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Zach and Jack
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:14 am Post subject: Getting a job. In UAE |
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Zackeree Boidposted toTeaching English in the UAE
My partner and I are finishing our 2nd yea rat a public school in South Korea and were thinking about getting some sort of MA in CETLA or TESOL, et cetera and looking for work in UAE.
I know the job market is much more strict and competitive than South Korea. But what sort of prospects would we be looking at with 2 years experience in teaching and a certification? Neither of us is a education major or certified teacher.
I have a MSc from the Uni of Amsterdam in Conflict res and gov (poli sci) with a dual major BS from the US in History and Poli sci with a minor in Anthro.
She has a BS from Canada in Communications with a minor in Soc.
We would be willing to go to Latin America or whatever and get one of those intensive CETLA or TESOL degrees if it helped and was worth it (help us get a job or more money) |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:44 am Post subject: |
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Hey! I went to the Uni of Amsterdam in Conflict as well! I remember it as a quaint, but useful little satellite campus.
It's Scary! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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Your credentials wouldn't get either of you much in the UAE. To get to the better employers, a related MA is required and it must be from a university accepted by the Gulf employer (which normally means accredited in US, UK, Aust, NZ). I'm not sure what you mean by "CETLA"- do you mean CELTA? That is merely a one-month certificate. The MA should be in Applied Linguistics or TEFL/TESL.
Just a note, you mention a "partner." Since the Gulf is a Muslim society, either a marriage license or great discretion is needed. If marriage is not an option, you would need to apply separately and hope that you are both hired. Better to be married, as teaching couples are a plus...
VS |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Better to be married,
VS |
AARRGGHH!!! Been there, done that...don't do it!!!!!
Just kidding...NOT! 
MEB  |
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Zach and Jack
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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sorry, yes I meant CELTA
We could be married but I don't want to rush that for the sake of getting a job.
The over all our prospects wouldn't be very good? Would a one month course not even be worth the time?
I realize we wouldn't be cream of the crop and that we wouldn't be able to get those bad ass gigs making like 5k a month, but I am curious if its possible to find anything halfway decent?
Are there people with similar qualifications? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I know the job market is much more strict and competitive than South Korea. But what sort of prospects would we be looking at with 2 years experience in teaching and a certification? Neither of us is a education major or certified teacher. |
No offense, Zach and Jack. Just in a general way, I want to say that it's very common that teachers with experience only in Asia tend to have unrealistic ideas about what formal qualifications are needed in the rest of the world. It's understandable, as apparently most teachers in Asia haven't got much in the way of formal quals (fair enough - they aren't required there), and yet they presumably have quite decent jobs.
You seem already aware that your quals aren't strong (kudos to you for that!).
Even if you were heading back to Europe, a CELTA + two years in Korea = entry level, basic jobs only. To be honest, without the CELTA, I think you'd struggle to find any job at all in Europe, with only two years of experience in Korea.....
The thing is that teaching in Korea (or China or.....) isn't necessarily going to help much in any other region of the world. The accepted methods and approaches, and the expectations of the students, don't translate well to other regions. Again taking Europe as an example, most reputable employers don't credit teachers with Asian experience - they know it's simply too different.
The standard rule of thumb for decent ME positions is related Master's from reputable university (normally from an Anglophone country) and a couple of years teaching (preferably) Middle Eastern students post-MA.
I would say that, to break into almost any other job market (outside Asia) you will need a CELTA or equivalent AND expect to start at essentially the bottom of the heap.
Korea's great for paying entry-level teachers decently, but the pay-off isn't really long-term or applicable in other markets. There's a downside to everything, unfortunately. |
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Zach and Jack
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I know the job market is much more strict and competitive than South Korea. But what sort of prospects would we be looking at with 2 years experience in teaching and a certification? Neither of us is a education major or certified teacher. |
No offense, Zach and Jack. Just in a general way, I want to say that it's very common that teachers with experience only in Asia tend to have unrealistic ideas about what formal qualifications are needed in the rest of the world. It's understandable, as apparently most teachers in Asia haven't got much in the way of formal quals (fair enough - they aren't required there), and yet they presumably have quite decent jobs.
You seem already aware that your quals aren't strong (kudos to you for that!).
Even if you were heading back to Europe, a CELTA + two years in Korea = entry level, basic jobs only. To be honest, without the CELTA, I think you'd struggle to find any job at all in Europe, with only two years of experience in Korea.....
The thing is that teaching in Korea (or China or.....) isn't necessarily going to help much in any other region of the world. The accepted methods and approaches, and the expectations of the students, don't translate well to other regions. Again taking Europe as an example, most reputable employers don't credit teachers with Asian experience - they know it's simply too different.
The standard rule of thumb for decent ME positions is related Master's from reputable university (normally from an Anglophone country) and a couple of years teaching (preferably) Middle Eastern students post-MA.
