Middle East teachers

[bintnail]

Hi,

Anyone here who has or is currently teaching in Middle East? On the Oxford seminar webSITE I see that countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Kuwait require a college agree in addition to the TESOL certificate. While i am not interested in the above countries, I would like to know if it is possible to get a job without having a college degree although it is required? I have heard it is possible but this info came from an unreliable source.

[Niko]

Yes, it's possible. I think this question has been asked numerous times. Try doing a search.

Obviously it's easier with a degree behind you.

[bintnail]

Thank you for replying. I will search through the forum for more information.

[ICAL_Pete]

In most places the basic requirements for teaching are a degree plus a certificate, however not having a degree does not always prevent one from teaching and there are many teachers working around the world without these ‘basic’ qualifications. Of course as with any job, the more you have to offer in terms of qualifications and experience, the better your chances of landing a well paid job with opportunities for advancement.

What often happens is that schools will be looking for teachers to start at the beginning of the school year (often after the Summer) and then again after Christmas (this is when some contract teachers decide to leave and the school is left with an unexpected vacancy). Obviously the schools will go for the most qualified candidates first, but if demand outstrips supply, they will be willing to employ teachers without a degree.

You should bear in mind though that a degree is often a requirement of the countries and their visa regulations and not so much a requirement of the institute that hires you. In many Asian countries you will need to hold a degree if you want to obtain your work visa and work legally. However it is reported that in Indonesia you don’t need a 4 year degree to teach English or to get a work permit.