Job Discussion Forums

[tj]

Hi Folks!!!

Just wondering how much experience is needed for work in Oman and the Gulf and Middle east???

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Tj

Did Majan fall through?

The experience question tends to differ by place - and - what they can get. When I went to SQU many years ago, they required an MA plus one year - while the technical college required an MA plus 2 years. Doesn't make sense, does it. Now SQU will take BAs with CELTA and experience, but I don't know how many years they require. The new private colleges seem to be getting enough teachers with experience, so that their requirements haven't lowered much yet.

Hopefully someone can come on here and give you more specific information. In most cases, it may very well be that the less experience you have, the lower your chance of getting an offer. Which certainly makes sense if you look at it as an employer.

This has always been the situation in the Gulf and getting that first job was often difficult. In the past, Kuwait University used to be the place that would hire all the newbies and give them that foot in the door, but now they have raised their requirements.

The UAE tends to have the strongest requirements since they have some of the highest salaries these days.

Good Luck tj

VS

[kaw]

Hiya
I agree with VS it all depends on the individual institution. There are private colleges in Oman which will take on people with very little experience and online TEFL courses (like SUC) but most require a couple of years at least. With Omani students especially the more experience you have the better - experience in "crowd control" is probably more useful than classroom experience
As for the UAE - it seems that unless you have a masters and several years experience then you have no chance - (apologies if this isn't the case but it seems to be what places are looking for). Some of the language institutions require less but do pay lower salaries. For example "Score-plus" an American Franchise only want 2 years experience but pay practically nothing.
Hopefully someone will be able to come along and tell you something more promising but ..........don't hold your breath.

Haven't Majan got back in touch with you? They phoned me the other week to ask if I was still interested - I am - but looks doubtful I'll get the much needed release letter.

Oh well....................such is the tefl life (especially in Oman).

[tj]

Hi VS and KAW

Thanks for your replies.

I heard from majan again about 2 weeks ago, was offered the job, accepted and was preparing my visa documents,certificates,etc when i received an email to say that there's no way the ministry would accept me without 3yrs experience. Obviously i feel really gutted!!!!!
I had an intrest from a few colleges in Oman, MECIT and SUC. Isn't it the same ministry they all deal with and do ministry rules change depending on who they're dealing with????
For now i'm stuck here, which isn't too bad cos my employer and colleagues have supported me right form the word go. Pursuing my dreams of working abroad will have to wait till i regain the energy to go through such a proceess again...........................

TJ

[veiledsentiments]

Hi tj,

Sorry to hear you are having this problem, but again, I can't say that it surprised me. (unfortunately) This type of strange ruling coming down from Ministry offices is not uncommon. I'd be willing to bet that this is the first time that the college knew of this rule too. Perhaps it had just been luck that they had never had a new teacher coming with less than the required experience. It sometimes seems that they make up rules as they go along. (and Oman is so very organized and sensible when compared with other Gulf bureaucracies...) My suspicion - purely a guess on my part - is that with all these new private colleges, the government is trying to be sure that there are experienced teachers.

It may be that your only option is to get 3 years experience under your belt and then start searching again. I had to delay my going to Oman by a year in order to get the year's experience required by SQU after finishing my MA (back in the 80's).

Sometimes you just have to do whatever is necessary. Sorry I don't have a quick fix for this one.

VS

[tj]

Hi VS

Thanks for sharing your experience.

It' s been about a week this all fell through so i'm getting over it and moving on. Didn't really want to mention it as i didn't want to appear to be slagging off the college - just wanted to find some sort of understainding to how and why things happened, but i guess my question gave it away. and since you and Kaw asked specifically i had to pour.....

Good to get it all out though and hear the other side. I understand that there's no quick fix for the situation, but 3 years is along time to wait. i'm going to stay put for a while and maybe consider other countries if anything comes up.

TJ

[kaw]

Hiya tj
I haven't heard anything about the 3 years experience ruling - obviously some new thing recently brought in. I know people over here that have only had experience of teaching summer school in the UK, there are even some that have never qualified as EFL teachers or had EFL experience
It's be interesting to hear from anyone that knows more about this.

Keep smiling

[veiledsentiments]

tj

I suppose that three years seems like a long time, but there are other interesting countries where you can go to teach. It is always disappointing not to get one's first choices. If I had gone into this field when I was younger, I would have tried to cover more of the world. The Middle East seems to have many older teachers (like me) and they are using their years of experience to get the jobs that allow them to add to their retirement funds.

Have you considered places like Morocco or Egypt? Pay is not as good, of course. Mostly language schools that pay you enough to live on, but little more. And of course, the Far East is full of jobs.

Your current job sounds fine while you think things over. Be positive. Let us know if we can be of any more help.

