Job Discussion Forums

[monday8908]

My wife and I are contemplating moving to Abu Dhabi or possibly Dubai. After all my looking online there are a few questions that remain fuzzy.

She has a BS in Marine Biology and a MA in Elementary Education. She has been working for two years as a science teacher for a home-schooled family with five children.

I have 2 bachelor degrees in fields unrelated to teaching.

We have both spent a year teaching in Korea, and would like to teach younger students.

What salary should we expect with these qualifications, and could I even get a job? We would need to have the same schedule regarding vacation days.

Also... are all of the bars in hotels or are there some "hole in the wall" places around? I like to have a few drinks a couple times a week and don't want to spend a fortune.

Is a car really necessary if you live close to the school you work at? We don't really mind the hot weather and humidity being from the Southern US.

thanks

[veiledsentiments]

To get the decent jobs in the International Schools or with ADEC, you need proper state certification/license from your home country. Your wife's MA may help her, but her experience is lacking. They want to see full time experience at a legitimate school usuall 3 years.

You will be eligible for only the lowest echelon jobs lacking both education and experience. You will have a difficult time finding jobs and those you get will very likely not be places where you would want to work. Remember that the Emirates is a very expensive place to live.

As to the weather... most of May through October, the temperatures in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are over 100 degrees with extremely high humidity. Take the worst days of your average August... and think of it lasting for 6 solid months. But you would tolerate it better than a resident of Minnesota or Maine.

To see if you get any interest, I would try one of the big international school job fairs in the US. If your wife can get some interest with her MA, they may take you as a cheap bonus.

VS

[monday8908]

Forgot to mention that my wife is certified to teach elementary school and middle school (science only) in our state.

[veiledsentiments]

Oh... good news!! You might have her look at Teachaway if she is a brave soul. Pay and living conditions are very good, but working conditions can be a bit difficult. Read the threads here on ADEC and Teachaway. (use the search button)

If she can get in with a good contract, you can be brought along and pick up some work teaching in some school. Her contract would pay the bills and then some and yours would just be gravy.

If the situation at Teachaway doesn't appeal to her, I go back to my suggestion of hitting the job fairs in the US. Her biggest drawback may be whether schools will count her homeschooling work as "experience."

VS

[mimi_intheworld]

Monday - I'm in SC too (dreary Columbia) and sent my resume to Teach Away to teach in Abu Dhabi. So far, so good. All you can do is give it a whirl. From what I've gleaned here and elsewhere, your wife will probably get a good enough placement, with K-3 kids. Not sure what your education might bring. Good luck?

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]