Now ye're talking - to a teacher in Dubai

Boards.ie: Niamh · 26-08-2019 3:07pm #1

Our next guest is an Irish teacher currently working in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She is here to answer questions about teaching in the UAE and the differences between teaching there and in Ireland.
Given that moving to the Middle East for a few years is something a number of Irish people do in various careers, I'm sure there will be lots of questions.

SureYWouldntYa · 26-08-2019 3:12pm

What was your 3rd level education in before going down a TEFL route (i'm assuming that's your role I could be wrong)

I'm seeing a few friends going down the TEFL route when their primary degree isn't teaching related at all, might be something to interest me in the future

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 3:28pm

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

What was your 3rd level education in before going down a TEFL route (i'm assuming that's your role I could be wrong)

I'm seeing a few friends going down the TEFL route when their primary degree isn't teaching related at all, might be something to interest me in the future

Hi SureYWouldntYa!
I did a degree in music and education, which qualifies me to teach secondary school. I'm currently teaching in a British Curriculum International School in Dubai.
I've never done TEFL, so I'm afraid that I can't help you there.
With regards to the qualifications needed for teaching in Dubai, the KHDA (like the Department of Education for private schools), and the Ministry of Education (MOE) are really starting to get strict with the qualifications you have to have to be allowed to teach in Dubai. They are now in the process of making it compulsory to have a degree in your subject(s) and a teaching qualification I order for a school to be allowed to hire you. Most schools won't even interview you without a degree and teaching degree anyway, but SABIS are still the exception to that at the moment, as far as I'm aware.
Honestly, there really wouldn't be much work in Dubai for someone who has TEFL and not a teaching qualification, as a lot of teachers do tutoring on the side.

unklerosco · 26-08-2019 3:41pm

Whats the salary like? Perks etc. You hear lots of storys of great money, moving allowance, rent, food, bills paid for. Is that all true?

How do you find the culture and settling in over there? Do you plan to stay for long or will you do a few years and come back to Ireland.

Donald Trump · 26-08-2019 3:46pm

Do you have any worries about being arrested and jailed for "normal" activities while over there?

Or can you legally do whatever you like once you are in your compound

I had a friend who taught in Saudi. Obviously more strict there but she said that the students were awful privileged, lazy and stuck up

Mars Bar · 26-08-2019 3:59pm

Are you going to Westlife on Thursday? :pac:

Do you look at the schools in UAE and think about how gloomy and understimulating Irish primary schools were when we were kids? (I'm 30 so talking mid 90's to 00's)/ The amazing facilities on offer to the kids here is ridiculous.

How many hours do you work a day? I think it's a longer work day than in Ireland.

Asalaamu al-aykum min Abu Dhabi!

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 4:28pm

Unclerosco, it really depends on the school you go to. I'm in what's referred to as a "midmarket" school, so our wages are on the lower end. I make around €2400 per month, but if you were in a "premium" school, you could be looking at €3000 upwards.
The perks are fairly decent, to be fair!
I get a flight allowance for one set of flights per year, medical insurance, and a one bedroom apartment to myself.
I don't get any of my WiFi/electricity/municipality/food bills paid, but I have heard of the odd school that pay the electricity/municipality bill too.

I really like the culture in Dubai. There's a great scope to either really chill out, it party hard over here!
I'm in my second year over here, so I think I've done my "settling in". I was absolutely fine initially, but I did get a bit homesick for a few days in the November. I don't think I really fully settled in until March, but I don't think it was that unusual. There are a few GAA clubs over here, so if you're in anyway sporty, I imagine that would help the transition a bit quicker. There are a lot of Irish people in Dubai, so I imagine it wouldn't take you too long to run into one of us!
I so plan on staying in Dubai for a few more years, although I think I will look for a different school once my contract is up this Summer. Long-term, I'd love to come home, but there's no jobs there, so, for me anyway, I don't see the point in coming home just to end up without a job.

eeloe · 26-08-2019 4:33pm

Do you find your 2400 a month goes very far?

When i was there in 2012, i did notice that it was VERY expensive.

