Job Discussion Forums

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

I wanted to get comments from all of you about the possibility of working with a BA and 4 years teaching experience in Japan. I started in primary and secondary schools and private language companies, and now teach business English. Any feedback is appreciated.

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

Hey there...welcome to the forum!

Scroll down in the list of topics to the "Is a Master's Really Worth It?" thread...I think you'll find it will answer your question nicely Smile

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

Thanks Mish;

I'm workin' on it Smile

!

Smedini

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

Do you have a teaching qualification? There are a growing number of institutes vocational centres and schools who are deparate for teachers and my well look to your experience as enough while you get better qualified. The University of Sunderland runs a PGCE out of Dubai on a part time basis and many of my colleagues had jobs (BA + experience) while studying and then secured much better jobs after becoming qualified. There is a lot of misinformation about the need to have an MA in order to secure jobs in the UAE - most of the Universities expect an MA but many will consider people with less if they agree to become better qualified e.g. HCT.
You don't need an MA to have the best jobs here. Many of them are secured through reputation, word of mouth and sheer fluke for being in the right place. These tend to involve teaching government employees, working in the oil industry or being the sole teacher for financial institutions.
Tom

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

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

The PGCE 2006 students did not work at Choueifat/Sabis schools and very few of them were sponsored spouses. 90% of them were independent or single. Those who already worked in schools worked for Gems and other places - they were aiming to work for the better paid schools like Al Khubarat (two teachers got appointed), American Community, Dubai College, Al Rhada, Al Rashid etc... others were looking to leave the UAE and get into good schools in other countries. The PGCE opens a lot of doors. The OP has experience in primary and secondary.
There was a report in the new newspaper The National yesterday that said schools in Dubai are already full and that they will need to take on many extra staff for next academic year.

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

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

Here are some useful inks to information on schools and institutes

http://www.adec.ac.ae/en/careers

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

http://www.beacon.ae/

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Tom, Do you know of any schools (k-12) that are specifically hiring non-qualified teachers on expat contracts? It's never been a great market, but I am told that it's getting harder and harder for the non-qualified to find these jobs.

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

To the OP:

If you're considering heading to the UAE and working in a language institute, consider this: Dave Sperling, who runs this site of course and who has been in the UAE since 1991, says in his "Sticky: still here after all these years" message at the top of the UAE forum:

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

Now we can tell you are a newbie... and you didn't read the sticky to the end. Laughing

That is an entry from another teacher - who may or may not still be in the Gulf - and that was her opinion. It is signed with her initials. Dave has posted a few entries like this around the board with other teacher's experiences.

Dave has never taught in the Middle East nor lived in the ME - though I did meet him when he was presenting at a TESOL Arabia conference back in the late '90s. He taught in Asia for some years and is now in California.

VS

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

I've worked in one language institute and applied in person to many w/in the UAE. My advice to anyone: Don't do it. They tend to offer a lump sum for your monthly salary, and from that you are expected to sort out accommodation. I couldn't make ends meets on the salaries offered even before this housing crisis.

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

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

Try the British Council
Good 'language institute' provides a pay structure, workwide locations, benefits package, professionalism etc.. they also need people for the Middle East. Having worked for them on a part time basis in Abu Dhabi from 2003 - 2007 they were well managed with a mixture of teachers and experiences. The students they got ranged from Young Learners to Adults, IELTS, Business and ESP.
Tom