Job Discussion Forums

warehazm · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 4

I'm a uni student, english major in my last year of studies and I wanted to know which country would be the best to learn arabic while teaching english?

Dont mention Yemen because I think I would have health problems with khat. Sad

But I'd love a country with Yemeni-like friendliness!

Also, I'm middle eastern(persian) would that pose a problem?

Thanks

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

without a degree or experience, you chance of getting a job with a liveable wage is slim - finish the degree first - then think about arabic

warehazm · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 4

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Syria

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

What nationality are you? If you're Iranian you'll have serious problems getting a visa for the Gulf countries.

warehazm · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 4

Im a US citizen, but my ethnicity is Iranian. Has anyone taught in Syria and know what kind of qualifications they look for as well as salary? Thank you

johnslat · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

Dear warehazm,

AH, that's why Dave's has a "Search" function. If you go there, type in "Syria" and pick "General Middle East Forum, you'll find a number of threads on that country, including this one:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=5513&highlight=syria

Oh heck, to save you the trouble, go here:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/search.php?mode=results

Regards,
John

warehazm · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 4

I appreciate your ever so sarcastic and witty post John, however you haven't provided me with any information that I was unaware of. I have read that thread, but I was looking for others to chime in. Thank you

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

Warehazm... you will notice that the thread that he highlighted above covers a number of years and is mostly from Basiltherat, who is our most experienced poster regarding Syria. The problem is that there are not a lot of teachers who come here who have experience in Syria... and there are not a large number of employers.

The best choices for doing some teaching and learning Arabic are the Levant and North Africa with the best countries being Egypt and Syria. In neither of them will you make much money, but the cost of living is lower than somewhere like the Gulf.

The problem is that your complete lack of experience and limited credentials means that finding a job will be difficult and you will make little or no money. I would say that this idea isn't terribly feasible unless you have sufficient funds to support yourself for at least the first year or two... until you can pick up private lessons to bridge the financial gaps.

Is your degree in Education? ESL? If the answer to either of those is no, you should also invest in a CELTA to learn the necessary ESL classroom skills.

VS

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

You joined the forum a week ago, you have four posts to your name, and two of them are sarcastic retorts to replies that didn't warrant sarcastic retorts. If you want help, I suggest that you first do some research into online etiquette. Why should people help you if you are rude to them?

d

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

uaeobserver · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 236

Welcome, warehazm.

I'd recommend that you complete your degree, and then secure a teaching credential (there's lots of avenues to that).

I've found the UAE to be generally hospitable to people of all backgrounds.

Not long ago, I met a guy who taught at Abu Dhabi University, who had Farsi in the family.

My friends in higher education circles included a UAE national who speaks fluent Farsi (his family fleed when the revolution hit -- not sure how he became a national -- but there's lots of similar stories in the UAE).

Just about every other taxi driver in the Emirates speaks Farsi, thanks to the Shiite enclave of Parichinar.

Oman might have some opportunities, although they're a little more picky.

You might want to consider Kurdistan (Erbil has a university), although I have absolutely no idea about how hospitable they'd be toward a Persian.

I'd note that you'll have better options if you secure a master's degree.

Cheers.

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

I went to Egypt as soon as I graduated for the same reason. I did the CELTA (well, this was back in the dark ages so it was called the CTEFLA then) in Cairo, and stayed on.

I would say either Syria or Egypt would fit the bill.

777 · Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 13

I'd recommend Yemen. You do not have to chew qat. You'll easily find a job even without experience.

Deicide · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject:

I was wondering in general how much Arabic one can indeed learn in a non-Egypt/Morroco/Syria environment...?