Can't imagine living there being much cheaper, considering the tourist prices.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 4:41pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

Do you have any worries about being arrested and jailed for "normal" activities while over there?

Or can you legally do whatever you like once you are in your compound

I had a friend who taught in Saudi. Obviously more strict there but she said that the students were awful privileged, lazy and stuck up

Saudi is a very different ballpark compared to Dubai! Dubai is much more "westernised".
I can honestly say that I don't have any worries about being arrested doing "normal" activities over here. In general, the local Emiratis don't pay all that much attention to the "westerners", and I've never had any issues with them. You know as a rule of thumb that if you're out drinking, not to start a fight, or be puking/p*ssing on the streets over here, or you'll definitely be arrested for being publicly drunk. It's just common sense really.
You can go around on the public beaches in a bikini, and nobody says anything. It is a bit unusual seeing someone in a bikini less than 5 feet from a woman in an abaya and hijab, but it's not seen as an issue.
There's a good mix of students. I teach both some of the loveliest students, and some of the most self-entitled and downright rudest students I've ever taught. In a good school, the rude and self-entitled ones will be put back in their boxes by management quick enough!

Limpy · 26-08-2019 4:54pm

Would the school tell you what topics to cover? Would you have to tell the teenage students that being gay is punishable by death or would most people know that already?

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 4:57pm

Mars Bar wrote: »

Are you going to Westlife on Thursday? :pac:

Do you look at the schools in UAE and think about how gloomy and understimulating Irish primary schools were when we were kids? (I'm 30 so talking mid 90's to 00's)/ The amazing facilities on offer to the kids here is ridiculous.

How many hours do you work a day? I think it's a longer work day than in Ireland.

Asalaamu al-aykum fee Abu Dhabi!

No, sadly I am not going to Westlife on Thursday.ðŸ˜
(Although if you know of anyone selling two tickets, I'm your gal!)
I'm teaching in Secondary, not primary, but my school goes right the way up from Junior Infants to 6th Year of Secondary.
Looking at the facilities that even a "midmarket" school like mine has, it is really depressing to think of the lack of facilities in a lot schools back home. The Dept of Ed back home really do need to make a serious investment in education, but we all know that the likelihood of that happening is sadly less than zero!
My contracted hours are 7am to either 3pm or 4pm, depending on the day, but I often end up bringing a lot of paperwork home. I don't teach a "core curricular" subject, so I see an average of 600 kids per week. There's a lot of marking and planning as a result, which I just don't get the time I need to get it done in my normal work hours.

Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam min eind Dubai!!

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 5:09pm

eeloe wrote: »

Do you find your 2400 a month goes very far?

When i was there in 2012, i did notice that it was VERY expensive.

Can't imagine living there being much cheaper, considering the tourist prices.

Dubai is absolutely an expensive city to live in, however, if you're strict with yourself, it doesn't have to be extortionate. Last year I found that my wages covered enough for me to pay my few bills back home, pay my bills here (the cost of WiFi is eyewatering!) and have a few nights out. I really wasn't strict with myself at all last year, so I'm forcing myself to budget better this year so that I'll have some savings by the end of the year.
There's a great app called The Entertainer that has a lot of 2for1 deals on it for the year. You have to pay for it, but it more than pays for itself by the end of the year! It's great for going out and about.

eeloe · 26-08-2019 5:14pm

Also, just another question if you don't mind.

I've heard that martial arts and in particular Jiu Jitsu is being made a part of the curriculum in schools over in the UAE, is this true?

Mars Bar · 26-08-2019 5:19pm

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

No, sadly I am not going to Westlife on Thursday.&#55357;&#56877;
(Although if you know of anyone selling two tickets, I'm your gal!)
I'm teaching in Secondary, not primary, but my school goes right the way up from Junior Infants to 6th Year of Secondary.
Looking at the facilities that even a "midmarket" school like mine has, it is really depressing to think of the lack of facilities in a lot schools back home. The Dept of Ed back home really do need to make a serious investment in education, but we all know that the likelihood of that happening is sadly less than zero!
My contracted hours are 7am to either 3pm or 4pm, depending on the day, but I often end up bringing a lot of paperwork home. I don't teach a "core curricular" subject, so I see an average of 600 kids per week. There's a lot of marking and planning as a result, which I just don't get the time I need to get it done in my normal work hours.

Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam min eind Dubai!!

A massive part of my job is to go to schools in Abu Dhabi and deliver football coaching sessions as part of the ECA or ECP. Full size astro pitches and swimming pools...it just makes your eyes water.
I am aware that parents are paying good money for it, though.

I always slightly envy the package that teachers get. One return flight a year, accommodation and the sweet teacher promotions on car rentals and some brunches.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 5:23pm

Limpy wrote: »

Would the school tell you what topics to cover? Would you have to tell the teenage students that being gay is punishable by death or would most people know that already?

We are a British Curriculum School, so we follow the National Curriculum for England, and the different iGCSE and A Level syllabi for the exam years.
Being gay is 100% illegal in Dubai.
You don't talk about it with the students, it taboo.
You also don't mention things like sex, relationships, drugs, alcohol and religion.
Because of the subject I teach, they're not topics that'd come up with me anyway.
Gay people are working in Dubai, they just don't advertise their sexuality publicly. It's illegal for a man and a woman to live together without being married (people still do anyway), but no-one would bat an eyelid at two men or two women living together in a "flatshare".

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 5:26pm

eeloe wrote: »

Also, just another question if you don't mind.

I've heard that martial arts and in particular Jiu Jitsu is being made a part of the curriculum in schools over in the UAE, is this true?

No problem at all!
I haven't heard about that being introduced as part of the curriculum over here. That's not to say that certain schools might be offering it as part of their PE curriculum or as an extracurricular activity, but my school isn't.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 5:33pm

Mars Bar wrote: »

A massive part of my job is to go to schools in Abu Dhabi and deliver football coaching sessions as part of the ECA or ECP. Full size astro pitches and swimming pools...it just makes your eyes water.
I am aware that parents are paying good money for it, though.

I always slightly envy the package that teachers get. One return flight a year, accommodation and the sweet teacher promotions on car rentals and some brunches.

Schools with a pool come with a fairly steep pricetag per child per year. I'd say the parents have all paid for it several times over at this stage! Astro pitches seem to be a standard thing, even if you're not in a "premium" school. You can definitely see the difference in the demographics of the schools depending on their pricetag though.
I'll not deny that for the most part, we get a good deal. Haven't found any brunches that do a teacher's discount; you'll have to let me know where they are!

Dave0301 · 26-08-2019 5:34pm

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

We are a British Curriculum School, so we follow the National Curriculum for England, and the different iGCSE and A Level syllabi for the exam years.
Being gay is 100% illegal in Dubai.
You don't talk about it with the students, it taboo.
You also don't mention things like sex, relationships, drugs, alcohol and religion.
Because of the subject I teach, they're not topics that'd come up with me anyway.
Gay people are working in Dubai, they just don't advertise their sexuality publicly. It's illegal for a man and a woman to live together without being married (people still do anyway), but no-one would bat an eyelid at two men or two women living together in a "flatshare".

How do you and other Western teachers feel about that? Is it a big elephant in the room, or do people just shrug it off?

Do you teach children from Dubai families or the families of ex-pats as well?

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 5:46pm

Dave0301 wrote: »

How do you and other Western teachers feel about that? Is it a big elephant in the room, or do people just shrug it off?

Do you teach children from Dubai families or the families of ex-pats as well?

It's a bit of a funny one really... If we're in a group of expats, it might be brought up that "this is so and so's girlfriend/boyfriend", but other than that, it's not really mentioned. To be fair though, I wouldn't go around asking everybody what their sexuality is back home anyway, so it's not that big a deal to me. As my Mammy says - "I don't care who they're sleeping with or praying/not praying to, once they're a decent person". It doesn't seem to bother the gay people that I know out here all that much either. They can still get on with their lives pretty much as normal, they just can't go snogging eachother in public (heterosexual couples aren't allowed snog eachother in public either, fyi).
Again, the locals tend to turn a blind eye to westerners, once they're not being offensive in front of them.

