Job Discussion Forums

[rockinrobin714]

I'm looking into teaching in the Middle East in a year or so. I don't know much about the teaching prospects there - I see many ads for teachers in Saudi Arabia but as a single female I don't know if that's the place for me.

My qualifications: I graduated from a University in the States with a bachelors in Spanish/Psychology - secondary education, meaning I could teach grades 6-12 in my state (Michigan). I'm currently teaching in Taipei, Taiwan, where I teach kindergarten and elementary aged students. I will stay here another year when my contract finishes this August. After that, I doubt I'll stay in Taiwan another year. I will get a TEFL from my work because we had to do a ridiculous amount of training, but I doubt that will be accepted outside of Taiwan. I've got a long time, so if it's a good idea, I can do an online TEFL/CELTA whatever certification. I would think that having a bachelors in education and 2 years teaching ESL would be ok, but from the little I know about teaching in the ME it seems like you need TEFL certification also, is that true?

Where are the hot spots of teaching? I am female and traveling alone. I prefer big cities. I love to travel and think you can find great things in any big city - hell, I ended up in Taipei and think it's awesome, even though I never had any desire to go there before.

I have big time student loans that I'd like to pay off. The reason I'm looking into the ME is because I hear you can make a lot of money. Asia's great and all, but after 2 years I'll have enough of Taipei, and the money isn't great here, so why not experience another corner of the world and get paid better?

[Sheikh N Bake]

No, you can't make a lot of money without an MA in TESOL and a minimum of three years' post-MA teaching experience. I'm talking about the college/university sector in the UAE. Forget about Saudi Arabia; it is not a place for women except for a few hardy veterans who sympathize with highly oppressive, control-oriented regimes that denigrate women and from which you need a visa to EXIT, not just enter. 'Nuff said??

On the school level, some say Teachaway offers adequate packages. Again, the UAE...if you're talking about a decent salary.

You should seek out an assistantship in a brick-and-mortar linguistics/ESL department in the States and do your master's for free, on a real campus. I did an M.S.Ed. and the MA in EFL that way; didn't owe a cent. Full tuition plus small salary for teaching a few hours a week.

[veiledsentiments]

SnB is right. Yes, there is money to be made in the ME, but with their wealth, they can be choosy. And they choose those with top credentials and experience for the good jobs. There are some Saudi jobs that pay well for minimal credentials like yours... but most of them are for men only... and I agree with SnB that you would be better off in one of the other Gulf countries.

Don't bother with any kind of online TEFL certification. None of the good employers recognize them. The point of this certification is that you have had directly supervised classroom teaching, which would be impossible for an online cert. If you are serious about the Middle East, do the CELTA.

Do you have your US teaching certification from your state? That is required for the better K-12 jobs. Try the international job fairs in the US and look into the schools where the embassy staff send their kids. (they too pay well enough to require top credentials)

The UAE has a lucrative program for K-12 teachers and TeachAway is one of the better recruiters for it. Unfortunately most of their hires at this time are for lower elementary levels. They do hire some late secondary, but I suspect that you will need a good TEFL cert for that... and I have to say that teaching this level in the UAE is a real challenge. The kids can be tough to handle. (check out the threads here and their facebook page)

Again I agree with SnB. If the Middle East is the goal, go back to the US and get into a ESL Fellowship/Assistance-ship program for an MA. That will get you into the better university jobs where there is money to be made and the students are not quite as much of a challenge.

VS

[rockinrobin714]

I don't want to get my Masters in linguistics. It's not worth it for me because teaching abroad is not my life career - it's just a chapter in my life. I'm turning 23 in 2 days so teaching abroad for me is kind of the in between of university and my real job - whatever that may be. I might eventually be a teacher (but in the States) since that's what I did study to do.

So basically I'm not looking for something THAT serious. Are there really no options for me?

