Job Discussion Forums

Soft Machine · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 8

I'm a career ESL teacher with 15+ years experience (mainly in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam), an M.Ed., CELTA, and undergrad degrees in English and Asian Studies. I've been contemplating a move to UAE but have a few questions:

- Aside from Dave's, is there a website that advertises university jobs in UAE?
- I'm married with an infant. Is raising a child in UAE much more of a challenge in terms of medical, schooling, etc. than, say, Korea or China?
- What are average salaries like for ESL teachers with similar backgrounds?
- What was the biggest challenge for you in terms of teaching and living in the ME?

To those who've answered my questions in the KSA and General ME forums, sorry for the similar topic and many thanks for the super info.
Any info on the above quesions would likewise be greatly appreciated.

Tom Le Seelleur · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 242

Hi
http://www.uaeinteract.com/education/collegesetc.asp

Is a good site to start off with - list of schools and the home site gives lots of information about the UAE.

I have kids and raising them is easy as the Middle East is very child friendly. There are some great Kindergardens for kids - check out Jigsaw in Abu Dhabi or Stepping Stones.
Salaries for ESL teachers in the tertiary sector start around 12000 with benefits
Biggest challenge is not spending all the money you earn and not travelling enough while you live in the country.
Teaching is a doddle (easy)
Your wife may or may not like it - if not then move on.
I have taught in Libya, Lebanon and KSA and the UAE is the easiest to live in in the ME. (I have also taught in Spain and the UK) Many people say that Oman is better.
Hope this helps
Tom

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

The best method of finding jobs in the UAE is to go to their websites. The best employers post openings on their site and have you apply through the site. With your creds, I would look at HCT, ZU, AUS, UoS, UAEU, and maybe PI if they are hiring. I would only move beyond that group in desperation for a job. Laughing

A search of this branch should give you tons of information on each of them.

They have the best pay and benefits and the most predictable foibles and aggravations. (which you can read all about on various threads)

VS
(you might want to go in and edit the typo in your thread title - just hit the edit button in the upper right corner of your post)

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject:

Exactly, what is "UAB"? "AUB" would be American University in Beirut, but no one would post on this board for that...so what exactly is "UAB"?

NCTBA

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

i believe it is a typo, meant to be UAE instead.

Soft Machine · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 8

Thanks for the info....great stuff.

UAB is a typo....didn't mean to cause offense.

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

I think it was more confusion than offense. My first thought was to wonder what UAB was. Laughing

There are always new places opening up.

VS

al bidarnd · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 53

IMHO - as a career teacher I'd say coming to the UAE and working in one of the institutions listed by VS in her above post would be a good career move - most schools here give you opportunities to develop professionally, there are conferences galore held by all kinds of SIGs and ESL organizations. I'd also say raising children here might be less challenging than raising them in Korea, Vietnam or Japan - i guess there aren't so many English schools in those places - there are lots of them here, especially in the bigger cities - some of them first rate. Be careful about the smaller cities where schools tend to be more parochial. Again, medical services here are great in the big cities.

Salaries - after a quick surf through this site, you will notice people saying starting salaries can be negotiated from 14k - 15k dirhams a month - more in some places - you seem to have the right credentials and experience.

I like the UAE and i don't find there are many challenges - keeping safe on the roads is my biggest concern, and then it's the rapidly rising prices here, which are far outstripping salaries - probably still better for saving than Korea and Vietnam.

Teaching challenges - i'd say just the settling in period and getting over the initial worry of being sensitive to the students' culture - the students here are great - sometimes a challenge in keeping them focused, but you'd find that in most classrooms around the world. Students keep you on your toes here and i like that.