I teach a mix of local and expat kids over here. Because I'm in a "midmarket" school, most of the expat kids that I teach are Middle Eastern/Indian/Pakistani/African/Eastern European.
Most of the Irish/British/American kids go to "premium" schools.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 5:50pm

OSI wrote: »

I’m surprised it’s that “low”. I thought the whole point of people heading over there was that salaries were multiples of those you can achieve in Ireland. What was your motivation for going over?

The market is getting a bit tighter over here at the moment, so salaries aren't as high as they were 10 years ago, because more teachers are trying to come out here.
I moved over here because there was no job for me at home. Most of my friends who are still at home are on 6, 8 and 11hr contracts, or don't even have a contract, and are relying on sub work, and that's just not sustainable. I knew that coming over here I'd have at least 2 years full-time teaching, where I could get more experience.
I also want to travel, as Dubai is a great transit hub for traveling!

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 6:57pm

Mr.S wrote: »

Does it get a bit tiring / boring being around a constant stream of transient ex-pats? I'd imagine mixing with locals isn't common and properly integrating isn't a factor you need to consider.

I'm surprised at the salary, but given your rent is paid for it must still work out well. I had assumed Dubai was the land of sky-high salaries. Is a salary at that rate not obtainable in teaching in Ireland?

It doesn't get boring, but sometimes it makes it harder to make friends? I knew nobody when I moved to Dubai, and the group from my school that I moved over with wouldn't be my main friend group now, a year later.
Everybody comes over here knowing that most people will be here for at least 2 years if they're a teacher (standard initial contracts over here are 2 years, and can be renewed after that year on year). Most of the people I'd hang out with now have been here for more than 3 years, and don't have any plans on going home anytime soon.
Mixing with locals wouldn't really happen for adults. It's not uncommon for children in school to mix, but it'd be rare to see it as adults. No, we're not expected to integrate, but we are expected to be respectful of the country and culture we're in, but I don't think that's unreasonable - if someone came to Ireland, I'd expect them to be respectful of my country and culture too.

It works out alright, but it's not allowing me to save as much as I'd like to. If you're working high up in management, or as a principal, you're easily making 5 or 6 times more than the rest of us per month, and have better perks to go with it!
A few years ago, when it was harder to get teacher to move over, the money was better, but now that more teachers want to move over, there's more competition for jobs, so the packages aren't as good as they once were.
For me, it would be very difficult to make that back home. I'd need to be on full time, permanent hours, and they just don't exist anymore sadly. The two tier pay scale back home doesn't help matters much either. If I was at home, I'd be looking at somewhere between 6-11hrs (if I was lucky), or I'd be relying on sub work, so it's be a very very long time (if ever) that I'd be making that at home.

vriesmays · 26-08-2019 6:57pm

Why move to Dubai to earn less than €30k.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 7:05pm

vriesmays wrote: »

Why move to Dubai to earn less than €30k.

I kind of feel like I'm repeating myself now, so this is the last time I'm answering this type of question, if people don't mind.

The jobs just do not exist at home. I know the government have been bleeting on about the supposed shortage of teachers back home, but the majority of those jobs are for irregular sub work, or low hours (8 hrs or less) contracts. I saw an advertisement for a 3hr contract in a school on one of the Irish teaching jobs websites last week - how is anyone supposed to live off that?! It would cost more to go to work than you'd earn!
I would be relying on sub work, or very, very low hours (if I was lucky)! As a result, I wouldn't make that much at home, because the jobs and hours aren't there. At least over here I know that I'm guaranteed full time hours for at least two years.
I wouldn't be able to afford to rent the cupboard under the stairs in a house share back home, and over here the rent my own one bedroom apartment is paid for by my school (not including bills).
I also wanted to travel, and Dubai is a great place to be based to travel this part of the world!

freshpopcorn · 26-08-2019 7:09pm

How are people and the students regarding homosexuality? Would it ever be discussed in class for example.
Is it as bad as the internet makes out or are people more relaxed about it.

Stopitwillya · 26-08-2019 7:17pm

vriesmays wrote: »

Why move to Dubai to earn less than €30k.

