Teaching employment entry points for the UAE/ job agencies/head hunters | ExpatWoman.com
 

Teaching employment entry points for the UAE/ job agencies/head hunters

0
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2014 - 17:09

Hi everyone,
I'm new to expat.woman (Dubai) and I have been trying to apply for teaching jobs (EFL/ESL) in Dubai but I am struggling to get noticed. I was born in the UK and have lived there all my life. I am a native English speaker, I have a good level of education (GCSEs and A levels and a few other bits and bats, but NO BA) I took an unconventional route into teaching, I worked from having left school and have held good jobs, in 2008 I studied for a full time teaching course in the UK (PGCE) and got a Cert Ed. (due to no undergrad - which would be usual for someone in a similar case without a BA).

After that I took a language specialism course making me suitably qualified to teach ESOL in the UK, however, without actually knowing, (I am judging the 'lack of responses' to job apps I've made) on the assumption that without the BA qualification sitting amongst my CV, this is the reason why my applications are not being entertained. I've not had one response out of the many applications I made, no one has had the courtesy to even reply to say 'thanks for your interest but...'
(We get that in the UK at least)...

Could someone tell me whether this is the case? lack of BA = no chance of teaching work ?
and could someone kindly point me in the right direction to contact some good employment agencies in Dubai or head hunters who might be able to help me secure work.

I am even willing to change career path (out of teaching) so that I can secure a job. I have worked for almost 23 years (mostly full time) and I have tonnes of other work experience and life skills such as in customer service, as well as in admin and related office skills. It seems you need degrees to work in offices or even as domestic staff these days too, (which is not the case in the UK).

I'm really frustrated at not knowing who to contact for a realistic stab at the job market. I have referees willing to give me good references based upon observation and knowledge of my hard work in the organisations I have worked for. All I need is a link to a willing agency or head hunting firm who will give some time to expand on what my needs are and help me secure a full time post. I am in need of speaking to someone over the phone directly, I am tired of communicating electronically sending job apps to agencies and privately listed jobs with no feedback.

Finding work would help me to join my fiancé who is already living and working in the UAE, hence a strong motive and need to secure work to be able to start our life together with ease.

