Job Discussion Forums

newtefler · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 80

Hi - I'm newbie on this forum... I'm interested in teaching Business English and considering Dubai... firstly as a girl is it a no-no? I have a business degree and 8 years industry experience in a range of disciplines. I only have TEFL classroom asst experience but I have delivered training in a business environment (in English). I hope to have my TEFL diploma shortly (not CELTA) - What are my chances of employment in Dubai? Is it safe for a girl travelling on her own? Reasonable pay expectations?... would it be enough to fund a decent work/life balance?

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

Read the board. There are lots of posters asking the same type question. In a nutshell...

Perfectly safe for women
With your credentials you will be at the bottom of the pay scales
The vast majority of jobs require at least BA + CELTA + related experience
The better jobs require an MA + experience
Dubai is an expensive city to live in

With a lot of legwork, you might find a job. Would it be a job one would want? IMHO, no. But, your needs and requirements may be different than mine. It would be subsistance pay at your level. It is highly doubtful that you would get decent benefits, and rents are skyrocketing.

VS

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

You might consider teaching business.

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

If your degree is at Master's level, you could certainly apply for a job teaching business in the tertiary sector, as Tabing suggests. Your ELT qualification and training experience would stand you in good stead at somewhere like HCT, for example.

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

I don't see any MA listed in her credentials, nor CELTA or even a basic TEFL cert... and has only been a classroom asst in EFL. HCT wouldn't even give her CV a glance. For all we know her "industry experience" is office work and training new hires.

She has neither credentials nor experience.... perhaps part time in a language school teaching business English?

These credentials would probably do much better in Asia.

VS

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

You don't need a CELTA or any ELT experience at all to teach Business, even though an awful lot of the Business teaching is in fact language teaching. While HCT hiring practices are something of a mystery, you pretty much just need a master's degree in Business to apply Smile

.

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

I hadn't noticed that the OP expressed any interest in teaching business, but in teaching business English - which would put her into the EFL requirements. Nor does she appear to have an MA or an MBA.

I taught Business classes at HCT based on my EFL credentials and 18 years of industry experience before teaching. And the first year courses are truly teaching English as much as teaching business.

VS

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

Sorry VS, I am not being very clear. Ah, first week back at work... big shock to the system LOL.

I know the OP was asking about teaching English - HOWEVER I feel that she would be better advised to consider teaching Business rather than Business English since, as you say, she would need more qualifications to teach English. IF (and only if) her degree is at master's level. I don't know if it is or not.

I was making the same point as yours about "Business" classes in fact being language classes. However, you do not need an ELT qualification to be hired to teach these classes (some colleges like it, though).

Heh, that probably clarified my point even less. I will go away now Smile

.

(Newtefler...hope you understood! Just trying to be helpful. Good luck!)

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

With your experience and credentials, I recommend that you skip TEFL entirely. You can do much better!

Companies and corporations are always looking for people to deliver training in a variety of areas, from HR to financials to software applications. You might want to look into getting a professional training certification (or just take a class or two in this field) before you go abroad. I think it is THE field of this decade for native English speakers who want to work internationally. Forget TEFL... Wink

newtefler · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 80

"I don't see any MA listed in her credentials, nor CELTA or even a basic TEFL cert... and has only been a classroom asst in EFL. HCT wouldn't even give her CV a glance. For all we know her "industry experience" is office work and training new hires.

She has neither credentials nor experience.... perhaps part time in a language school teaching business English?

These credentials would probably do much better in Asia.

VS"

Dear VS... your comments tickled (colloq.) me so I felt compelled to reply :0)
1. I haven't got an MA.. my BA (Hons) is in business.. next step up in the UK would be an MBA or an MA in related field. At the time I graduated people generally only did MA's if they wanted to pursue a career in academia.. or hadn't decided what job they wanted to do and needed a year or two to decide:0)
2. CELTA... Yes, good point I don't have CELTA. TEFL Diploma.
3. Classroom assistant role was something I did in my spare time alongside a full time job.
4. My industry experience is slightly more in depth than teaching the new temp how to use the fax machine. :0)

Thank you for your comments though. My interest in Business English was as a result of enjoying TEFL and wanting to combine it with business communications. In business it is not only your language skills that conveys your message.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

The field of "business communication" is a huge area for corporate training. I regularly offer training in negotiating, meeting facilitation, managing global teams, and crosscultural team-building (among other topics).

newtefler · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 80

my point exactly... I may not have a CELTA, however, (and here I run the risk of alienating myself from the whole forum), I feel I am better equipped to teach B.E than someone straight out of uni who does a 6 week CELTA as something to fall back on for their gap year. B.E is more than teaching the language its understanding the etiquette (and the office politics, which obviously differ across cultures!!) and annoying jargon.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Most teaching of "Business English" in the world of TEFL is a farce. It focuses on vocabulary, idioms, and documents that are related to "business" but that's about all. Any TEFL monkey can do it with no training whatsoever.

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

I think Henry C had some very good advice for you. Avoiding TEFL in general is a good idea really. Laughing

I actually enjoyed teaching Business courses more than the slog of teaching writing.

It is good to have the EFL background though because you understand the language issues more. I'd take a look at the certificates he mentioned to expand your options.

VS

newtefler · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 80

I wanna be a TEFL monkey....... just for a short time :0) I love learning about new cultures and think it will give me the opportunity. I did some private classes and I enjoyed them... the conversational side was fascinating... I know I can earn more in the UK teaching business than in TEFL.. I can earn more doing my present role than teaching or many other roles ... I can probably earn more working in McDonalds in the UK than TEFLing abroad (no VS.. training the burger flipper was not the extent of my experience :0) ). The money doesn't motivate me anymore.. I just need to be careful where I go as I still have financial commitments in the UK.