Job Discussion Forums

[Lulu29]

Can anyone tell me if the universities in Oman (and the UAE) offer contracts biannually (i.e. Feb/March) and Sept, given that the academic year begins in September?
If so, does anyone know when the universities begin posting for jobs beginning Feb/March?
Thanks!

[veiledsentiments]

Are you looking for a job right now? I know that the University of Nizwa is hiring. But, their HR dept works a bit slowly, so you probably would arrive too late for the start of first semester. It has its issues, but it is direct hire and there are some great people teaching there along with the... others. Check their website.

You will find plenty of ads running for the various recruiters that hire the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Higher Education. They are constantly hiring... and yes, that probably isn't a good thing. I'm sure that some will pop up if you do a search on the jobs page here.

VS

[Lulu29]

thanks.
It's good to know they are hiring year-round, as ideally I'd like to start next year around February.

One more thing, do you know if it's easier to get a first-time university Gulf gig in Oman or the UAE? I'm a little torn between these places. I've done quite a bit of research and it seems (generalizing here) that the UAE pays better, but that Oman is culturally more interesting. In your estimation does this sound about right?

[veiledsentiments]

Do you have an MA? If you don't, there are few jobs in the UAE in EFL. The high pay requires high credentials.

Most of the lower pay, hire all year jobs in Oman require BA+Cert+3 years experience. (I think it is 3... whatever the ads say) Pretty much the same at University of Nizwa. You will need to look at the start of second semester... normally late Jan/early Feb. I would start applying now or no later than September.

VS

[Lulu29]

I have an MA in Drama Studies- any idea if that would suffice in the U.A.E? Or do they only consider MA's in TESOL and Applied Linguistics?

[bje]

[balqis]

But since you have nothing to lose, try both countries.
Glitzy, arty and trendy UAE may hire you with your noble Drama degree as a posh teacher teaching English through the means of drama, running a small drama circle for the students, and possibly a workshop for other teachers who would be willing to pick up from your studies. You have aces in your sleeve with your Drama degree, certainly you have. Why not then?

After all - as well as judging by their architectural crazes - I think they are about to errect now something like a branch of Guggenheim Musuem in Dubai. Well, at least this I heard a while ago when dining with someone who had just returned from UAE and was heralding the UAE Guggenheim's news with gasps and rosy cheeks, though my knees went soft [ luckily under the dining table ].

balqis

[veiledsentiments]

[balqis]

To defend my stance, during my years at Bahrain University, the Foreign Languages and Literatures Dept/ English majors staged a play by Anton Chekhov ''A marriage proposal'' in the English translation. A success, by the way, enjoyed by the students, with good press amongst the faculty and echoed pleasantly in the Manama newspapers. So much for the conservative Bahrain society, and it really is conservative [ but also Chekhov is].

Now, when it comes to UAE high-heeled Svarovsky spell-bound culture, ...
I really think you have aces in your sleeve with your Drama degree.
Drama is by the way a part of the literary heritage and it is studied as one of the major courses in all English Literature Depts. But it may also find you a salary in the Common ESL World.

baqis

[veiledsentiments]

Really not trying to start a debate, but I consider Bahrain to be the most liberal of the Gulf countries... especially the university. I visited back in the 90s when a friend of mine was in the TEFL dept and I was shocked at how it felt more like AUC... students almost all in Western dress with the integrated classrooms. At the time I was at SQU where we were integrated, but national dress was required. So, the idea of their putting on an English play doesn't surprise me in the least. When I was last at AUC, they did a great "Grease."

While plays, particularly Shakespeare, are a normal part of the small English Lit departments at a few places (AUS, UAEU, SQU, anywhere else?), they tend to require PhDs for content courses. While the TEFL departments are concentrating on figuring out how to get them to write a grammatical one-clause sentence.

As I said Lulu... apply... the worst that happens is that they all say no or you may prove Balquis to be right. But, best not to get your expectations raised too much and if you can get into one of the Oman jobs, it will beef up your CV so that you have a better chance in a couple years with related experience to beef up your unrelated MA.

[abayawearer]

Now is a good time, but not the best. The best time to find a job in Oman is April or May for a September start. This is because you will apply with the schools directly and avoid the middle-men agencies such as Bahwan, CECN, and GlobeNet.

If you are going to Oman, know that now the jobs remaining are the mere leftovers. That would include the Ministry of Manpower colleges. Stay away from these employers.

[Lulu29]

Thanks everyone.

I taught ESL at a University in Korea for 3 years (for some mysterious reason they loved the drama degree), and have a couple of years experience teaching here in NZ...so I guess I've nothing to lose by giving both places a shot.

But yes, I should be prepared to teach in Oman first (not necessarily a bad thing) to gain experience teaching Arabic speakers.

[ETG]

I hear that all the spots are not yet filled for September, so you could apply now.
No matter what time of year you can't apply directly to the MofM colleges.
Good luck
E.

[Lulu29]

sorry for the many questions, Folks.

Veiled Sentiments, you mentioned that it could be difficult to find good university jobs in the UAE without an MA in TESOL/ Applied linguistic. I'm thinking of starting in Oman, (if I can get a job there) and doing an MATESOL by distance (part time) while there- do you think this would increase my chances in the UAE?
In terms of post-degree experience- I have a lot of that with my unrelated MA.
Hmm..
Thanks again for all your help. I'm quite keen to go to the ME for a while, so really trying to figure stuff out as much as poss before I go.

[Lulu29]

I think I'm emoticon illiterate!