Al Najah Private School Abu Dhabi..

maggie_cork

hey all.

Just wondering if anyone would know anything about the Al Najah School in
Abu Dhabi??

was offered a job there so just doing a bit of research on it..
I have looked at their website already so just wondering if anyone knows anything about it..


thanks so much in advance

anneliza

Hi there,

I know this post is from last year but I was wondering if you could let me know how you got on and if you decided to go? I have been offered a position as a classroom teacher starting 2011 which I am very excited about so any info or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

maggie_cork

heya. yes i decided to go, year almost up now.. I am a grade one teacher teaching 6year olds, its grand, but next year i hope to move to another grade because of my past experince teaching older kids, cant handle 6 year olds anymore, they are way too needy.. !!!!! pm me if you have any things you want to ask

Surfalicious

Hi to both of ye

I was wondering you enjoyed it over there. I just applied myself but I have a few questions that I think only those who were there can answer!
Is it strict rules for women to wear covered up clothing?
Is the accomodation that they put you up in nice?
would either of you know if I would be able to bring my partner along with me to stay there too?
is it okay to go swimming in the sea or again, are women restricted to doing things like this?
and last question, is the working for everyone sunday to Thursday or is it just the schools?
Sorry about all the questions.
I would really appreciate it if one or both of you could get back to me. Thanks a million

Dean Moriarty

were you talking to them in UL today aswell?

Surfalicious

Yeah I was!:cool:Well the woman wasn't very clear about anything so I just gave her my CV and decided I'd look it up at home, but the website is not the best either...you can look it up on google maps

Dean Moriarty

do you know when they are going to get back to us? i hope soon.

Surfalicious

Nope she didn't say much just smiled at me (kinda freaky if you ask me). I'm not even sure if i'd take it I want to go travelling the world first.. :rolleyes:

Kohl

Dean Moriarty wrote: »

do you know when they are going to get back to us? i hope soon.

They're looking for someone with a diploma in education right?

Dean Moriarty

Not exclusively afaik. I know a girl who was in my marketing class 2010 whos been over there for the last couple of years and the guy that was there said they're taking people from all disciplines. I'm doing a CELT course atm though and he said that'd be a definite advantage.

Kohl

Dean Moriarty wrote: »

Not exclusively afaik. I know a girl who was in my marketing class 2010 whos been over there for the last couple of years and the guy that was there said they're taking people from all disciplines. I'm doing a CELT course atm though and he said that'd be a definite advantage.

It must be a general application thing. They might be sounding people out. I wonder if there is an e-mail address or something. Hmmm. Right.

solerina

I have a friend over there, her degree is in Leisure from. As far as I remember 20+ young Irish started there in September. Money isnt great in year 1 but you get great bonuses if you stay on (gets better by the year apparently).. She would recommend it anyway

gavmurf89

Just got an email back from the Al Najah school this morning. I have a Skype interview next week for a position as an English teacher.
Just wondering if anyone has any advice on what I'll need to know/say for the interview or any tips in general?

shamcga

I just got offered a job in Al Najah and i was wondering what its like over there and did anyone enjoy it.

collopy1989

Hi guys,

I have just been offered a teaching post for Al Najah private school in Abu Dhabi, just wondering if anyone else has been offered a place to start in September? news still sinking in!thanks in advance!:)

collopy1989

me too,would love to contact other people that are heading over to start in sept '12!:)

collopy1989

Hi Maggie,
was just offered job in Al Najah as a classroom teacher?do u know what age group this would be?thanks

gavmurf89

Just got offered a job there as well!

shamcga

Unreal are u gonna take it

maggie_cork

collopy1989 wrote: »

Hi Maggie,
was just offered job in Al Najah as a classroom teacher?do u know what age group this would be?thanks

Congrats.. well it could range between 3 years and 10'sh

KG1 KG2 is about 3-years
Grade 1 - 5-7 yrs Grade 2 - 7 -8 yrs Grade 3 - 8-9 yrs

but the kids ages arent as clear cut like that.. you'll get a mix of ages

Mary1988

Got offered a job in this school aswell. it seems pure dodge. Does anyone have any friends in this school who have taught there. do we get training or are we just thrown in the deep end.

shamcga

No clue but it's gonna be unreal I found out loads it's not dodge im going to

niamhl90

I was just offered a job today as well and I only applied yesterday?? I applied for Sabis over a month ago and I still haven't been offered a position (or been told I didn't get it), how can this school do it so fast? very dodge if you ask me!
Has anyone been sent the contract yet? what's it like?

