Job Discussion Forums

txmsk · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 58 Location: The World

It's really discouraging that a lot of universities in both the UAE and Oman now demand post-MA experience.

For the last year I've been doing the MA TESOL and a Delta. I've spent a lot of money on doing these only to get rejection e-mails or no responses from the more reputable universities.

They all want X number of years, X number of papers to wave, and whatever else they can demand to exclude people. Well, I have X number of years and will soon have those papers to wave in their faces. I just won't have the 2-3 years post MA experience they want.

What does a guy have to do to land his first university job? The MA and Delta are worthless to me if I am unable to find something....and I don't want to go back to language schools....

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 2:28 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear this. The 3-year post-MA requirement has been around for a while now. What you might want to consider is gritting yer teeth and working a 2nd tier uni in saudi or elsewhere until you get the time built up. A 2nd option is to attend TESOLArabia or TESOL in the states and try to impress the dickens out of them with yer interviewing style.

It's a long and rocky road that we've all trodden.

And, don't put down yer creds. They're both valuable and admirable...especially if yer attempting both simultaneously...

NCTBA

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

I know that it is no consolation that many, if not most of us, have been in the same situation. At least you have the hard part out of the way... got all those little bits of expensive, time-consuming, papers. It used to be Kuwait University that was the place that would hire new MAs... but I hear not any more. Another was Qatar University... but they seem to be tightening up too.

One problem is that with the bad economy, lots of teachers are looking abroad, so the competition is strong right now. The reality is that your first job will probably be... um... not the one that you might have thought you could walk into with the right credentials. You might have to grit your teeth and do a year or two at one of the not-so-pleasant Saudi jobs... or those low pay recruiter posts in Oman.

VS

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

When I first got rejected by HCT in 1993 I already had 2 master's degrees (one in student development in higher ed and one in EFL) and SIX years' post-MA experience, in the university and corporate sectors in Malaysia, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Three additional years of experience in Saudi got me hired.

Lots of luck.

ksam · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:09 am Post subject:

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

Is a PhD a personal goal? If so and you have the opportunity to do it now, why not? Personally, in TEFL, I couldn't really see any reason to have one as the better jobs in the field only require an MA and I had no further goals beyond classroom teaching. But, you need to decide what your goals are... because if you go off and work a few years, sometimes it is hard to go back.

I know... at 25, you're probably not sure.. Cool

I wasn't...

VS

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

As VS suggestion, give Qatar U a shot. It seems to be a decent work environment, and that would give you the 3 years exp. to apply to other places in the UAE. In fact, you might like it well enough to stay! The starting salary was higher than what HCT offered.

Also, Nizwa University in Oman might be a place to consider for gaining post-secondary experience.

evolving81 · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 135 Location: Tampa

Ugh! Same situation here...MA in TESOL about to be completed and limited experience = no M.E. job offers. At least so far...I will check out the universities you mentioned.

Thanks!

mamasboy · Joined: 02 May 2010 Posts: 25 Location: Timbuktu

Sorry to be bearer of bad news here, but Colleges and Universities world-wide are now requiring DOCTORATE degrees for faculty positions. Why? Increased competition, accreditation and ranking pursuits. The days are gone when the MA got one's foot into the door of Colleges and Univers in the U.S, Canada etc. I believe that day is approaching in this part of the world too as they seek increased quality and competitiveness.

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

evolving81 · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 135 Location: Tampa

Thanks for the info. Maybe I would be better off not even applying for jobs for a few months then.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

"increased quality and competitiveness" sorry while I guffaw. What they want is "on paper" that they have quality staff/faculty - not that the students are being benefited as such.

I have worked/work with colleagues who are well qualified on paper, but they do not allow/help their students to learn and absorb meaningful information (and these are in the minority, for now) but the instructors have "great" qualifications on paper.

We've all had mediocre professors at university (and some who needed to have their hands held while crossing the street) and all of them (in my own experience) had wonderful paper (read Phd) qualifications. I learned more from those profs with at least some "real world" experience. Pure academics were a waste of my time and tuition money IMHO (in my field - commerce)

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

evolving81 · Joined: 04 May 2009 Posts: 135 Location: Tampa

But I thought they required an MA? What in the world have I been doing studying all this linguistics stuff for the past two years!? Mad

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

"They" as in "the employers" require it. Helen1 and bje are discussing the fact that the actual work doesn't require it.

So, you need it to get the job... but not to do the work.

Got it? Cool

VS