Job Discussion Forums

EricCC · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 63

I am currently teaching in Seoul but am looking to move to someplace I can make better money. I am nearing the completing of a MA in TEFL, and have been involved in ESL education for 5 years part-time. I am looking for contacts, advice, and the like:

What are some good schools that hire Americans? (Some schools are looking for British nationals only).

What is a good starting pay?

Does anyone have connections to good schools who might be willing to do some networking?

Is there a professional organization I can join?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Eric

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Have you tried doing a search on the forums? They may help in giving you some answers as well as narrowing down the focus of your questions.

What is a good starting salary? Relative to what? Your current experience seems to preclude you from the better jobs in most tertiary institutions (requiring the MA + 3 years post grad experience)

Take a look at HCTs ZUs UAEUs PIs websites - these are probably the better tertiary employers in UAE. In Qatar - look at QU and the Qatar Foundation English program, in Oman - take a look at Sultan Qaboos and maybe the colleges in Nizwa and Sohar and Salalah.

It gives you a good idea of what the higher end of the qualifications required scale. Then you can look at your experience - try to fill in any gaps and perhaps have a better idea of which institutions look good to you and fit with your goals.

There are lots of other K-12 schools in all 3 of the above mentioned countries. Some follow the UK curriculum, others American, Australian, Canadian, etc. The bulk would be UK. The one thing to be careful of is that a lot of schools will have "British" "American" "English" in their names but are not up to the standards of those countries - nor do many of them employ Western expats (we're too expensive and won't work for USD1000 or leses a month, which many of these schools pay - and without benefits)

Those that do employ Westerners generally pay less than the above mentioned tertiary employers - perhaps starting as low as USD2000/month with some benefits. Always go for the employer who offers housing - while rents are declining in most countries right now, that can change seemingly in a heartbeat.

EricCC · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 63

Thanks for the feedback.

However,

HCTs ZUs UAEUs PIs?

I'm so new to this game I'm unsure what all this means.

And I am a simple man - - I'm looking for 4K us a month, free housing, some vacation, and a school that is run professionally and wont keep me there 10 hours a day every day. Does this sound like the right place to be looking?

Thank you.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Can I suggest that u use the SEARCH function for HCT etc on this forum.

The information is here - it is up to you to find it and read it.

EricCC · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 63

That function does not seem to be working. And thank you for the advice, but I've found in other sections that when I start asking questions, helpful individuals like yourself are ready to help "cut to the chase."

Eric

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

EricCC,

Ignore him, but he won't go away, unfortynately.

HCT-- Higher College of Technology

ZU Zayed University

UAEU - UAE UNiversity

PI - Petroleum Institute

You might also look at the University of Sharjah and The American University of Sharjah.

All of these institutions are in the UAE.

In Oman, check on the institutions mentioned by Heleni, and you might also see what's on offer at the German University of Technology, and the University of Dhofar.

EricCC · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 63

Thanks for the feedback. What are the teaching loads like in such institutions? Will I be accepted if I still need to complete my thesis and do not have university training?

Also, what are you thoughts on the chain schools?

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

EricCC · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 63

All good advice. Thank you. I have taught in a US high school for 13 years, hold two different teaching licenses in my home state, + TEFL cert + near MA in TEFL. My "part time" work was teaching adult ESL during the evenings while teaching HS students in the states. I really don't want to take on a serious job in that is was all a lot of stress. I'm not really interested in international schools at the moment in that I don't want the level of work, planning, marking, and extra curricular stuff. I'm finishing my first contract in Seoul and have never worked part-time in Asia.

I'm also nervous about putting my HS reference in that when the old management team I worked for retired, I had a big falling out with the new one's coming in - - and I made my thoughts on their management rather public when my contract was suddenly not renewed after 13 years (I'm confident I became more of a headache when I was gone than when I was there. Oh well).

I certainly don't want to present myself as being an expert in EFL education or that I should just walk into good jobs . . . but I met one guy who offered me work in the Kingdom for over 55K a year (I lost his contact when I closed down an email account). The guy only had a TEFL and perhaps 15 years EFL teaching in Asia. He didn't seem to have a lot training or passion. He was said he was making more than the 55k . . . and I believed him.

Anyhow, I'm just starting to post and ask questions. Thanks for the feedback.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

A "near MA" is like being "nearly pregnant". It does not count. Your High School experience and teacher certification DOES count and I would not devalue them.

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

Ah... crucial information that 13 extra years of full -time experience. Laughing

What subject were you teaching for those 15 years? If it included essay writing, you would look good to the universities once you complete that MA.

VS

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

A suggestion for the HS reference issue - can you contact someone from the "old" team who would be will to give you a reference? Much more relevant than someone who didn't work with you for 13 years IMHO>

EricCC · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 63

I did teach some writing . . . but it was mostly to students who couldn't structure a 5 paragraph essay nor follow conventions. I have taught some essay writing but need to continue my development as a proofreader if the expectations are the same as those of my college profs.

I have lot's of references from my old coworkers, including the person who ran the program for over three decades. The concern in putting the name of the school or the organization that "took us over" in that both are relatively small places. If everything is handled professionally, then they would only be contacting the human resources department to confirm employment. No one in that department will do anything more or less than confirm that I worked there. Other individuals within the organization are perhaps not as conscious of what they are saying.

And thank you, yes, the teaching credentials are of value and I did work hard to get them.

As always, thanks for the feedback.

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

ardiles81 · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 71

My advice for what it is worth, if you are coming only for the money then fine. Don't have high expectations of anything. If you come to the Gulf, where I am, your brain will atrophy along with your will to live. You will live from holiday to holiday - no bad thing - you will be frustrated by your lazy students and grow to loathe what passes for culture and long-term inmates who have nowhere else to go.

There are plenty of fine places in the world where you can have a far better life but less money. This is something you should consider very carefully.