Job Discussion Forums

misspotae · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Seoul

I'm sure this is isn't the first time this question has been asked but I've got a five minute break before my next class and am dying to hear from other single women who have ventured to the Middle East... I'm a 31 yr old, white Canadian (in case that matters) and am fascinated by culture in general and, for his reason, by the very polar (to Canada) culture(s?) of the ME. The only concern I have is what to expect as a female alone in the ME? Having to be culturally sensitive and modest is not an issue for me... Safety and work opportunities/conditions are. Any women out there who have or are living in the ME I would love to hear about your experiences and whether or not you think this could be a safe and worthwhile cultural adventure!!
Thanks

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

There's been lots of info on this topic in the past 2-3 months. Use the search function at the top of the boards to check for specific countries/areas you're interested in when you have more time. If you have specific questions that aren't answered in the previous posts - please ask them.

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

middleastman · Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 73

Hi there,

The middle-east covers quite a large geographical area so if you could give more specific info on the countries you are thinking about Im sure people's answers would give you more valuble information. Its not a complaint- just a thought.

misspotae · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Seoul

Sorry... sometimes my excitement leads to impatience ; ) !! I have read further now and am still unclear about a few things...
As a teacher with only a BA in psyc, 2 yrs exp'c in Korea and a CELTA which country would provide the best opportunities for work and paying debts? I can live pretty frugally but I do have to consider my creditors.
I guess as far as safety is concerned I was wondering if there are any places in the ME that people would say "definitely avoid" to?? I can live with having to be physically modest and behaviourally sensitive but I am not keen on having to worry about being threatened physically (or worried about it) on a regular basis... (though am certainly not a person prone to paranoia!).
Forgive me, for I am an absolute virgin to the ME and its various cultures!!

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject:

misspotae · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Seoul

LOL! Thanks Cleopatra... I guess "interesting"-expats occur world over!!
It sounds like the best bet for me might be to hold off for a year or two and try to get an MEd... I wonder if anyone has done an online Masters and if this would be a respected qualification in most ME countries?? (and is MEd the best choice or should I look at MA in TESOL for the ME?)... I've tried googling online Master's courses but it's impossible to get a good idea of quality from the links. Would love any first-hand info!

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

Regarding the acceptability of online degrees in the Gulf, I suggest you do a search on Dave's. Some employers/countries accept them, but some do not. This may change over time, but it is still a factor to take into account if you are doing a degree with the aim of working in one of the Gulf countries.

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

I was just about to post my answer when I saw that Cleo had beat me to it. Cool

Definitely get that MA and if you want to stay in TEFL, get it in TEFL/TESOL/Applied Linguistics.

I'll have to let someone else discuss online degrees. Most of the people that I know that have done them used unis in the UK or Australia. But I assume that there are some in Canada and the US. (the US definitely leans towards on campus MAs though)

And in the meantime, try to get experience on your CV that is relevant to what the employers want... academic English... especially reading and writing.

VS

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

I got an online MS Ed in Language Ed from Indiana University-Bloomington in 2006 (NAYY). Overall I liked it and it has certainly been integral to me finding work. Here's the distance ed link:

http://site.educ.indiana.edu/Default.aspx?alias=site.educ.indiana.edu/langdist

That being said, I got it after my first uni job and they hired me from on the basis of a f2f MA in Archaeology (!). US tuition is high though, but most e-degrees in the States don't charge anything different for resident and non-resident (including foreign) students. I liked their program because it offers a graduate certificate option, so if you take a few classes and end up dropping out you still leave with a piece of paper. I'd advise a program with a midpoint certificate of some sort--especially an online program as they traditionally have high dropout because the students who study online are busy, period.

misspotae · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Seoul

Thanks for all the tips everyone... I've decided that I will hold off on the ME for a couple years in order to do my MA and will probably go back to Canada to do it in-class (and save on international student fees!). I gather that for recognition world-wide it is better to have an on-campus Masters so will have to rein-in the traveller in me for a year or two... oh well.
Thanks again all!!

pat blake · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 31 Location: Kuwait

I really hate to be a spoilsport but unless you absolutely love ESL and can't think of teaching anything else or doing anything else, then I would suggest getting an MA in another field. There are so many ESL teachers worldwide (native and non-native speakers alike) that it is difficult to get premium jobs. A lot of us get stuck overseas in places we don't really want to be in our 40s and 50s and even 60s because it is hard to get jobs at home. And sometimes that career change, doctorate, etc. that you want to do at 40 isn't possible when you have bills and other responsibilities.

If you just want to teach ESL so that you can travel, it really isn't worth it. However, if you really like the field, get an M.A. and be really good at it so you can compete with the other thousands and thousands looking for jobs...

nomel · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Just get your MA and then you can travel. If you don't like it have a career change. Don't be daunted and get outta Seoul!

margaurina · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 14

No probs in most places but you need to set your boundaries. I was followed a bit at first, but they got over it. At university, there was no problem. You make friends, youy mix with them, you don't catch cabs at night, you don't go to unsavoury places at night. No different to anywhere else is it. I got chatted up in shopping centres, by people who just wanted to talk. Arabs are quite charming, but you need to state exactly who you are and where to draw the line.