Job Discussion Forums

[Yorks Lad]

I've just seen the BC offering short term contracts in Ethiopia for this September. Sounds like a good deal - about five weeks teaching at the university with flights, accommodation and �2,000 for your trouble. They advertised this last year, I think. Did anyone do it and what was it like?

[txmsk]

There was a lot of heartache here when people first arrived. This was because prospective teachers were not told of what to expect or what to bring (very important).

Teachers were promised accommodations with a gym, sauna, WiFi Internet connection, among other things.

What they received was quite different: accommodations in a dorm with water and electricity that cut out at various times of the day, no Internet connection, no gym, no sauna. I think the fact that the toilets lacked seats was quite a shock to some. Hot water was a problem, and still is for some. Taking a shower involves a trickle of water coming out of the shower head.

There are no catering or cooking facilities (no kettles, fridges, etc.) in the dorm where we live. So, we have to buy our own food, etc. and eat it off campus.

The biggest failure of the British Council and Addis Ababa University is simple: they did not bother to get their acts together to sit down and write a simple e-mail telling teachers WHAT to bring.

I would have brought my own teaching supplies, a towel, a 'travel kettle', and other small, useful items, had I known that these would not be provided.

There are two sides (more really) to the story here, though. One group of teachers simply essentialize the situation by saying "What did you expect, this is Africa after all". The others say "We signed a contract that promised X, Y, Z, etc.".

I sit in the middle of those two camps. It's wrong to say that just because we're in Africa we can't expect certain things that have been promised to us. On the other hand, we did all sign a contract setting and read documentation that might have raised certain expectations.

All I can say is this: ask question after question about a position before you go. Do not rationalize a situation by saying that because the post is in country X, you cannot expect certain things. If you are given a contract by, among others, the British Council, then there's no reason why promises cannot be kept.

[WhatTimeFinish?]

Well kudos to you, txmsk, for keeping a rational outlook on things. Apart from the disappointing living conditions how is the environment out there? Just curious about new places and the teaching.

[txmsk]

I'll assume you meant the work environment. The actual environment is dusty and a bit dirty, what with all the cars and their old engines.

The students are good, almost too good! It makes one wonder why we are here teaching at all to be honest. That said, it is more of a cultural exchange, as the students want/need more listening practice with 'native speakers' of English. It took the university a while to set up the teachers' room and organize the classrooms, though.

Feel free to ask any questions.

[WhatTimeFinish?]

(snip)

[bpicmc]

Do anyone know about more long-term position in Ethiopia? I want to learn more about African cultures and communities.