VS

[tj]

Hi There

Yepo 3 yrs seems like a long time.......everything might just change in a tick and now seemed to be the best time for me to be out touring the world, but it wasn't meant to be just this time.

My current job is excellent but as winter creeps up on us here, not getting to Oman seems even harder to take. I've decided to apply for MA so that'll keep me busy for a couple of years i guess.

I haven't been totally put off - i'm still looking...at vacancies that arise and bombarding everyone that seems ok with my cv. Morroco and Egypt sounds great but maybe a little unstable politically?????

I've been applying for a summer school at ili in Cairo 2 yrs on the trot but never get a look in ...................

Sure my opp will come some day. If you know of any places i can try then please let me know

Thanks

Tj

[veiledsentiments]

Hi tj

I think getting an MA is a great idea. If your goal is the ME, then an MA is imperative for the best positions - well at least the best pay.

I don't really think of either Cairo or Morocco as unstable, but I suppose this is thinking in relative terms. The only disadvantage of Morocco to me is that you really need to know French for everyday life and the only disadvantage to Cairo is the pollution. But that is just my opinion.

As to summer jobs in Cairo, I would venture a guess that they easily fill any positions with walk-ins - so no need to import teachers. Another one to try is British Council.

I know what you mean by the creeping up of winter. I think longingly of the gorgeous winter temps of Muscat - sunny and in the mid 20's - while I shiver here in the mid-minus 20's.

VS

[kaw]

Hiya tj
Just a quickie before I go back to class. I don't kow anything about either Morocco or Egypt. I visited Cairo in Feb - and it can be pretty chilly - especially after the weather here in Oman. Turkey is a pretty good place to work - as long as you get the right school (Interlang in Istanbul is one of the better places to be). Ok so the salary isn't great but you get enough to have a pretty good lifestyle there. The fact that the men are gorgeous (or a lot of them anyway) does also help. The students on the whole are motivated - they all know that to get a half way decent job they need good English. Private work is always easy to come by as well. The main downside can be the weather - winter is pretty much like it is in England and a lot of other places I guess - rain, wind and pretty cold - we actually had snow the last winter I was there - a week off work though wasn't too bad.
I agree with VS - a Masters is a necessity in the ME. I'm doing mine by distance learning as spending a year plus back in the UK really doesn't appeal to me.
Am dreading going "home" in a couple of weeks - rain after a year of none - yuk.

Keep us posted with what's happening.

K

[tj]

Hi Kaw

It's funny you should mention Turkey, i've just been looking at vacancies there. People have been telling me to try Europe as they do not demand so many years of experience compared to other places.

The only thing is i'm a practising Muslim and from what i hear about even the school kids not allowed to do this, the concept of a teacher who chooses to do this may be even more difficult to swallow.

A friend of mine mentioned that Syria is crying out for Native English speakers and the ministry there isn't too bothered about years of exp so i may try there.

Anyway, how did you get on with your interview in UAE???? any luck with the realease letter? My boss was telling me when she left jordan after her 3yr contract she had to get 22 signatures, in the right order before she could leave the country - what a nightmare!!!

Tj

[veiledsentiments]

tj

Both Turkey and Syria could be possible teaching places without an MA, but I would still do it now if you have a current job in the UK that will allow you financially to complete it. It will be a major investment in your future employability.

The infamous sign out procedures vary greatly by country and institution that you work for. Kuwait is famous for being the most horrendous in this area - it takes weeks and the driving of uncountable kilometers - not to mention the affect on your nerves and stomach lining. It is why so many people abscond there rather than even bother to be legal.

In Oman, SQU has a long list of signatures to get, but they are all on the same campus and the only problem is that you may have to go more than once to find the person with the 'stamp.' When I left one of the smaller private colleges, there was nothing more than an inspection of the flat and a couple stops between classes with people in the 1st floor admin offices. Nothing to it.

It is best to think of it as a 'cultural experience.'

VS

[tj]

Hi all

Has anyone noticed the ad placed by SUC on tefl.com. It asks for 2yrs experience. I wonder if they know of the MoHE 3yrs experience requirement or is a case of when desperation hit in - anyone will do?

TJ

[kaw]

Hi Tj

Have no idea if SUC know of the 3 year ruling or not - I doubt it. Deesperation is probably a key factor anyway. Things are very very very bad now. The new dean resigned - he was one of the "good guys" those that are corrupt and dishonest stay behind and cause havoc.
I know you wanted to work over here but please please - do not even think about SUC. If you want a relistic picture - read what has been written on the job info page - the last message is so so true.

I'm leaving Oman on Thursday so all of you who are still around - I am very jealous. Maybe I'll be back - after my 2 years have passed.