Job Discussion Forums

[Oshman]

Hi everybody. Long-time lurker, first-time poster.

I plan on completing the CELTA course in the next few months and would eventually like to teach at university level in the UAE.

So far, I have:

A degree in Law
An MA in History
A PGCE in post-compulsory education

(All from UK universities).

1 year experience of teaching in an FE College, mainly 16-19 year olds and adults.

1.5 terms of teaching as an unqualified teacher in a primary school (5-11 year olds).

Would I need more experience and an MA in TESOL/AL to attain a university teaching position in the UAE?

Please note that this is a long-term aim. I would be happy to teach young children in Asia at the moment.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Dilton]

Why waste your degrees?

[spiral78]

I suggest you will probably get more useful information if you post in the UAE forum (or General Middle East) below. Most of the regulars there don't seem to visit the newbie forum very often.

Not that Dilton's reply is lacking in any way, of course.....

Not having worked in the ME, I won't hazard to answer, though your quals sound pretty credible in general for EFL. They'd be considered decent (along with a CELTA) in Europe, if you wanted to work there.

[Glenski]

[Oshman]

[coledavis]

My views for what they're worth: I think your PGCE and experience, followed by the CELTA, should give you a good chance (although definitely try the UAE forum) and your degrees should be very helpful. Your knowledge of legal English in itself gives you a valuable specialism.

[denise]

I taught in Oman, so don't have first-hand experience in the UAE, but conditions are pretty similar. For the top-tier universities, unrelated degrees really don't help. They would also want to see more than one year of university-level teaching experience. For lower-tier universities, they might get you a bump in the starting salary, but the lower-tier schools might also require a TEFL certificate.

d