looking to cut their package, the PI is looking at an increase on certain aspects of what is already one of the best compensation packages in the field of ESL.

The survey, as stated in the mailout, was intended to allow the PI, as well as participating institutions, to gauge where they stand relative to other programs in terms of work characteristics and compensation. It doesn't stand to reason that someone who is working in the field of ESL would want to lower the standards in ESL, now does it? Noone wins in that situation.

As far as commenting on the level of compensation for ESL teachers in the world, well, whatever your opinion, the matter is simply one of supply and demand. Employers will pay what the market will bear in order to attract the level of candidate they are seeking. Those teachers who accept lower pay and working standards (as well as those who prompt employers to increase their compensation) are complicit in determining the level of compensation for all ESL teachers.

Want higher pay in ESL? Add value to your host institution.

[veiledsentiments]

[Manny2]

Want higher pay in ESL? Add value to your host institution.....It is rather difficult to add value when you are teaching 20 periods a week with classes of 20+....or is that not of any value ? So Seemore I am indeed curious as to what exactly you mean as we ESL teachers would love to get paid more and you obviously know something we don't.

[seemore]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[seemore]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Hey seemore, I don't think we need a link to tell us about the stress involved in teaching in the UAE, just a set of eyes and ears open to what goes on around us ... sure there are those that say they don't get stressed out at all .. in a strutting coc.kerel type of way ... some of whom, shortly after some wonder plan goes awry, can be heard exploding away in their cubicle ... but that's not stress at all ... that's different ... and your humourless attempt at a snide remark would suggest that you're susceptible to stress yourself ...

A 1-4 hour reduction in the working day during Ramadan is quite a large variance ... and I'm not wholly convinced that those with a 1 hour reduction to their working day would classify it as a partial holiday ... but hey you have the facts ... so they must think so ... perhaps you could inform those that don't think so that they are thinking incorrectly ...

Eids on the other hand are full holidays ... unless you have facts that show people have to come in and teach for say 1-4 hours a day during Eid ... making them a partial holiday ...

[veiledsentiments]

[Mark100]

Globalisation has had a marked downward influence on wages and condtions in the world of ESL.

The Middle East has seen no signigficant wage rises for many years and in some instances conditions have deteriorated.

There are more and more teachers from more and more countries who are prepared to take less as competition becomes fiercer for jobs in a globalised market.

I suppose it is a matter of opinion but I would say considering the cost and time of getting suitably qualified to teach ESL it is becoming increasingly economically unviable to go down this path.

Higher education in most western countries is very expensive and ESL teaching just doesn't cut it when you look at the potential returns for the costs.

[seemore]

Mark100 has hit the nail on the head here. Again, it comes back to supply and demand in the market, but increased competition is not limited to ESL. Globalization and market liberalization have had a levelling effect on wages in many fields/industries. If I were looking for jobs in ESL, I'd be thinking about how to distinguish myself from others in the field.

The PI doesn't appear to be lowering its standards at all. In fact, I'd say they're in a position to be very selective as they've probably got far more qualified applicants than openings. I personally know some very good teachers who have applied but haven't gotten through.

[Mark100]