shamcga

They're on the second round of interview everyone I've been talking to said there the best to work for and theres 25 teachers over there. Think there tryin to get them all sorted! Apparently there really easy going and it's close to the city kinda and the apartments are mean to be lovely I'm going and I know of four other people near where I live going

Mary1988

Got an email saying my application was rejected by the ministry of education. I actually cant believe it, It seems so unprofessional. I seen quiet a few people got sent the same email. What am I meant to do now, I have turned down jobs and not applied for masters because I believe I had this job. I emailed them but no email back.

collopy1989

hey mary thats really weird,where do u go to college,i was offered a place back in may but i didnt accept as i have commitments here,my best friend was there in this school for 2 years and is just home,she really liked it. I got offered the job and I didnt even have any kind of interview,all I did was email my friend my cv in March and she gave it to someone in the school and in May I had an email offering me a job??!!bit weird like isnt it,

Mary1988

I went to college in the University of Limerick. Ya I know it is very weird, the email was sent to several people so its not only me in this situation. I have emailed them back but no reply. Is there any one out there who might know someone to contact in the school? Thanks

shamcga

I don't understand how can that happen? Did u get ur degree certified by the embassy and all? What position. Were u meant to have over there?

Mary1988

No I didnt get my degree certified by the embassy because when I sent off my documents to them, I had not finished college and did not have my final results. I know other people though who also only sent there latest results the same time as me and they have not been told the same news I have been told. I dunno what to do and cant get in contact with Raj as he wont email me back.

collopy1989

whats your email address Mary?email me your number to my email

gtlmullen

I got the same email telling me I had been rejected. Absolutely sickened about it. Emailed Raj a few days ago to see why i was rejected and if there was anything I could do and he hasn't emailed me back. Know another lad in same situation. Nice of them to leave it this late.

Mary1988

Have you had any reply back from them yet? I have still not heard anything.

Mary1988

U want my email address is it?

0861189

Hi,
I've had the same problems with my application at the moment. I missed a deadline on June 15th but they allowed me to re-apply and complete the ministry forms etc. It's now four weeks since I have heard from them and I don't know whether or not I should be doing something in the meantime.

ULgrad11

Mary1988 wrote: »

Got an email saying my application was rejected by the ministry of education. I actually cant believe it, It seems so unprofessional. I seen quiet a few people got sent the same email. What am I meant to do now, I have turned down jobs and not applied for masters because I believe I had this job. I emailed them but no email back.

Hey Mary and all,
I'm sorry to hear that your application got rejected. This happened to a lot of people this year, I think around 14 in total. It is because the teaching council in Abu Dhabi won't allow the school to hire anyone that doesn't have a teaching degree. This was not the case when I applied.
However, please don't be upset because to be honest it is not a nice place to work. I spent a year there and only for the people I met there I would have left after a month working there. I'm not going to go into details but the only good thing I could say about the school is that the teachers are really nice. So I think you got a lucky escape.
If you still want to work in the UAE try International Schools in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi because they are the best. Also even though applications may be finished for now still send on your CV and a cover letter to random schools because there sometimes there will be people leaving at Christmas time. Hope this helps and makes you feel a little bit better

NicRels88

Hi,
I just came across this forum looking for information about Al Najah School in Abu Dhabi, I`m starting there as a classroom teacher in September and was just wondering if anybody else was flying out from Dublin in a few weeks!

gavmurf89

NicRels88 wrote: »

Hi,
I just came across this forum looking for information about Al Najah School in Abu Dhabi, I`m starting there as a classroom teacher in September and was just wondering if anybody else was flying out from Dublin in a few weeks!

Ya there's 3 of us flying out together Sept 3rd at 9.20am from Dublin. Are you flying the same day?

0861189

Hi Guys,
Is there anybody who has signed contracts with this school and is waiting to hear back about their flight details or start date? Me and another lad are in this position.

NicRels88

gavmurf89 wrote: »

Ya there's 3 of us flying out together Sept 3rd at 9.20am from Dublin. Are you flying the same day?

