Job Discussion Forums

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

Ah, yes, it's that time of year again. The TESOL Arabia annual conference takes place at Dubai's JW Mariott from 15 March. What are you looking forward to? Keynote speakers? Buddies on the podium? Maybe your own presentation? Hob-nobbing or dodging the rest of TESOLworld? Finding the one that got away at the Job Fair? Do tell.

bcnbound · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Europe

I have been to the last two and will also be going this year. Looking forward to Thornbury- he always gives good presentations....ah yes, TESOL Arabia always promises some form of entertainment whether it's employees dodging their current employers whilst looking for a new job at the job fair or candidates convincing recruiters that their Phd isn't fake and bought off the net....as for romance, I have seen a few who end up using it almost as a speed dating like venue with other TEFLrs Laughing

Miss Boo · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 14

It's a day when the TEFLifers gather and make an attempt to convince themselves, and anyone who will listen, that TEFL is indeed a real profession.

To be avoided at all costs, register and proceed to the nearest pub

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

Miss Boo, you hit the proverbial nail right on the head: I dearly need to be convinced that this TESOL business (aka the boulevard of broken dreams) "is, in fact, a true profession" - as you so astutely surmised.

And BCNB, I take the tip on Thornbury, but speed dating (or any dating) with TEFLers sounds every bit like Hell to me. Shocked

Laaaalaaalaaalaaalaaa, professional inbreeding is probably not a very good idea (especially financially, alas!).

But thanks for both your views, and keep 'em coming. While I squeeze the old tongue ever more firmly in its cheek.

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

I've only ever been once but found the job fair useful for the low down on other places of work in the region.

Speed dating? Laughing

That's a first

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

Seriously, does anyone go to TESOL for the 'presentations'?

As opposed to the networking, job hunting and, um, 'speed dating'?

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:53 pm Post subject:

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

I thought you might be ...

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

Then there are the employers who make it known that if you know what's good for you, you better think something up to present... for the glory of your institution...

VS

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

Hmmm, I must say the prospect of sitting through even the most mind-and-bumnumbing presentation still seems scintillating next to even a speed date with most TEFLers...
Who is actually presenting? I've been told that some of the UK-based doctoral programs presented in the UAE have set at least one publication and one presentation as requirements for the PhD. This is probably a sensible arrangement, considering that these candidates might actually have something fresh to offer, and they account for a few of the speakers.
The quality (or lack thereof) of both information and presentations at local conferences has rather shocked me. But how will it improve if all the great minds who think alike on this thread are not delivering our own presentations? I'm sure most of us are certain we can do better than many of the past speakers?
Or should we just scrap the conference and turn TESOLArabia into a job-hunting, speed-dating bacchanale?

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject:

stoth1972 · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

I attended the job fair and conference in 2003 and 2004. Found the job fair to be extremely unorganised (think we had a thread about it) and the variety of employers was, well, not varied. Would enjoy Scott Thornbury, though, if I were going this year. I think you can come across some decent presentations, and they're not always the plenary speakers.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I actually do enjoy conferences. A friend this weekend said 'dmb, you talk sh*t, so you enjoy listening to it' I still bought him a beer when it was my round so I guess he was correct.

colt · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Milky Way

Miss Boo, you are 100% right. For years supervisors have been telling me to get an MA in TEFL. Yeah right, what a joke! If I were to spend the effort and money on a masters, it sure wouldn't be in TEFL. More likely in Geosciences or Meteorology and Climentology. Or some other hard science.

Tesol conferences are something like the presentation of the Emperors New Clothes. Everyone sitting there saying: "Oh yes that's right, that's good. Give me a break!

Get a life!