Job Discussion Forums

tonguetwister · Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 3

Hi,

I have a master's in speech-language pathology from Northwestern, and after being ruthlessly tossed around in my market in the short span of a year and a half since graduation, I'm seriously considering obtaining a CELTA or TEFL to rewire my life.

However, I'm starting to wonder if I'm being really naive about salary. I'm interested in working in Turkey and Middle Eastern countries, but I'm not sure what the market is like there. I've already lived in Cairo and traveled to several other places, so culture is not an issue for me.

Am I delusional for thinking that I could make anywhere from $40-$60k USD a year in the Middle East? I would hope that I could eventually work my way up to university teaching since I have a master's, but I guess I would still be considered entry level since I will have a new cert.

I would think that Qatar or Kuwait may pay well, especially since the American universities are popping up in different places (NU opened NU-Qatar recently).

I'd appreciate advice...even if it's a brutal wake-up call.

Thanks,
BR

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

If you get a certificate and a year or two of experience, you can apply for some of the regional college jobs in Oman (hired through recruiters). You'd still be below the low end of your ideal salary, though. For higher end jobs/salaries, you really need an MA + experience.

And in your situation now, with no experience, it's not likely to happen. At least in the Gulf.

d

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

Ditto Denise,
If I were you, and teaching EFL looks attractive, I would get the CELTA, get a job in a country which interests you, and then try to get to the Gulf after your first or second year.
Best of luck!

tonguetwister · Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 3

Thanks for your input!

I've heard that the CELTA is preferred in the Middle East...is there any particular reason for this?

tttompatz · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:51 pm Post subject:

scrog_420 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 47 Location: State of Jefferson

Having spent 13 years in the Middle East, I'd say that you're not delusional in thinking that some people can make between 40 and 60K in the Middle East. The question is, can you? You have a masters in what what would be considered an unrelated field, I'm guessing, by most employers. A CELTA will open a lot of doors in Asia & Latin America where jobs are a dime a dozen and none of them pay a damned thing, but it would serve only to enhance a resume in the Middle East. The only reason a CELTA might be said to be "preferred" is that it is the only quicky certificate that is taken at all seriously by professionals in this field, so it is preferred to other certificates that can be "earned" in a weekend course. The latter are generally considered a joke by trained professionals in this field. As I said, for that reason it's a nice plus on your resume, but a CELTA alone, especially with no experience and an unrelated masters, won't get you very far in the Middle East. To get anything other that a really crappy language academy job in the Middle East, you really have to have a masters in linguistics/TEFL or some variation of that.

You asked for a brutal wake up call, so here it is--going into ESL is a dumb idea. As much as I enjoy teaching ESL, I consider having made a career of it a big mistake from the tedious and uncool point of view of supporting a family, buying a house, having health insurance and saving for retirement. What you should really do if you're a smart, literate guy is keep plugging away at trying to find something in the field you have trained for and meanwhile seriously consider getting a teaching certificate so that you can get a decent teaching K-12 job with benefits in the USA or an international school abroad. That's what I wish I'd done.

I suggest you read this thread before embarking on a career in this field.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=13054

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

[quote="scrog_420"] A CELTA will open a lot of doors in Asia & Latin America where jobs are a dime a dozen and none of them pay a damned thing, but it would serve only to enhance a resume in the Middle East. s[quote]

It is NOT true that there aren't jobs in Latin America that pay well. Some pay crap, but there are plenty of jobs that pay enough for me to 1) one an apartment in Mexico City, 2) own a house in a small town, 3) travel to the US a couple of times a year, 4) travel within Mexico 3 or 4 times a year. Not bad for a job that doesn't pay a "damned thing". Your first job might not pay that great, but if you are good you can work your way up to a quite comfortable living.

scrog_420 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 47 Location: State of Jefferson

[quote="TeresaLopez"][quote="scrog_420"] A CELTA will open a lot of doors in Asia & Latin America where jobs are a dime a dozen and none of them pay a damned thing, but it would serve only to enhance a resume in the Middle East. s

michgreen · Joined: 16 Apr 2010 Posts: 27

To be brutally honest with you, I don�t think you�ll have an chance for a high paying EFL job in the UAE because of the way the application process is set up, which is online. I think your MA would be by passed, since they are filtering for an MA in a related field (TESOL or Applied Linguistics).

Your best bet is to interview in person and sell them on the potential your degree has to offer them. The TESOL conference is March 16-19th in New Orleans and TESOL Arabia is March 10-12th in Dubai. Meeting the universities in person at the job fairs may be your best option after you get your TEFL certificate and some experience.