Ah no way I`m on that flight as well, there must be a few of us so! Have you heard anything more from the school apart from the flights? I haven't heard that much.

shamcga

Theres three more of us flying out too if you check you itenary there's like 9 of us flying out on my list and my friend has another one with some more names and there's loads of Irish teachers in the school it's meant to be the best crack ever

ArtSmart

is there no 'Teaching in the Middle East threads on boards?

there should be. check out the web. the truth is hard to find (for example ULggrad11's subtle post - though the International Schools are even worse than state schools).

yes, there may be exceptions within an individual school, but it's when you step outside the 'fun' begins.

my personal advice? go ANYWHERE else other than the Middle East

ps. I'm not prepared to go into detail either (like ULgrad11) but for those of you about to go, make sure you have enough money to get a one way flight out - and TRY to hold onto your passport (a lot trickier than you might think, as the schools tend to 'mind' it for you.)

purplepapillon

ULgrad11 wrote: »

...to be honest it is not a nice place to work. I spent a year there and only for the people I met there I would have left after a month working there. I'm not going to go into details but the only good thing I could say about the school is that the teachers are really nice.

ArtSmart wrote: »

my personal advice? go ANYWHERE else other than the Middle East

ps. I'm not prepared to go into detail either (like ULgrad11) but for those of you about to go, make sure you have enough money to get a one way flight out - and TRY to hold onto your passport (a lot trickier than you might think, as the schools tend to 'mind' it for you.)

I've been following this thread for a while cos it might be something I'll do next year or the following one.

ArtSmart, would you say this applies to all industries in the Middle East? My brother is working there in hospitality and doesn't seem to have any problems as far as I know.

A few friends of mine have been teaching English abroad (France,Spain and South America) and had similar experiences of schools with poor structures, policies, resources and supports for teachers. A few of them did stay just to "finish it out" or because they could put up with it and had a few mates and so on. How does one find a "good school" abroad?? There should definitely be a sticky thread on this!

ArtSmart

purplepapillon wrote: »

I've been following this thread for a while cos it might be something I'll do next year or the following one.

ArtSmart, would you say this applies to all industries in the Middle East? My brother is working there in hospitality and doesn't seem to have any problems as far as I know.

A few friends of mine have been teaching English abroad (France,Spain and South America) and had similar experiences of schools with poor structures, policies, resources and supports for teachers. A few of them did stay just to "finish it out" or because they could put up with it and had a few mates and so on. How does one find a "good school" abroad?? There should definitely be a sticky thread on this!

Can't speak for other industries. Yes, it's dreadful all over in quite a few, but not all - international schools (ie schools that exist for profit) but the Middle East is different in the laws and customs it has.

I'm gonna say this and be damned. In the middle east, as a foreigner you have no rights whatsoever. WHATSOEVER. Do a small bit of net search on Westerners/ Foreigners and Jail/ law breaking/ punishment/ justice/ and the middle east. upset the wrong person/ people and its all over. that's all it takes.

not getting into this thread any deeper, so nuff said by me.

PS, as for finding a 'good school' it's tough. here's some tips

a/ is the school a non-profit organisation

b/ has it existed for at least 15 years?

c/ do they tell you the wages when you ask?

d/ do they have a 'presence' in the world?

e/ do they answer any queries you post them in appropriate detail?

f/ are they 'benefits' packages on their website?

g/ can they explain their curriculum/ teaching philosophy?


if yes to all these, you have a 50% chance they are legit.

purplepapillon

ArtSmart wrote: »

Do a small bit of net search on Westerners/ Foreigners and Jail/ law breaking/ punishment/ justice/ and the middle east. upset the wrong person/ people and its all over. that's all it takes.

I've done like ten minutes of research and found so much. I knew obviously there's a completely different culture. My bro has told me a bit, about restrictions on pork, alcohol and people having servants and stuff. It would never have been on my list of "places to go", to see the towers in Dubai or anything, not my thing, but he's lived in a few different places in the Middle East, mainly for money I think, not the lifestyle. He works a lot and then leaves after a year or two. Some of the stuff I found is downright scary. I was keeping an eye on this thread, like I said, cos he was back for a holiday during the summer and it sounded like a possible opportunity for me next year. Not so sure now. I need to find a place to go though. Getting itchy feet here with everyone gone.

Thanks for the tips for finding a school though! Very handy little list

ArtSmart

purplepapillon wrote: »

I've done like ten minutes of research and found so much. I knew obviously there's a completely different culture. My bro has told me a bit, about restrictions on pork, alcohol and people having servants and stuff. It would never have been on my list of "places to go", to see the towers in Dubai or anything, not my thing, but he's lived in a few different places in the Middle East, mainly for money I think, not the lifestyle. He works a lot and then leaves after a year or two. Some of the stuff I found is downright scary. I was keeping an eye on this thread, like I said, cos he was back for a holiday during the summer and it sounded like a possible opportunity for me next year. Not so sure now. I need to find a place to go though. Getting itchy feet here with everyone gone.

