ELT Two Cents Cafe
pennies
I am not an ESL practitioner, but I am familiar, due to residence and business travel, with the overseas job scene for positions in ESL/ accent reduction in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the "lower Gulf" region. The range of opportunities (in terms of number of available positions, compensation package, and expatriate lifestyles (cultural fatigue and "wear- and-tear") can, and do, vary widely. ESL teachers with American or Canadian accents are preferred, as many Gulf Arabs (especially college-age) want to develop their skills in social English and cultural awareness.

Country: Avail positions: Compensation: Expat Lifestyle/Host Culture:
Saudi Arabia Most Highest Hardest

Do some web searches for ESL jobs in SA. You'll find ESL positions at universities, U.S. contractors, and companies, especially Saudia Aramco, which operates a large (!) and diversified ESL program (mostly in the Eastern Province).

Country: Avail positions: Compensation: Expat Lifestyle/Host Culture:
United Arab Emirates Many Slightly lower than in SA Best in the region (large and supportive expatriate communities are in major cities)

UAE University in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi (national university - two ESL programs)

Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) System. HCT operates eight campuses among the emirates. That total might be more by now, as I was in UAE in late 1995 and expansion was then underway. HCT has strong ESL programs for post-secondary graduates enroute to jobs or other colleges, plus extensive outreach/public education ESL campaigns.

ETISALAT College of Engineering (ECE) - ETISALAT is the UAE's national telecommm service, and this college seems to be equivalent to a specialty/technical college (something perhaps on the order of ITT's institutes) in the U.S.

American University of Sharjah - new university ( I have little information about this.)

The American College - Dubai Campus (The American College system is headquartered in Atlanta, GA)

ELS (U.S. commercial chain) has many branches throughout UAE, and ELS is actively recruiting for overseas positions.

Shaikh Zayed College for Women, Sharjah (new college) That college may have a web site.

Re costs of living and "can I buy (X) in the UAE?"

Basically, you can find almost all of the amenities you'll need in UAE in the large malls in Dubai (especially there), Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. While some items may be cost more than those back in the home country, your compensation package should more than make up for the difference. The books by Robison and Crocetti are good on these practical matters, plus the expatriate communities will guide you to suitable businesses or away from the losers.

Country: Avail positions: Compensation: Expat Lifestyle/Host Culture:
Qatar Fewer positions Comparable to that in UAE, maybe slightly less Expat communities tend to orbit around the university in Doha and/or oil/natural gas companies engaged in large joint ventures.

American School of Doha
Former Name: American International School
Doha, Qatar
Tel: (974) 806 770
Fax: (974) 806 311
Email: asdoha@qatar.net.qa
Local Mailing Address: PO Box 22090, Doha, Qatar
Director: Mr. Robert B. Conlan
Grades: K - 12
Enrollment: 460

Gulf English School
Address: Al-Leqtah Street, Doha, Qatar
Tel: (974) 873 869 / 873 865
Fax: (974) 863 947
Local Mailing Address: PO Box 2440, Doha, Qatar
Vice-principal: Diana Henderson
Grades: preK - 6
Enrollment: 224

Learning Center
Doha Qatar
Tel: (974) 876 294
Fax: (974) 876 285
Email: altamimi@qatar.net.qa
Local Mailing Address: PO Box 6639, Doha, Qatar
Director: Ghadah Fakieh, Ed.D.
Grades: ages 3 - 12
Enrollment: 28

Universities, technical institutes and a few private schools in Kuwait and Bahrain have ESL programs, but I have limited information. The turnover and number of positions in those countries seem comparatively fewer than elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf region.

Turkey also has a number of ESL opportunities worth considering at several universities, colleges and technical institutes. Nice country, fine people, strong interest in ESL, esp. "social American English."
There are some useful paperback references available (plus a few losers well worth avoiding) about whichever country seems to offer opportunties for employment and enjoyable expatriate living. Going "stir-crazy" - as may occur in compound or dormitory living in some countries - is not worth the pay of top salaries.

Although much more of my experience and residence are in Saudi Arabia and other regional countries, and all things considered, I would recommend the UAE as perhaps the best first venue to check - via web searches, mail inquiries and contacting the respective embassies - for ESL and other expatriate jobs.

Useful reference books:

Note:I am citing the following references by myself, with no compensation, endorsement or consideration from the authors, their agents, their assigns or their publishers. Comments following each citation are my own opinion.
- Stephen H. Franke

1. Probably the best-available and most-current-and-accurate source of practical information about expat lifestyles, costs of living and related concerns for expatriates relocating to UAE (and other Arabian Gulf countries) is the excellent paperback:

Arab Gulf States (2d Edition, 1996) by Gordon Robison

Publisher is the Lonely Planet Press ISBN is 0-86442-390-X Available at most bookstore chains or online from
d < www.amazon.com >.

2. Bruce Ingham's jewel of a paperback entitled :

"The simple Guide to Customs and Etiquette in Arabia and the Gulf States"

Publisher is Global Books Ltd (UK), London,1994 ISBN is 1-86034-005-9

3. Margaret K. Nydells' paperback entitled : "Understanding Arabs: A Guide for Westerners" (2d Edition, 1997)

Publisher is Intercultural Press, Inc., Yarmouth, Maine, USA

This is a very good and essential "read-ahead" reference. Somewhat overgeneral in the first and last chapters, but then she is covering a wide range of Arabic-speaking countries beyond the Gulf region

4. Gina L. Crocettis's paperback entitled

"Culture Shock: United Arab Emirates - A Guide to Customs and Etiquette"

Publisher is Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon, USA ISBN is 1-55868-300-3

(This book is comparatively lighter reading than the preceding citations, but the writer presents some insightful and entertaining perspectives of a representative expatriate "newbie.")

5. Berlitz has a paperback "Berlitz Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia (5th Edition, 1993) Useful and very accurate. The Saudi Arabian government afforded Berlitz impressive access into the kingdom to research and prepare this well-organized guide.

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Most everything else produced by returned former expatriates or "overseas relocation experts" that I have reviewed to date about living and thriving in UAE is flippant, facile, trash or hilariously (if not dangerously) wrong.
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Hope this helps.

Stephen H. Franke
Middle East Services Group
E-mail: mutarjm@aol.com


Copyright (c) 2004 Timothy M. Nall. All rights reserved.
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