I would say that, to break into almost any other job market (outside Asia) you will need a CELTA or equivalent AND expect to start at essentially the bottom of the heap.
Korea's great for paying entry-level teachers decently, but the pay-off isn't really long-term or applicable in other markets. There's a downside to everything, unfortunately. |
thanks for the info this is basically what I wanted to know. However, how low is bottom of the heap for UAE? Would we be slaves making basically nothing? Or can you still make some money at the bottom? We arnt sure if we want to be teachers for ever, but putting in a couple years in UAE and making a little extra money would be great. (obviously)
As I said, I really only know how it works in Korea. I know that bottom of the heap in Korea can be pretty bad, but you can still get a job and make some money. Is UAE any different? I am just curious if anyone knows of anyone getting something with just a CELTA and a couple years somewhere else? As I said first, we have friends who got jobs with only 1 year teaching exp (and a BA in PE).
Its not like our new life plan, but we just want to see how realistic it is. I can't really do Korea again (burnt out), but I wouldnt mind doing a little more ESL just to make some money.
thanks for the info. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:56 am Post subject: |
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Generally speaking there are very few jobs for those without credentials in the Gulf. The pay is high and the employers can ask for the moon. Saudi Arabia is really about the only place that has higher paying jobs for those without MAs (but with a CELTA and a few years of related experience) BUT... those are nearly always for men only. You would definitely need to be married before going there. And, women are restricted as far as dress and mobility.
Again... in the Middle East, experience teaching in Asia doesn't really count for much on your CV. The students and the systems are so different.
VS |
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Zach and Jack
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Generally speaking there are very few jobs for those without credentials in the Gulf. The pay is high and the employers can ask for the moon. Saudi Arabia is really about the only place that has higher paying jobs for those without MAs (but with a CELTA and a few years of related experience) BUT... those are nearly always for men only. You would definitely need to be married before going there. And, women are restricted as far as dress and mobility.
Again... in the Middle East, experience teaching in Asia doesn't really count for much on your CV. The students and the systems are so different.
VS |
Yeah, SA is not an option. We are willing to make some changes to our habits but its too extreme for us. Out of curiosity then, whats an estimated low end job we could possibly get in UAE? as far as pay? again this is a guess, and I am just asking those with some experience to lend me some opinions.
thanks again |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:37 am Post subject: |
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At a best guess you would be working on an hourly basis without legal documentation for an employer who may or may not pay you on time and in full. Wages might be enough to cover accomodation or maybe not - certainly no benefits (tickets, medical, etc.)
Dubai and the rest of the GCC is an expensive place to live and legal documentation is required to reside and work here - that's why you would be fodder for the bottom feeder employers if you don't have the quals or experience. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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If KSA is out, all there seems to be are chain language schools which only hire teachers already there... pay hourly with no benefits or work visa. Not really an option for you - it is too expensive to do the "just arrive and knock on doors" system. There are likely some bottom tier "international schools" that might hire one of you in a primary school environment... for these I can only suggest that you surf the job ads and see if you find anything. Then check it out very carefully here and elsewhere (we don't get much here on the schools as the vast majority of Gulf jobs are for adults).
If you complete the CELTA, you could try applying to the MoHE or MoM jobs in Oman, but it would depend on if they count your experience. Gulf employers usually want to see experience with adults, teaching Academic English, more credit going for reading/writing teaching experience.
VS |
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teechagimme
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 56
Location: S. Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| After teaching in Korea for 2 years, I earned my CELTA and learned just how much I needed to improve as a teacher. It's like boot camp for teachers and once you take it, you will understand that none of your pre-CELTA experience counts for anything, and you will understand why this is true. Post-Celta, I am back in Korea teaching adults. They are motivated learners and it is easier to apply CELTA-type teaching techniques. I may try the m.e. in another year or two but relocating is always stressful and usually expensive and I think that the real rewards come to teachers who stay in one place for awhile, so I may stay put. |
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mimi_intheworld
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 167
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:48 am Post subject: |
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To chime in from the primary/secondary school world -
I've got 4 years experience teaching in 2 anglophone countries, a teaching cert from my home country, a BA in English and an MA in intercultural studies (which, yes, is exactly as impressive as it sounds). My job is the bottom rung job.
You MUST have a teaching qualification from your home country (not a TEFL cert or even a CELTA) to get a legal primary/secondary school job in the UAE and usually at least 2 years of classroom experience. You MUST have an MA (and preferably a few years of teaching experience) or more to teach at the tertiary level.
Private schools may have *slightly* lower standards, but their pay is significantly lower (between 10 & 20,000 US) than gov't schools.
Without a teaching qual from your home country, you will very likely NOT find any legal ESL work in the UAE. Not to mention the partner problem.
There's money to be had elsewhere. Stick around in Korea! |
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