Thanks for the tips for finding a school though! Very handy little list

i seen a few threads on the middle east on boards, (just did a search on this forum) lot of info there.

my perspective?

I'd suggest you go anywhere else in the world but the Middle East. With the possible exception of Bolivia in Latin America and some parts of Africa, especially Somalia. Life's too short for insanity.

if you're concerned about making money, go to the UK. Really.

Art Out.

Tom Dunne

ArtSmart wrote: »

Can't speak for other industries. Yes, it's dreadful all over in quite a few, but not all - international schools (ie schools that exist for profit) but the Middle East is different in the laws and customs it has.

I'm gonna say this and be damned. In the middle east, as a foreigner you have no rights whatsoever. WHATSOEVER. Do a small bit of net search on Westerners/ Foreigners and Jail/ law breaking/ punishment/ justice/ and the middle east. upset the wrong person/ people and its all over. that's all it takes.

not getting into this thread any deeper, so nuff said by me.

PS, as for finding a 'good school' it's tough. here's some tips

a/ is the school a non-profit organisation

b/ has it existed for at least 15 years?

c/ do they tell you the wages when you ask?

d/ do they have a 'presence' in the world?

e/ do they answer any queries you post them in appropriate detail?

f/ are they 'benefits' packages on their website?

g/ can they explain their curriculum/ teaching philosophy?


if yes to all these, you have a 50% chance they are legit.

While I agree that the laws are biased towards the locals, I don't think it is as bad as you are making out. I'm in the Middle East over three years now and I have to say it's a fantastic experience.

Work ethic and customs differ somewhat, but my time over here been generally very positive. (I should point out I'm not in the UAE, though)

ArtSmart

Tom Dunne wrote: »

While I agree that the laws are biased towards the locals, I don't think it is as bad as you are making out. I'm in the Middle East over three years now and I have to say it's a fantastic experience.

Work ethic and customs differ somewhat, but my time over here been generally very positive. (I should point out I'm not in the UAE, though)

Have you tried getting drunk in public?



Look, I'm not getting into it, for the exact reason of your 'been here X years, and while X, to me it's all fab' type of response.


there are different levels of intensity in different areas, but I can say without doubt, if you step on the wrong toes, you will soon understand the difference between a democracy and an oligarchy/ kingdom.

and that's the crux of the matter - even the 'local' exist under this political structure. It aint what's right or wrong, it's 'to whom are you connected?'

and please possible posters, dont tell me that's the same everywhere, coz it aint. Democracy, oh how we take her for granted.

Tom Dunne

ArtSmart wrote: »

Have you tried getting drunk in public?

I do enjoy a drink most weekends at local hotels, bars and restaurants. However, part of living in a culture, such as an Islamic culture, is also about respecting their beliefs and customs too.

ArtSmart wrote: »

Look, I'm not getting into it, for the exact reason of your 'been here X years, and while X, to me it's all fab' type of response.

I think when people are making up their minds about living in a different country, it is important that they get a varied and wide range of opinions. Only then can they make an informed decision as to whether a particular culture suits their lifestyle.

ArtSmart

Tom Dunne wrote: »

However, part of living in a culture, such as an Islamic culture, is also about respecting their beliefs and customs too.

yup, no argument there.


I think when people are making up their minds about living in a different country, it is important that they get a varied and wide range of opinions. Only then can they make an informed decision as to whether a particular culture suits their lifestyle.

yup, no argument there.


as long as folk know they are entering a society which does not follow a democratic process, that's cool.

teacher123

Hi,

Im still waiting to hear from them regarding my delay. I dont know if iv bn rejected or why.





School starts.next sunday so im nervous about all this delay.

teacher123

Not only has this school failed to inform me in June that my application was rejected even though they knew, they kept me on line for three months until the start of September, constantly telling me to wait, until the very end.

Then to make matters worse they couldn't tell me why it was rejected, as I am qualified, but didn't inform me. I had to send someone to find out what's happening.

By the time that happened all the school could say was that I had been replaced, without apology.

Perhaps it was my fault, as Raj on the other seemed to have minimal English to communicate adequately.

Well, this leaves doors open to work at a better school, with probably a much better salary.


Blessing in disguise