Job Discussion Forums

[DIDO]

OK folks
I have next week an interview in IAT - Dubai, so what do you think of IAT ( I did my search through the site and most of it old posts).
What do they ask in the interview .... what they actually looking for so I can show it more (don't you dare to have any evil thoughts)....
Thanks in advance

[elmoro]

honestly, it was the worst year of my life! for me, it was the students first and the admin/curriculum second. for some of my friends, it is the reverse. i have been told that the english curriculum has changed, so things might be better in those regards.

the reality is that iat is the best thing going (in terms of salary and package) if you have a ba, celta or delta, and no teaching license. for those who have the teaching license, adec in abu dhabi is the best thing going right now. for those with the masters, hct and zayed u are the best things going right now. so it is just a matter of money and package. all of them, with maybe the exception of zayed u, seem to have management issues. and well, in my opinion, there is absolutely no difference between a classroom full of grade school indigenous males and one full of university-aged indigenous males.

the interview really depends on the interviewers and the questions mainly dealt with classroom management and there was a demo lesson.

elmoro

[umzakaria]

Hi there,
I applied to IAT for an English post (I have a BSC biology and a recent MA in Applied linguistics and TESOL) and a biology teaching post. I was pre-screened out for the English, but my application for the biology post remains active. There is no key as to what this really means, should I assume that I am still under consideration or have they just not got arouind to looking at my application, based on the fact that I have already been rejected for the English post? I don't have a teaching certificate but I do have some biology teaching experience at secondary level (Qatari boys) and primary class teaching exeperience (UK). I have 4 years scientific research experience. Any insights as to my chances of getting an interview?
Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

Never assume anything with these employers. I would call and ask them if you are still being considered. The inner workings of HR departments are ever a mystery. And we here know even less about content course procedures than we do about EFL departments.

VS

[Captain Willard]

I went through all three rounds only to take a bullet. The first round was the recruiter. The second round was Kaplan, and the third round was with a representative from both Kaplan and IAT.

The third round was the most bizarre. The only choice of time for the last interview was between 11 PM and and 7 AM local time. I requested a call at 11 PM. I got a call around 1 AM, which was only a test call to make sure my number worked, or so she said. Then I got a call around 3:30 AM, and I was asked if I needed a cup of coffee. While it wasn't the best time for an interview, since they had been so inept at calling at a reasonable hour, I proceeded with the interview. I was asked an asinine question about whether I would use the same materials for both children and adults from the IAT representative. I was told at the end of the interview that I was approved for hire, but then got the news later that I was not selected.

I really don't think that I missed anything with IAT.

[secretsquirrel]

I heard a similar story regarding IAT and Krapland. I would not trust either of them, and I think you're better off free from their clutches.

In fact, I see that Krapland are recruiting HR people in the UK specifically to hire people for the UAE. They're offering 8 to 10 pounds per hour on a short-term contract - so much for 'professionalism'!

[Potter]

[JohnCB]

I have not heard anything good about IAT. I'm still waiting to hear more about Kaplan.

[scot47]

Avoid Hyme Kaplan. He is a schnorrer.

[ZUSHA]

One question that you should definitely prepare an answer for is "How would you motivate the students"coz that's a questions that is asked in almost every place which has Arab students....

Zusha

[prahaenglish]

And what's the right answer to that? (in an interview)

[ZUSHA]

Well honestly I dont know the Right right answer, but what i feel would be an acceptable answer would be something like how we need to connect with them and understand them, especially culturally....And respect their culture at the same time.....

This incidence will help u understand better what i mean...
One of my friends was teaching Math at a University here and he was talking about how to buy houses on mortgage and he tried to explain to students how if they were to buy a house on mortgage, what should they be careful about and stuff like that....He thought he was doing a good job relating the subject to real life....Most of the students were like smiling and giggling at this....When he asked them whats the problem, one of them spoke out, most of us out here have like 5-6 buildings of our own...why would we want to buy a house on mortgage???....

A better apporach would have been if you have to Give away a house on mortgage.....

I hope this helps...

Zusha

[prahaenglish]

Good stuff, Thanks!

[JohnCB]

A lot of employers who put themselves at the mercy of agents cannot see the difference between recruitment and retention. Recruitment simply means scanning through any resume, doing an interview (maybe), doing the deal,making the arrangement, getting reruited warm body to airconditioned classroom. End of involvement.

Retention means all the rest: welcome, orientation, integration into a team, developing a feel-good sense about the colleagues, the student, the place; some sense of optimism about how the job will go. (got this from another post, but it certainly applies for this post)

Now having said all this, IAT is not only lacking, but ia aloof to the meaning of retention (see above). Save yourself a headache and money, avoid this place like the plague.

[pyramidlover]

I just got through two interviews with IAT. Should I be worried? Is it that bad? Any recent update from teachers there?

Please help