30k tax free and your accommodation paid for is not the same as some poor fool earning that money in somewhere like Dublin and paying a fortune in tax and rent.
But then again you are only in here to troll and insult like the rest of the threads you do it.
What a loser.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 7:25pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

How are people and the students regarding homosexuality? Would it ever be discussed in class for example.
Is it as bad as the internet makes out or are people more relaxed about it.

Being gay is 100% illegal in Dubai.
You don't talk about it with the students, it's taboo.
You also don't mention things like sex, relationships, drugs, alcohol and religion.
Because of the subject I teach, they're not topics that'd come up with me anyway.
Gay people are working in Dubai, they just don't advertise their sexuality publicly. It's illegal for a man and a woman to live together without being married (people still do anyway), but no-one would bat an eyelid at two men or two women living together in a "flatshare".
I don't think it's something that's even on most of the kids radars to be honest; a lot of them are very innocent. I get the impression from most of the older kids that they don't particularly care one way or the other though.
From my experience of living in Dubai, I've never heard of gay people being targeted/arrested/persecuted, and I imagine that'd be something that'd spread like wildfire through the expat community if it did happen!
I think for a lot of people, they hear "Middle East" and think of Saudi. Saudi is a million time more strict than Dubai. Dubai is definitely more relaxed and "westernised" than Saudi. Nobody I know over here (gay or straight) has any desire to visit Saudi, even though we're practically next door!

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 7:34pm

Mr.S wrote: »

Makes sense!

How do you cope with the weather!?

Two words - Air Conditioning.
Seriously though, everywhere here has air-conditioning, so that helps. It's in the low 40's at the moment, but once it starts hitting mid 30's in about a month, I probably won't even notice the weather all that much.
You also have to make sure to stay really hydrated throughout the day.
You'd be surprised at how quickly you learn to acclimatise! When I first moved over here, I was convinced that I'd self combust if I went out into the sun for any length of time, and by Christmas Break, I thought 25° was wooly jumper and jeans weather! ðŸ˜‚

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 7:44pm

Mr.S wrote: »

Another question - how's the dating scene? Is it hard to find long-term relationships given the fact most people are on temp contracts for 2-3 years?

It really depends... some people have met their husband/wife over here. Over the Summer Holidays, several people in my school got engaged and married to people they met here.
The casual dating scene is alive and well, although trying to find something more long term is definitely harder.
There's a lot more western women than men over here, so they're in short supply (and they know it!). A lot (but not all!) of the guys over here know that there's a significant enough imbalance between the amount of men an women, and would rather "play the field" over here than commit to a relationship.
There's the theory that, if you want a long term relationship, you need to pretty much meet the guy while he's fresh off the plane, or his head will be turned.
Again, that's not all guys, but there's enough of them that it's regularly talked about among women over here.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 26-08-2019 7:45pm

Right, there's a 3hr time difference between Dubai and Ireland, so I'm logging out for the night. Back tomorrow!

Galwayguy35 · 26-08-2019 8:29pm

how long is the school year over there, I mean do the students get the same amount of holidays as here in Ireland?

ILoveYourVibes · 27-08-2019 2:57am

Why wouldn't you want to settle there long term?

Are students more studious there?

What are the differences between the young and old in politics social attitudes etc? Are they just as conservative or less so?

Have you learnt any Arabic?

Del2005 · 27-08-2019 3:12am

How do you work in a country that has so little respect for its own citizens or the majority of foreigners working there? They aren't a poor country yet they treat the majority of building workers and labourers worse than cattle while their women are all forced to be covered from head to toe in black robes while the men go around in lite white robes.

Sam Quentin · 27-08-2019 3:42am

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

There are a few GAA clubs over here, so if you're in anyway sporty, I imagine that would help the transition a bit quicker.

Are GAA jerseys not illegal and would they not be stoned for wearing them in public!? And also how do the players cope with not being stoned drunk every weekend like they do here in Ireland?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 27-08-2019 7:40am

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

I kind of feel like I'm repeating myself now, so this is the last time I'm answering this type of question, if people don't mind.