Yours in anticipation

inspired11

154
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 September 2016 - 10:27
Can anyone tell me more about the KHDA exams for teachers, or getting MOE approval to teach? I have a BA in Education from the US but have been a trailing spouse/sahm without recent experience, just started working as an LSA at a good school this year to get back in the market, and am considering applying for teaching jobs in the spring to teach next year. I want to get my paperwork in order pronto since getting my diploma attested in the US without being there cost quite a bit! I only have my BA attested so far - what else will I need for KHDA approval? Transcripts? I've heard they even ask for a high school diploma if your BA is <10 years old?? (I graduated in 2009). I'd like to be approved in my original subject area (elementary education, K-5) as well as Arabic B. You don't need to do anything with the KHDA. The school that hires you will apply for your approval and send you for your exam etc. You just need to give your school your attested certificates. The KHDA doesn't approve teachers without a BA or with an online degree. For those who are uncertain of whether they would get KHDA approval... why waste time in Dubai searching and waiting for a job offer only to find out you can't get the approval once the school reaches out to them? I would absolutely consider going to their office to ask whether it is even reasonable. As far as online degrees not being accepted by KHDA... this has been something I have also heard but in practice is also a grey area, especially if the person has (in addition to their degree) a separate teaching certification.
1618
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 September 2016 - 14:08
Can anyone tell me more about the KHDA exams for teachers, or getting MOE approval to teach? I have a BA in Education from the US but have been a trailing spouse/sahm without recent experience, just started working as an LSA at a good school this year to get back in the market, and am considering applying for teaching jobs in the spring to teach next year. I want to get my paperwork in order pronto since getting my diploma attested in the US without being there cost quite a bit! I only have my BA attested so far - what else will I need for KHDA approval? Transcripts? I've heard they even ask for a high school diploma if your BA is <10 years old?? (I graduated in 2009). I'd like to be approved in my original subject area (elementary education, K-5) as well as Arabic B. You don't need to do anything with the KHDA. The school that hires you will apply for your approval and send you for your exam etc. You just need to give your school your attested certificates. The KHDA doesn't approve teachers without a BA or with an online degree.
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 05:39
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lady Lavender! Should I just head over to the KHDA with my attested diploma and see what they say? I don't have attested transcripts, unfortunately :( The office is in Academic City, right? Any idea of their hours? Fortunately I live in Mirdiff, so I won't mind dropping in multiple times to try to get someone who approves me :p
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 September 2016 - 11:46
I think that in order to teach ESL in the GCC, you need to have at least a BA and a CELTA certificate: http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/celta/ A lot of teachers I know have a MA + CELTA. edited by Loukoum on 18/06/2014 I personally know people teaching ESL in the international schools here (ranked Outstanding) without a CELTA or related TEFL certificate. Only a BA in English. Some have a teacher's certification to boot (but not in ESL/ESOL) and some (less often) have a Master's degree (but not in ESL/ESOL). It is 100% who you get that day at KHDA reviewing your credentials. This is my opinion of course. I am not familiar with KHDA exams as mentioned above to teach. Not one teacher I know has ever had to take them to be approved by KHDA. That is interesting and I would like to learn more. I am familiar however with the new licensing by Dubai (UAE) that is being slowly introduced as a friend of mine has been nominated to be in their pilot group this year. It will be required for ALL teachers in the coming years. It consists of 4 areas of expertise. Many will be automatically exempt from 3 of the 4 if they hold western credentials and teaching certifications.
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 September 2016 - 14:49
Can anyone tell me more about the KHDA exams for teachers, or getting MOE approval to teach? I have a BA in Education from the US but have been a trailing spouse/sahm without recent experience, just started working as an LSA at a good school this year to get back in the market, and am considering applying for teaching jobs in the spring to teach next year. I want to get my paperwork in order pronto since getting my diploma attested in the US without being there cost quite a bit! I only have my BA attested so far - what else will I need for KHDA approval? Transcripts? I've heard they even ask for a high school diploma if your BA is <10 years old?? (I graduated in 2009). I'd like to be approved in my original subject area (elementary education, K-5) as well as Arabic B.
Anonymous (not verified)
0
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 June 2014 - 18:56
In a proper school you can't become a teacher unless you are licensed with 2 years experience. Like a previous poster said, if you get married then your husband can sponsor you. This will open doors for you as quite a few companies and schools (if you're willing to become a TA) look for staff that are on a family or spouse visa. I knew some teachers where I used to work who had BA's and had to sit an KHDA exam before they would be properly licensed to work as teachers. If you don't have a BA but you do have a PGCE the Ministry of Higher Education won't accept it. They don't accept the route where you skip undergrad and go straight to post grad.
268
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 June 2014 - 18:12
These types of institutes pay around AED 100 (rather less than over that amount) per hour depending on your experience. They immediately tell you that they do not provide a residency visa. I got offers like that last fall, as I was looking into supplementing my income. Eton was one of them.
495
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 June 2014 - 06:56
If you make this engagement officially recognized in the UAE (get married), then your husband can sponsor you and your chances of finding an admin job improve. Not all schools require a teaching degree but all I know of from friends applying require at least [i'>a[/i'> undergraduate degree. These could pay 8-12000AED/month. Librarian at a university may be another place to look. There are language schools here who might hire you part time. A few of them teach ENglish in Deira, Karama, Bur Dubai. and it might be a blessing to have a native ENglish speaker on board. That said, you will get non-native English pay for it.
553
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 June 2014 - 06:18
Eton institute will hire without a degree but I am unsure as to whether they will sponsor you etc.
2043
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 June 2014 - 06:07
You could probably get a teaching assistants job but they rarely offer sponsorship or perks like health insurance. This region is hung up on degrees but there are many people who live and work here who don't have one. With summer holidays and Ramadan on the horizon I suggest you calm down your search and resume it in September, why don't you spend few weeks here with your fiancé and try to meet agencies and trawl the job sites then, not many jobs are acquired here from home countries either most of us found them when we had arrived.
268
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2014 - 23:47
I think that in order to teach ESL in the GCC, you need to have at least a BA and a CELTA certificate: http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/celta/ A lot of teachers I know have a MA + CELTA. <em>edited by Loukoum on 18/06/2014</em>
1759
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2014 - 21:53
To put it bluntly, your qualifications are not going to get any type of legal teaching work anywhere in the GCC. Your other experience will not get you a living wage or sponsorship. Most customer service or administration positions are filled by nationals from Asia who work for substantially less than a UK expat unless you want to work for Pocket money. edited by marycatherine on 18/06/2014 <em>edited by marycatherine on 18/06/2014</em>
 
 

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