Teaching Advice
#16
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 6
Re: Teaching Advice
Hi everyone - just read all your replies. It makes for some interesting reading - thanks again for your thoughts. It was a worry of ours (from research/reading we had already done) that the demands on teachers from parents may be high. We are both used to this to a certain extent from our current jobs but I don't think it would compare to what you are describing.
This is all just speculation and research on our part as we won't be in a position to apply for jobs until this time next year (getting married in July 2018) and I understand it is illegal to live together in Dubai unless you are married. In terms of salary, jobs that are advertised at the moment show on average around 15K although some just say 'competitive salary'.
thanks again, this is all helpful X
This is all just speculation and research on our part as we won't be in a position to apply for jobs until this time next year (getting married in July 2018) and I understand it is illegal to live together in Dubai unless you are married. In terms of salary, jobs that are advertised at the moment show on average around 15K although some just say 'competitive salary'.
thanks again, this is all helpful X
Last edited by Ld92; Apr 18th 2017 at 5:39 pm. Reason: Spelling mistake
#17
Re: Teaching Advice
Just don't join Gems, bunch of *****, only want the parent's money. Also be careful of HCT
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Teaching Advice
Hi everyone - just read all your replies. It makes for some interesting reading - thanks again for your thoughts. It was a worry of ours (from research/reading we had already done) that the demands on teachers from parents may be high. We are both used to this to a certain extent from our current jobs but I don't think it would compare to what you are describing.
This is all just speculation and research on our part as we won't be in a position to apply for jobs until this time next year (getting married in July 2018) and I understand it is illegal to live together in Dubai unless you are married. In terms of salary, jobs that are advertised at the moment show on average around 15K although some just say 'competitive salary'.
thanks again, this is all helpful X
This is all just speculation and research on our part as we won't be in a position to apply for jobs until this time next year (getting married in July 2018) and I understand it is illegal to live together in Dubai unless you are married. In terms of salary, jobs that are advertised at the moment show on average around 15K although some just say 'competitive salary'.
thanks again, this is all helpful X
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Teaching Advice
15k sounds about right.
As you know, teaching is hard work with a lot of hours and mixed bags of parents. I wouldn't expect that to change a whole lot. Your odds of getting a dud principal/administration or wacky colleagues and the problems that bring are significantly higher in the Middle East than the UK. Turnover can be very high.
You are correct it is illegal to live together before getting married, you have some options, one would be an Islamic wedding in the UAE that covers you there, then you can do a "traditional" one back in the UK on your own time schedule. Or you can just wait as you are doing. You, certainly, will not be forced to live apart (as long as you are married!), you will have to pick one of the two accommodation set-ups.
Going back to the UK after teaching in the UAE, as others mentioned, it can be very difficult, even for excellent teachers or administrators. Hiring in the education sector in Western countries can be a very insular exercise. Given 50 applications for one opening - the odds that they pass up a solid-looking local candidate with local referees and recent local experience, to throw the dice on the unknown guy applying from the UAE, are very low. If they are in the mood to throw the dice on an unknown, they tend to opt for a graduate teacher. Double, triple or even quadruple that reluctance if it's a leadership role of any kind. Private/overseas schools are more open to it however for a variety of reasons (and as someone earlier mentioned, many of the teachers he or she knew, ended up back in private schools).
Your UAE experience won't stand out as a "cool, that applicant has worked overseas!" factor because these days teachers who have worked overseas are a penny a dozen.
I seem to recall many people successfully getting their UAE experience recognised for salary purposes on re-entering a Western system (I can't recall UK-specific information). Make sure they give you a formal role description as that's what HR looks at to make sure you were a "teacher" a la a UK one and not a "teacher" as in you ran a basketball camp in the evenings.
This isn't to put you off. Lots of good things about being in the UAE. If you want to go, go. Lots of stuff there to also help in your development. Just, don't go there thinking it's going to give you a leg up in promotional positions back home, pay extra attention to keeping your contacts back in the UK current, and when you do look to come back home, prepare yourself thoroughly for a year (or even two) beforehand while you are still in the UAE.
As you know, teaching is hard work with a lot of hours and mixed bags of parents. I wouldn't expect that to change a whole lot. Your odds of getting a dud principal/administration or wacky colleagues and the problems that bring are significantly higher in the Middle East than the UK. Turnover can be very high.
You are correct it is illegal to live together before getting married, you have some options, one would be an Islamic wedding in the UAE that covers you there, then you can do a "traditional" one back in the UK on your own time schedule. Or you can just wait as you are doing. You, certainly, will not be forced to live apart (as long as you are married!), you will have to pick one of the two accommodation set-ups.
Going back to the UK after teaching in the UAE, as others mentioned, it can be very difficult, even for excellent teachers or administrators. Hiring in the education sector in Western countries can be a very insular exercise. Given 50 applications for one opening - the odds that they pass up a solid-looking local candidate with local referees and recent local experience, to throw the dice on the unknown guy applying from the UAE, are very low. If they are in the mood to throw the dice on an unknown, they tend to opt for a graduate teacher. Double, triple or even quadruple that reluctance if it's a leadership role of any kind. Private/overseas schools are more open to it however for a variety of reasons (and as someone earlier mentioned, many of the teachers he or she knew, ended up back in private schools).
Your UAE experience won't stand out as a "cool, that applicant has worked overseas!" factor because these days teachers who have worked overseas are a penny a dozen.
I seem to recall many people successfully getting their UAE experience recognised for salary purposes on re-entering a Western system (I can't recall UK-specific information). Make sure they give you a formal role description as that's what HR looks at to make sure you were a "teacher" a la a UK one and not a "teacher" as in you ran a basketball camp in the evenings.
This isn't to put you off. Lots of good things about being in the UAE. If you want to go, go. Lots of stuff there to also help in your development. Just, don't go there thinking it's going to give you a leg up in promotional positions back home, pay extra attention to keeping your contacts back in the UK current, and when you do look to come back home, prepare yourself thoroughly for a year (or even two) beforehand while you are still in the UAE.
#20
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 6
Re: Teaching Advice
Thank you - that's great info as well xx
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Teaching Advice
I fear Carcajou is right. Spending time teaching in KSA or UAE can make it difficult to get back into a mainstream teaching job in Britain on return. So many employers - and others - in Britain will simply refuse to accept that as valid experience.
#22
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Teaching Advice
Oh yes you can. It's exactly why most people move to a different country (at least to a middle eastern one).
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 7
Re: Teaching Advice
If you're after money then I've heard from a few individuals that international schools following the IB curriculum over better packages.... With less work to do as well... Maybe someone else can add to this