I'm one of the most qualified people teaching in Taiwan now (for my company anyway. During my training I was one of the very few with teaching experience, let alone a teaching degree). But I don't make as much money here, so I guess it makes sense that the ME can be pickier.

So let me refine my question. Where can I teach that I only need a bachelors degree and 2 years teaching English experience? Is that even possible?

[spiral78]

[rockinrobin714]

Ok. so you're saying no masters = no go.

I see ads like this though
http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=23267
that only require a bachelors and 2 years experience.

It doesn't specify a salary, so perhaps it's at the very low end. But this was the first ad I pulled up and it happened to not require a masters degree.

So maybe it's still a possibility?

[spiral78]

If it's high pay you want, those positions generally require the MA and experience, as already noted above. With your quals, you'll probably earn the highest possible pay in Korea. Doesn't mean you can't apply for lower-paid jobs in the ME if you want, but it's unlikely to help you meet your goals.

[veiledsentiments]

I suspect that the job that you are looking at is for males only (or males preferred... they will NOT be hiring 23 year old females and that is the good news for you), but they rarely dare say that in an ad that runs on a US based website. They ask for military/DLI experience.

BTW... the jobs that would hire you with your quals will have abysmal working conditions. While you may be at the top for quals in your current job, you would be bargain basement bottom in the Middle East.

Stick to Korea...

VS

[scot47]

You might get something in Saudi paying 7500 SR a month (=US$2000)

My advice is

DON'T DO IT !

[BadBeagleBad]

[justcolleen]

With your credentials and experience any job you may be able to get in the ME (which will be a bottom tier job with a rancid employer) will offer about the same salary as one in South Korea, if not less.

If money is your motivation, consider SK.

[Pikgitina]

Do the CELTA and look into Oman. Recruiters like TATI and CECN recruit for the foundations programmes at the Ministry of Manpower technical colleges. Their requirements basically are BA, CELTA and some teaching experience. You can expect to make about 900 Omani Rial a month, get a housing allowance or free, furnished accommodation, medical, airfare, about 8 or 9 weeks paid leave per year and so on. Or wait, maybe that's it?

These positions are low-key, easy and tolerable. The only thing that you may not like is that you could end up in a small town or village far from the bright lights of Muscat. And then Muscat's lights aren't really that bright either. But still - extremely doable if you don't expect too much, want an easy, laidback life, with paid leave that you can use to travel around the Middle East.

I did it for two years and it was great fun. I think you're the right age for the gig as well. Feel free to PM me if it interests you or if you just want some more details.

[Citizenkane]

[lynnknows]

It really is amazing to me how many people give advice that is not encouraging. There is only one reply that is encouraging, IMO. There ARE many well paying jobs in the Gulf that do not require a masters. I have worked in UAE for years and have done well for myself. There are International schools she can look into for a position. Many of them, not all, have great packages. No, she may not be on the top of some short list, but I am sure she will make some. Not all of them have to be at low paying, bottom of the school chain jobs.
I have been offered a position in Oman without a Masters or a CELTA. I have a BS in Education and a TEFL. I have worked in an international school and had a package with a great salary, school fees for my children, housing, airfare, and settling in money. I worked on one of the reform programs and had an awesome package, more than many make in Saudi. I have two offers now for positions in Saudi, one at an international school and another for a university. Neither of these positions are low paying or with a bad recruiter. One is a direct hire. My point is, things are not always cut and dry.
A little encouragement can go a long way. We can say things in a way that will not discourage a person from even applying for a position in the gulf. It�s one thing to say most employers look for x, y, z, but it�s another to say you will only get a low paying job, you should look in another country, or only an employer with a horrible rep will hire you.
From my experience, this is not always the case. I know MANY people here doing well without a masters degree. The real thing a person needs to have to get a job and keep it in the gulf is patience. Sometimes it takes months to get the job you want. It also takes time to adjust to living in the gulf. I believe what�s not for you, you will not get, but if it�s meant for you to get, you will.

[rockinrobin714]