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[redeyes]

Hello all, esp. Veiled sentiments, Scot47,Qatarchic,Cleopatra and others who gave me first class sterling advice when I briefly posted on these boards some years ago.

I�d like to make some general enquiries about working in the ME �


I don�t drive. Is that a problem in most ME/Gulf countries?

( edited by redeyes )

[veiledsentiments]

Hello again

Not driving would be a problem for much of the Gulf. Saudi is the place that is easiest for non-drivers because most places will bus their employees to their sites. Scot and other can tell you more about Saudi transport. The rest of the Gulf tends to only provide an employee bus if you are teaching far from where the housing is located. (like a remote military establishment). Thus you are stuck with taxis and that can be costly. Bus systems tend to be very limited... making it perhaps impossible to get from flat to college.

As to lifestyle, Saudi and Kuwait don't offer booze, but the other countries do - if that matters.

I think your credentials should get you an interview in most places. Your experience should help overcome the fact that your MA isn't directly related. Writing teachers are one of the greater needs and if you have taught Arabic speakers that would be a plus. I think that your creds look like a good fit with HCT, ZU, AUS, and probably UAEU in the Emirates... perhaps QU in Qatar... SQU in Oman.

In your CV, I would emphasize your teaching of writing at all levels because for Arabic speakers this is their most difficult skill to master.

VS

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[Cleopatra]

Regarding the MA, it very much depends. As others have said, some institutions really do mean it when they say they require a relevant MA: I applied to a well-known university in the Gulf, and even though I had worked in the region before and my application was initially received favourably, I was turned down because I had not yet completed my MA. This, despite the fact that my MA (in Applied Linguistics) would indeed have been completed by the time I had taken up employment with them, and I had a letter from my Professor vouching for me. Such decisions are usually taken by local HR - who can be real sticklers for paperwork - than by expat department heads, who tend to be a bit more flexible in such matters.

That said, if you have good experience, as you do, then some places might be prepared to take you, even if in theory they 'require' MAs. This is certainly true for some employers in KSA, although a few of them might demand that you begin work on an MA during your first year of employment. Anyway, can't hurt to send off your CV to a few places.

Regarding driving, some people will tell you that you can't survive without a car here, but they are probably the same people who would tell you that anywhere in the world. As someone who has no choice but to live without a car - I'm a woman living in KSA - I would say that while a car would certainly make your life easier, it's by no means a necessity. Of course, I am only speaking about the city I know - Riyadh. Public transport isn't really an option here, but taxis are cheap and easy to find. Of course, if you're using them on a daily basis it could get expensive, but if you have transport to work and only need taxis for an occasional shopping trip or social event, there's really no absolute need for your own car.

[redeyes]

Many thanks to all of you for your time in commenting --

As far as Universities go, is it a fairly similar teaching scenario in Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar as regards pay scales and employers academic requirements? I hate to generalize regarding countries -- but it's worth asking since culturally and geographically, these countries are (I imagine) at least to a degree, fairly homogeneous/close.

[Cleopatra]

I've never heard of any employer having a limit on the number of years a teacher can stay with them. Quite the opposite: because many people come to this part of the world to make some fast money and move on, employers actively encourage good staff to stay on as long as possible. In fact, in some Gulf countries, problems can arise when you wish to move from one employer to another in the same country, and are unable to do so because your previous employer will not provide the paperwork which is legally required to make such a move.

Regarding accommodation, I've always found it to be one of the perks of life here. Sure, you'll hear people complain, but when you compare the average teacher's apartment here to the ones they typically have to endure in the Far East or Europe, it puts it all in a different perspective. Apartments are typically modern and very spacious, although maintenance, as often in this part of the world, is not a strong point. Obviously this is a generalisation, and standards of accommodation vary from one place to the next.

[redeyes]

Cleopatra , thanks very much for your reply -- very much appreciated.



Thanks for the information -- it is encouraging that Unis want their workers to stay on, and that they ( presumably) appreciate serious and committed teachers.

[Cleopatra]

[007]

[mandalayroad]

That's so odd that Korean law demands that teachers move on after two years. That just seems to make no sense and I've never heard of a rule like that anywhere else in the world. Why on earth would the Korean authorities pass such a law?
I've studied Korean and Arabic, and Arabic is way, way harder.

[redeyes]

deleted by redeyes

[veiledsentiments]

Age starts to become an issue once one gets to 55. Some employers in the Gulf cut off there... I heard of one where it is 57 (?)... and some won't hire anyone 60+. But, I have also heard of people over 60, with years of Gulf experience, who were hired with another Gulf employer.

The only Middle East employer that I have ever heard of restricting the number of years of employment was in Egypt... and it was because people came and never wanted to leave. It started to be a problem with Egyptian labor law and tenure rules. Heaven forbid a mere TEFL teacher getting tenure!! That said, the limit is 8 years I believe (4 contracts).

As to nationality, some employers have a preference, but few completely limit hiring to only one. Some employers prefer Brits... some North Americans, but hiring reality means that most places are a mix of every group of native speaker with usually a few non-natives.

Compensation varies with Saudi and the Emirates - and lately Qatar - being at the top of the scale. Next is likely Kuwait. Bahrain and Oman with their very limited oil/gas reserves are at the bottom. The housing provided ranges similarly, from acceptable to rather luxurious (especially when one compares it to the average lifestyle of an ESL teacher in the US where you really are very close to the bottom of the food chain).

If I were you, I would hit the websites of some of the places mentioned here - apply - and see what kind of responses you get. They have all been interviewing at TESOL Arabia, and TESOL in the US at this very moment. Of course, if you are not interested in an Aug/Sept start, you might want to wait until August to apply... when they will know in what areas they are missing teachers... for a Jan/Feb start.

VS

[scot47]

Living without a car in KSA is quite possible, at least with some employers.
At the place where I teach about 40 of 100 faculty live without a car. Taxis, buses, bikes.motorbikes. Some people scrounge lifts and make themselves unpopular. The more profligate, such as this writer, zoom around in taxis.

[sliderama]

that law is not heavily enforced, i teach at pusan national u., and we have one guy been there 10 years, many 6 or 7 and myself 3.

but i am so outta here (korea i mean) cuz the govt is making every teacher in the country submit a criminal record check from your home country, apostled (?)/notorized degrees, as well as an HIV and medical test, all at the teachers' expense, even if renewing a contract. I figure it will cost me about $500 (if i include my visa costs for me, wife, and daughter). Korea is a very xenophobic country, but then I found Japan, China and Vietnam to be the same. One country that isn't xenophonbic is the Philippines, my wife is from there, but they have a long list of other problems...

Hopefully i will land one of the current offers-in-the-making from Oman...

[redeyes]

deleted by redeyes