Don't feel you have to repeat the same question all the time.

If you don't mind what subject(s) do you teach?

Stroke Politics · 27-08-2019 7:55am

Love this AMA, well done to you!

Just wondering if there are any older Irish teachers in Dubai/UAE? I’m 50 and mortgage won’t be paid off until I’m 67, so was considering going out for a two year period in about 8 or 10 years time once my own children are finished college. Would I have any chance of getting a job out there or would they not take me on account of my age?

Sir_Name · 27-08-2019 7:55am

Mars Bar wrote: »

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

No, sadly I am not going to Westlife on Thursday.��
(Although if you know of anyone selling two tickets, I'm your gal!)
I'm teaching in Secondary, not primary, but my school goes right the way up from Junior Infants to 6th Year of Secondary.
Looking at the facilities that even a "midmarket" school like mine has, it is really depressing to think of the lack of facilities in a lot schools back home. The Dept of Ed back home really do need to make a serious investment in education, but we all know that the likelihood of that happening is sadly less than zero!
My contracted hours are 7am to either 3pm or 4pm, depending on the day, but I often end up bringing a lot of paperwork home. I don't teach a "core curricular" subject, so I see an average of 600 kids per week. There's a lot of marking and planning as a result, which I just don't get the time I need to get it done in my normal work hours.

Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam min eind Dubai!!

A massive part of my job is to go to schools in Abu Dhabi and deliver football coaching sessions as part of the ECA or ECP. Full size astro pitches and swimming pools...it just makes your eyes water.
I am aware that parents are paying good money for it, though.

I always slightly envy the package that teachers get. One return flight a year, accommodation and the sweet teacher promotions on car rentals and some brunches.

Sorry off topic: There's packages everywhere here regarding rentals for the most part. However if you think you would be here more than two years i would buy a second hand car!
I don't have any kids here but school fees are astronomical... if you're lucky you get an allowance from work!

I have heard teachers have to amend markings to offset aggrieved parents. Is this true. Would make me doubt the system and actual grades...

Gloomtastic! · 27-08-2019 7:56am

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

There's a good mix of students. I teach both some of the loveliest students, and some of the most self-entitled and downright rudest students I've ever taught. In a good school, the rude and self-entitled ones will be put back in their boxes by management quick enough!

Interested in how management put them back in their boxes. Can you expand please?

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 10:21am

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

how long is the school year over there, I mean do the students get the same amount of holidays as here in Ireland?

The school this year begins on 1st September, and finishes on 2nd July, so it is a longer year.
We get a one week break in October, 3 weeks for Christmas, and one week in February. We also get most of the national and religious holidays off.
For the holy month of Ramadan, schools are all on reduced hours because a lot of the teachers and students will be fasting. At the end of Ramadan we get a few days off for the Eid celebrations.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 10:31am

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Why wouldn't you want to settle there long term?

Are students more studious there?

What are the differences between the young and old in politics social attitudes etc? Are they just as conservative or less so?

Have you learnt any Arabic?

Long-term I'll always want to be closer to my family, so that would be a personal choice for me.
I think it's a mix, same as everywhere. I have some incredibly dedicated and hardworking students, and then I have some kids who think that their parents money will solve everything for them for the rest of their lives!
I find that the younger generations are definitely becoming less conservative than their predecessors, bit you obviously still wouldn't eat a rather sandwich while drinking a pint in front of them, because that's haram.
Naäam, I have learnt to speak a little bit of "survival" Arabic (hello, goodbye etc.), but I definitely want to learn more this year! I can't write in Arabic, but once I can speak it a bit, that doesn't bother me!

Mars Bar · 27-08-2019 10:38am

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

The school this year begins on 1st September, and finishes on 2nd July, so it is a longer year.
We get a one week break in October, 3 weeks for Christmas, and one week in February. We also get most of the national and religious holidays off.
For the holy month of Ramadan, schools are all on reduced hours because a lot of the teachers and students will be fasting. At the end of Ramadan we get a few days off for the Eid celebrations.

