Job Discussion Forums

[Trevor Wadlow]

I have just seen a teaching job advertised that offers an apartment and 3,000 USD per month. Is this a good wage?

[adorabilly]

Lets see...

what is the minimum credentials where it is teaching?
What grade levels (primary, secondary or tertiary)?
What emirate is it in?
What school is it for?

It really depends on your qualifications and what you are looking to teach for.

At least it wasn't the rip offs that say "earh $4500 USD a month with a bachelors degree" and have you apply to a .tk website...

so who knows??

Unless you provide a bit more information can't help you there.

[Trevor Wadlow]

Fair enough. I found the ad on the International Board here. It's in Abu Dhabi. They require a native speaker with a degree, Celta/Tesol and three years experience.

I look forward to your advice.

[Trevor Wadlow]

I omitted the following: 40 hour week (to include teaching and preparation). The place is called The Institute of Continuing Studies and caters for Business English Students and job seekers.

The only odd thing is that the ad does not mention how ling the contract is for or the start date.

Again, I look forward to your advice.

[veiledsentiments]

This is Abu Dhabi University. Do a search for ADU or the full name and you will see how dire their reputation is. The reason that it doesn't give a time limit is that they have been offering 3-6-9 & 12 month contracts because they can not get or keep teachers. It is the only university that offers less than a 2-3 year contract, just as it is the only university that requires you to be in shared housing (in large villas with your own bed/bath - shared rest of the place with X number of other teachers.

I'd say that the job is yours as long as you can stand shared housing. They are also hiring pretty much anyone... which mean your flat mates may be... eccentric... and not always in an amusing way.

There have not been any posts here for awhile from ADU teachers, so the situation may have improved, but without any proof to the contrary, it must be considered a bottom tier entry level job in the Gulf. The pay is acceptable as they are taking minimal credentials. The money is OK as your only expenses will be food, entertainment, and taxi fares/car rental. Unless you spend every night in the clubs and are a heavy boozer, you should be able to save half of that salary.

VS

[uaeobserver]

Lifestyle by monthly salary (UAE)

4,000 AED/month: It appears that you breathe, and appear human

5,000 AED/month: You can breathe, and possibly think ---

8,000 AED/month: You can breathe, likely think. Hopefully you haven't reproduced ---- it's hard to live on this much a month.

10,000 AED/month: You can breathe, and have a credential that testifies to this fact.

12,000 AED/month: You have a credential, can breathe, and appear to have some reasonable command of the English language.

15,000 AED/month: You have some chance of living the lifestyle, and may have progressed beyond merely breathing --- you likely enjoy the fact that you breathe.

18,000/month: You most likely breathe and talk with a patronizing nasal voice. You savor the fact that you breathe, and often discuss the fact that the uneducated masses don't appreciate the fact that your breath is much better than theirs.

20,000/month: You don't breathe as much --- too much time being spent holding your breath, as you are by now losing your temper daily. When the air gets too stuffy, you jet off to London for a professional conference.

[Trevor Wadlow]

Thanks very much for what sounds like very sound advice. I am new to the UAE board. I spent last year in China (with a flimsy teaching qualification). I am now in London and have just completed a Trinity TESOL course. The situation here is dire, unless you can get a job in the state system. I have been advised to try and get a job in the UAE.

By the way, I liked the point about 'eccentric' people. In China I visited a nearby city and met such people. 'Dysfunctional' is a better description.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'll just keep scouting about!

[veiledsentiments]

You may want to expand your search to the rest of the Gulf countries. (Oman, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait) Because you are quite new to EFL and totally new to the Middle East, that first job can be a difficult one to get. Your pay won't go much over that $3000 a month number until your CV has a bit more meat to it.

One thing ADU does offer is that first chance for a job and experience in the area and with Arabic speakers. You can take a short term contract with them and use your spare time to look for something better. You just need a high tolerance level and lots of patience.

VS
(I've always considered those "eccentrics" as fodder for the retirement novel. )

[MissMao]

Just to let you know, ADU doesn't offer 2, 3 or 6 months contracts anymore. They have moved on to an unlimited contract which is based on a year contract. They haven't offered the short term ones for months and months.

[veiledsentiments]

[harryhutton]

[veiledsentiments]

My... aren't we touchy? You'd think that you were in management there or something. The facts are that this is about the only "university" in the Gulf that has this limited contract structure, requires shared housing, doesn't hire married (unless both are teachers) and doesn't require MAs. It calls itself a university, but has the hiring structure and employment conditions of a language school.

If you note above, I only recommend it for beginners to the field who are not yet able to get jobs at the better employers. Beginners are always a risk as some may be creative and dynamic... and others will not... mixed with the experienced ones that no one else will hire because of previous problems at other employers. (see previous threads...)

It is never "childish" to be realistic and honest to possible applicants.

VS

[harryhutton]

[veiledsentiments]

And which "inaccuracies" are you referring to... other than they are finally getting teachers to stay beyond the 3/6/9 month contracts?

Are they not still hiring mostly inexperienced teachers and providing language school pay and benefits? How do they expect to keep the talented teachers they may get? Why would any of them stay?

VS
(and what is the relevance to this topic of your "dissing" the current teachers of HCT or ZU? Especially since they all have your coveted CELTA/DELTA or an MA? It doesn't much support your position.)

[harryhutton]

My... aren't we touchy?