Job Discussion Forums

princessleia · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 3 Location: kuwait

This is a request for information & advice from all those experienced & knowledgeable teachers of the Middle East.

First I will give some background information: I have 3 years of high school English teaching experience in the Gulf region. I am a native English speaker and all my degrees were undertaken on campus in a Western country (B.A. English & B.Teach English and ESL & M.A. TESOL). I am looking to move away from secondary school teaching to tertiary level, but until now have not been offered anything worth taking. Part of the reason for the lack of offers may be due to the fact that I have been very selective in applying to certain institutes as I only wish to teach females. I also wear a conservative style hejab, which I feel, although cannot be sure, has caused some universities/colleges to turn me away after the first interview. I am hoping to find something for the 2010-2011 academic year in either Kuwait or Qatar. I also intend on going to the TESOL Arabia conference in Dubai to further check out my options.

What advice can anyone give me about where to apply and what approach I should use in applying � visit the college/uni, send an email or both? Good job websites to go through? I am fairly familiar with the colleges & universities in Kuwait, but not in Qatar � it seems QU could be an option. Also, as I have a teenager, I am hoping an educational allowance would be a part of the employment package (this is a hope not an expectation).

Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated Very Happy

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Try Qatar Petroleum...seems to be a lot of jobs available there as a result of some major 'cleansing'.

Also try the "University of The North Atlantic-Qatar"

Oops...male students...sorry.

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

boxhill college of kuwait
bhck.edu.kw

there's also at least one female only university in saudi , may be worth your peek

millie18 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 185

Unless you have a Canadian passport, you can look elsewhere than College of the North Atlantic.

QU is the only institution that might offer female only classes at the tertiary level. All the US universities would be co-ed except by fluke.

Manuel Geere · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: QP

princessleia · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 3 Location: kuwait

Thanks for the quick replies. I applied at Box Hill last year and received an alarming response, especially considering my curriculum training, but I won't get into that here. So far it seems QU and QP are possible options in Qatar, but how to go about applying??? Website? TESOL Arabia? I might be visiting Qatar in the winter break � should I try to make an appointment? The Language Center at KU also seems to be an option if only they'd advertise. Again thanks, the advice has been very helpful.

princessleia · Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Posts: 3 Location: kuwait

oh yes, and it seems in my situation saudi might be the most suitable place to apply, but for personal reasons i am unable to go there. qatar and kuwait are my only real options at the moment.

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Have you given Oman a look?

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

In Oman, there is only one all female university and that is Mazoon College. They have a website. I suspect that QP has no women students... as I have only heard of men teaching there... at least only men have shown up here, so that leaves QU as your only real option in Qatar.

I suspect that most of your opportunities would be in Saudi. The UAE has a number of employers for women only, UAEU, HCT, ZU, and UoS. UAEU and UoSharjah would probably be the most accepting of very conservative hijab.

I believe that all of these would provide school fees as part of the benefits package, but I am least sure of Mazoon in Oman.

VS

desert date · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 67 Location: Australia

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

The better tertiary employers in UAE, Oman & Qatar generally pay better and provide better benefits (i.e. housing, education allowances, medical etc.) which secondary schools may or may not provide.

The housing can be a big issue too - sorry I won't share my accomodation (personal preference).

That said there are tertiary employers who are stingy with salary and benefits too. The trick is to do a lot of research and find what is the best package available for your quals and if it's a place you think you would be happy working at.

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

princessleia,

I know this is on the other end of the educational spectrum you were considering; but it is all girls, pays well and is North American operated...if that makes a difference.
www.itsacademic.ca

Look for the job at the girls school in Jeddah. Other jobs are advertised as well.