2 weeks for spring break too

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 11:43am

Sam Quentin wrote: »

Are GAA jerseys not illegal and would they not be stoned for wearing them in public!? And also how do the players cope with not being stoned drunk every weekend like they do here in Ireland?

GAA jerseys are not illegal, and are worn fairly regularly. Absolutely no stoning for wearing them in public!
As for the not drinking part, if you ever come to Dubai, you'll see the expats drink more here than they ever did at home! Pretty much every hotel have a bar attached, and a lot of the restaurants have alcohol licences. If you have your own personal alcohol licence, then you can legally buy alcohol in one of the off-licence's, and drink at home.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 11:50am

Mars Bar wrote: »

2 weeks for spring break too

Knew I was forgetting something!
Yes, two weeks for Spring Break in addition to the rest of the breaks!

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 11:53am

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Don't feel you have to repeat the same question all the time.

If you don't mind what subject(s) do you teach?

Thanks.
I'm a secondary school Music teacher.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 12:10pm

Deanov wrote: »

I have heard teachers have to amend markings to offset aggrieved parents. Is this true. Would make me doubt the system and actual grades...

I'm happy enough with renting. I do get the point about buying a car second hand though, but at the moment I don't know where in the world I'll be this time next year, so it doesn't make sense for me to buy at the moment. I'd like to stay in Dubai, but it really depends on the jobs that come up.

I legally cannot talk about the above as part of my contract.
However, what I will say, is that I wholeheartedly disagree with anyone being made to change a students grade to one that they have not earned, as it is not a true reflection of the child's work. It does the students no favours for when they eventually sit their iGCSE's or A Levels, as the exam boards won't be changing anyone's grades to suit parents!
Also, it's not always the parents that are the ones telling teachers to change a students grade. It mostly comes from within the school itself. Or so I've heard....

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 12:23pm

Stroke Politics wrote: »

Love this AMA, well done to you!

Just wondering if there are any older Irish teachers in Dubai/UAE? I’m 50 and mortgage won’t be paid off until I’m 67, so was considering going out for a two year period in about 8 or 10 years time once my own children are finished college. Would I have any chance of getting a job out there or would they not take me on account of my age?

Thanks!

I haven't come across any Irish teachers in their 50's over here, but that's not to say that they don't exist!
One of the departments in my school has a teacher who I'm pretty sure is in their 50's at this stage, so it does happen.
Last I'd heard, expat employees in Dubai legally had to be under 60 in order to get a work visa.
Most teachers in schools that I know of are under 40 though, unless they're right the way up in management.
Sorry, hope this helps a bit!

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 12:31pm

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Interested in how management put them back in their boxes. Can you expand please?

Teachers have to log behaviour incidents on the school system online. If a student hits a certain number of behaviour points, they have to go on report to their form tutor. If they don't improve, it's escalated to the Year Head, then Head of Primary/Secondary, then Principal. There's also internal and external exclusions.
Form tutors are expected to keep an eye on the log for their classes and talk it out with the student(s). There's also detentions, phonecalls/emails home, and meetings with parents. The kids are constantly reminded by their teachers that there is a certain level of behaviour and manners expected of them, and if the behaviour isn't up to par, they're called out on it.
Not that any of the above works on a very small (but disruptive) minority of the kids though, unfortunately....

Fan of Netflix · 27-08-2019 1:16pm

Know a good few teachers either out there or have been out there, it's pretty grim the way younger teachers are treated here with no hours, no pay, only subbing etc. Do you think it will improve here for teachers in the next few years ?

Have you been to Abu Dhabi? Irish teachers there too

What is the nightlife like, is it much different to here with Irish bars, nightclubs etc?

Have you ever encountered Christy or Daniel Kinahan, or any of the Irish drug dealers that live in exile in Dubai? Lol

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 1:56pm

Fan of Netflix wrote: »

Know a good few teachers either out there or have been out there, it's pretty grim the way younger teachers are treated here with no hours, no pay, only subbing etc. Do you think it will improve here for teachers in the next few years ?

Have you been to Abu Dhabi? Irish teachers there too

What is the nightlife like, is it much different to here with Irish bars, nightclubs etc?

