Job Discussion Forums

[kierith]

I tried the search function before posting but all it gave me was a blank white screen. I got an email announcement about this company and looked at their website it seems on the surface to be a solid company. I'm thinking of applying with them but I'd like some more information. has anyone heard of this company? Anyone worked with them?

I also have a general question what is the average monthly salary in UAE? I've seen a couple of announcements and a few posts here that have some very extreme differences. Some of the announcements say 30-36K USD a year and another one said 12-16K AED a year (which when I converted was only about 3-4K USD <---I think/hope that was a typo and was actually supposed to be per month not a year). Can anyone give me a basic a guide?

Thanks.

[veiledsentiments]

I've never heard about any diplomatic related teaching in the Gulf. I have never seen it come up on this board.

To answer your question about salary, it all depends on your educational credentials and experience. To get the highest pay at university level, you need an MA in ESL/EFL or Applied Linguistics and at least 3 years of related experience. In the best international schools, you need teacher certification from your home country plus experience.

There isn't much work for the unqualified in the UAE.

VS

[kierith]

I hoped I'd be able to find more information or someone that has heard of the company over there. Their website is all about the US campuses but it doesn't mention their overseas aspects.

As for my credentials: MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction), BA in Linguistics, 4 years experience in Korea elementary to adults (including TOEIC prep classes), 3 years at an American Junior college working with adults in a one-on-one setting, several years as a private tutor working with middle and high school students. I'm not sure how it'll stack up against others but it does allow me to be at the top of the pay scale for the GEPIK program here in Korea.

[veiledsentiments]

From the website, it seems that DLS courses are mostly (or only?) taught in the US - in the DC area.

With some creative writing on your CV emphasizing what fits into the particular job you are applying for, you may be able to pick up something at tertiary level. Most of the jobs are either teaching Foundations programs in the universities - rather similar to IEPs at US universities. But, the students tend to be lower. The TOEIC doesn't show up in the Gulf. There is some TOEFL, but mostly it is IELTS. Since lots of your work appears to be tutorials, they don't do much to give you an edge. (unless a number of those students were Arabic speakers... that would be a plus)

VS

[adorabilly]

[adorabilly]

[kierith]

Yeah that was the problem I was running into it shows all their American stuff, but the job announcement is specifically for Abu Dhabi, and lists the email address for that company. That's why I wanted to see if there was anyone out there that had heard of it.

Nope, most of my students/clients spoke two languages English and bad English (sorry bad movie quote). The large majority of them were Spanish speaking ESL students or had been at one time. I had one client from Afghanistan, and she spoke better English then some of my native English speaking students.

When you say "foundations classes" do you mean something equivalent to remedial pre-college level classes in the States. For example, undergrad Freshman English was English 1A at the junior college or English 101 at the 4-year. We had to take a level test at the JC that would put you in a class from 110-1A or higher, 110 was very basic like "xxx <-- this is a noun, circle all the nouns". 105 was a little more advanced ended with paragraphs, 51 you could write short 1-3 page papers in a very strict format, 1A was college level essays. Are the "Foundation" courses something along those lines or different?

I haven't held a university position as the actual classroom teacher responsible for teaching the material the first time, I've been the person that came through and retaught it one on one to fill in the gaps so they could pass the class, so more of a support teacher then primary teacher. I have more experience in the public school setting. I have found announcements for public school jobs in UAE but they seem to be Kindergarten which is not my area at all, I prefer upper elementary/middle school age. Any ideas where I can find those levels?

[kierith]

[helenl]

Content teachers teach a specific course/subject ie. marketing, insurance, intro accounting.

EFL teachers, for the most part in the GCC work in partnership with the content teachers in that they help out with various vocabulary or even in joint projects with the content teacher (content looks at the substance, EFL looks at the grammar/vocabulary/sentence structure, etc.) At HCT an EFL teacher is usually teaching in a single program area (i.e. graphic arts) where the student spends x hours in design classes and x hours in English classes.

You would not want to work in a public school in GCC (a) because they don't usually pay as well and (b) the student discipline and work ethic is often totally missing (as is parental and administrative support for the teacher).

[adorabilly]

[kierith]

[veiledsentiments]

Just a couple clarifications. Content courses are the subjects... math, science, business, or whatever. University level teaching in the Gulf tends to be in two areas.

Either you teach Foundations courses... entry level students whose skills - well mainly reading and writing skills - are very low. While they are very verbally communicative, they can often not put together one grammatical written sentence and have been taught in the schools that spelling doesn't matter. (if only...) So, Middle East Foundations programs tend to key on reading and writing. It can take up to 2 years to get them ready for Freshman Writing or Comp I or whatever one's college called it.

Or... at some (most?) places, there are also ESP courses where you are supporting the content courses. For instance, I have taught English for Science... and English for Medicine... and English for English majors. You usually work closely with the content teachers. (the professors mainly)

In the US, teaching certification is normally done at the BA, not the MA level. That is if you have your BA in Primary or Secondary Education and then after graduation and student teaching, your state provides you with a teaching license.

I think you could certainly get a job in the Gulf and make a good salary - over $3000 a month at least. This would be completely tax free and normal Gulf benefits are free furnished housing, medical care, a bonus at completion of contract, and flight tickets each year for your two month vacation.

Now, whether you would want to teach there... read the threads and from various complaints, you will pick up the pros and cons of it all.

VS

[veiledsentiments]

As to the original question... I'd call the US office in VA to check on the legitimacy of the position on offer. There are so many scams these days and they use legitimate websites to work from.

Personally I think it is probably a better choice to get a job in the local university level system rather than a US employer... but that is just my opinion...

VS

[adorabilly]