Job Discussion Forums

[kingbee2009]

Hi there,

I am interested in working in the middle east and am wondering where the best place for me is:

I'm early 30's, 2 years TEFL teaching in Italy, mostly to adults in a chain school (in-house and at companies), and also a bit in a local high school.

I have a BA in Business from a UK university, although no teaching qualifications, as I haven't needed them to teach in Italy.

At the moment, I have 3 months before my contract runs out and I'd be essentially homeless with no where to stay, and have read that sorting middle east contracts and visas out usually takes about 3 months.

My main motivation for the middle east is financial, but also to get some more teaching experience.

I would like to earn as much as possible in a year over there, but am also open to sacrificing some money for a markedly better life while there.

Initially I was thinking Saudi Arabia, because the job ads on tefl.com seem to indicate that the pay was better there, but as I'm learning more about working in the middle east, I'm realising it's fairly variable; I've heard that the pay may be better in Qatar or UAE?


Many thanks in advance for any assistance,

kingbee

[veiledsentiments]

If you read down this page, you will find at least three threads with people basically asking a similar question. In summary, the only jobs for people with no qualifications will be survival pay. Generally speaking, the Middle East is where you go once you have all the official bits of paper (at least CELTA, better MA) and a few years of experience.

You might be able to pick up some teaching in language schools in places like Morocco or Cairo, but you really need to get at least a CELTA. There may be some employer in Saudi who would hire you, but they are generally the places that are pretty abusive. Take some time to read about places like Berlitz in Saudi. (try the search)

VS

[kingbee2009]

Hi and thanks vs,

When you talk about "survival pay", I'm sure it's a lot better than what I've been putting up with for 2 years in Italy, which has been a financial disaster!

Some months I've not had enough money for food or the rent, so I don't think Saudi can be anywhere near as bad as that, especially considering accommodation would be included, and basic food is cheap in Saudi (I prepare everything by hand, from scratch, so only need the basic ingredients).

Regarding a CELTA, 2 years in Italy has ruined me, so I don't have 1,500 Euros for it, plus it needs to be done in a big city, thus incurring expensive accommodation fees, as it's not available around here.

Therefore, we're talking thousands of Euros and an unpaid month whilst studying

When you talk about abusive employers in Saudi, I don't think they could get much worse than the chain schools I've been working at here - I've been stabbed in the back and abandoned by one school, and lied to and messed around ridiculously every week by another.........so I'd say almost anything would be a step up from this!!!

I will research Berlitz in Saudi, as you've suggested, thanks - they seem to be the most realistic option for me there.

Is there anywhere else in the Middle East which will take people without a CELTA? (rich countries which pay relatively well, and where I can save some money).

If there is a better option like South Korea or Taiwan, maybe that would work better than the Middle East?

All my students have said I'm a great teacher and I enjoy teaching. I've done Business English in company offices to directors, senior managers, middle managers and lower level managers, and general English to the public in chain schools and at private homes/offices, as well as conversational English lessons at a high school.

Having a CELTA wouldn't improve my skills as a teacher I don't think, it would just be for the piece of paper.

Many thanks and best regards,
kingbee

[Afra]

Why don't you try South Korea? Only a degree is required; no EFL/ESL qualifications and the package often includes housing, etc. You could save for the appropriate qualifications for the Gulf although you wouldn't get the required experience.
Student assessments are not always the most subjective and not much use on a CV, unlike a CELTA. To teach in the Gulf, you also need experience of teaching academic English for international exams such as IELTS or the RSA Cambridge suite.

[kingbee2009]

Hi and thanks Afra,

Maybe you're right and South Korea would be the best option for me right now, at least when considering saving money, and being able to make ends meet better and more reliably.

My wage has changed every month, sometimes wildely, over the last 2 years and it's really starting to do my head in.

This is compared to 10 years working with a stable, regular wage in an office in the UK, so a big difference in stability, and one which is taking its toll.

Regarding academic teaching, what I've been doing at the chain school and the high school is the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Preliminary English Test (PET). It's a basic level, but at least I have some experience of teaching towards an academic goal.....I don't know how useful that would be in a better paid role, but I imagine it can't hurt!!

I have a degree, and 2 years experience, although I'm not sure what you mean about "not getting the required experience" in S.Korea for the Gulf?

If I did a year in S.Korea, I would have 3 years experience in total and could get a CELTA with some of the saved money. I thought 2-3 years was required in the Gulf?


Thanks a lot,

All the best,
kingbee

[veiledsentiments]

Get that CELTA... ASAP. Teaching in the Gulf is different because students needs are different. Asians tend to have larger vocabularies, know grammar backwards and forwards... decent reading and writing... and unable to say a word and great difficulty with understanding spoken English. (I'm speaking in broad generalities, of course) Arab students will talk your arm off and understand spoken speech quite well, but can't write a grammatical sentence or read and comprehend text... with very low vocabularies - in comparison.

So, if you can focus your teaching in Asia to fit in better... that would help. Also test prep for TOEFL or IELTS (not TOEIC so much in the ME).

VS

[scot47]

Without some TEFL certification you will have difficulties in getting ay sort of decent job in the M.E.

Once you have that magic piece of paper - there are still good places to work where you can earn a salary that allows a reasonable lifestyle plus some savings.

[kingbee2009]

Hi and thanks for the info vs, it's interesting to learn about the different abilities of students

Thanks too scot, the only problem is that when you've been living on survival pay for 2 years, without savings, it's not possible to pay a lot of money for a CELTA, especially as it requires a month without pay and staying near the test centre in a big city!

I think really I need to think of an option which doesn't require a CELTA right now, and which I can live ok and save a bit for the CELTA in the future.

Many thanks,
BB

[Afra]

A lot of the nitty-gritty of language teaching in South Korea is done by Japanese, or Korean teachers who do the grammar and the skills. They also do exam prep. so native speakers are left with conversation and teaching children, etc. This is what I mean by not providing the experience you would need in the Gulf where IELTS Academic is king. (The HCT in the UAE changed from PET to IELTS GT a couple of years ago for Diploma level students but I believe that PET is still used in Saudi Arabia.) However, you would be much further along the road to your goal, especially with a CELTA or Trinity.

[kingbee2009]

Hi Afra,

Thanks for the interesting insight, points duly noted!


Best regards,
kingbee

[eclectic]

yes this is right about Korea. I was hired with a BA in English, Masters in Business, 1 year teaching experience in Italy, and no TEFL cert. whatsoever, at 2.2 million per month, flight prepaid from US to Seoul (!), free apt., and 1 month bonus pay (inshAllah) upon completion of contract, and return flight paid out of Korea.

but yes, I am teaching kids from 9-16 years old, about 22.5 classroom hours weekly, no office hrs. required. Oxford University Press books/cassettes, grammar, voc., conversation.

wild screaming cell-phoning text-messaging spoiled brats, who aren't afraid of the "foreign" teacher because I cannot whip their hands with the principal's whipping cane. But I CAN tell the principal who is badly misbehaving, and then SHE will walk into the class, make them put out their palms upward, and whip them crackingly and whincingly good a few times, and they will cry.

And I just stand there thinking...."What the &%^$*&*&*????"

.....but one can save about $1,200 US per month pretty easily.

[veiledsentiments]

err... Yikes...

I guess you were saving even more before the Won tanked.

VS

[wordsmith]

Yes, newbies can go to Korea to earn money and get experience. Just be careful to do your research before you go.