Have you ever encountered Christy or Daniel Kinahan, or any of the Irish drug dealers that live in exile in Dubai? Lol

Yeah, the situation back home is very grim. I'd love to think that there's going to be a dramatic improvement in the next few years, but considering how long the Department of Education and Teaching Council have already had to try and fix the problems for teachers back home, I'm not optimistic.
In my own opinion, when the Minister for Education came to Dubai to meet the expat teachers, and hear all about why we weren't coming home to teach, he came across as very apathetic to it all, and didn't really engage with any of the teachers or topics that were brought up. If that's the attitude that the head of the Department of Education has towards teachers both at home and abroad, then I can't see a single thing changing for the better, which is so disheartening and frustrating!
I've only been to Any Dhabi on a day trip to the Grand Mosque (would highly recommend, the architecture is absolutely stunning!), but I'm hoping to go up there a bit more this year. Any suggestions for places not to miss in Abu Dhabi?
There's no shortage of nightlife over here!
There are bars (Irish and otherwise) aplenty, and (very, very) boozy "brunches" (all you can eat & drink for usually 3 or 4 hours). I think the main difference between here and home, is that when you go out drinking/partying, you're really going to go for it. It's rare that I've been on a casual night out with just the one or two drinks, which is a shame, since I'm not a big drinker.

No, I've never met any of them (as far as I'm aware, anyway)!

Dr.Sanchez · 27-08-2019 2:46pm

If you ever get bored with Dubai, you could look at Northeast Scotland. I lived there for five years (Aberdeen) and they were advertising for teachers on the telly - they are that desperate! It's not a bad place to live either, only an hour from Dublin.

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA · 27-08-2019 4:22pm

Dr.Sanchez wrote: »

If you ever get bored with Dubai, you could look at Northeast Scotland. I lived there for five years (Aberdeen) and they were advertising for teachers on the telly - they are that desperate! It's not a bad place to live either, only an hour from Dublin.

I've kind of accepted at this stage that if I ever want to come home to Ireland, then the UK is probably as close as I'm likely to get, considering the lack of sustainable jobs back home. I probably would have been more inclined to head towards London though, for all of the different Music venues there.
Something worth keeping in mind though, thanks for the heads up!

Mars Bar · 27-08-2019 4:35pm

I'm a teacher in Dubai, AMA wrote: »

Yeah, the situation back home is very grim. I'd love to think that there's going to be a dramatic improvement in the next few years, but considering how long the Department of Education and Teaching Council have already had to try and fix the problems for teachers back home, I'm not optimistic.
In my own opinion, when the Minister for Education came to Dubai to meet the expat teachers, and hear all about why we weren't coming home to teach, he came across as very apathetic to it all, and didn't really engage with any of the teachers or topics that were brought up. If that's the attitude that the head of the Department of Education has towards teachers both at home and abroad, then I can't see a single thing changing for the better, which is so disheartening and frustrating!
I've only been to Any Dhabi on a day trip to the Grand Mosque (would highly recommend, the architecture is absolutely stunning!), but I'm hoping to go up there a bit more this year. Any suggestions for places not to miss in Abu Dhabi?
There's no shortage of nightlife over here!
There are bars (Irish and otherwise) aplenty, and (very, very) boozy "brunches" (all you can eat & drink for usually 3 or 4 hours). I think the main difference between here and home, is that when you go out drinking/partying, you're really going to go for it. It's rare that I've been on a casual night out with just the one or two drinks, which is a shame, since I'm not a big drinker.

No, I've never met any of them (as far as I'm aware, anyway)!

Qasr Al Watan, Emirates Palace, The Founders Memorial and the Heritage Village are all close to each other. There's the new Qasr Al Hosn. I'm assuming you went across to Wahat Al Karama when you visited the Mosque?

I haven't been to the Louvre or the nearby Manarat Al Saadiyat but you can go to the Louvre and you can kayak around it. That's on my list to do.

Then there's the stuff on Yas Island such as Warner Bros., The Waterworld and Ferrari World (with the fastest rollercoaster in the world).

Now ye're talking - to a teacher in Dubai

Comments