ESOL Schools
ESOL Schools
Those schools are hiring. It seems like the turnover rate is very high this year. Does anyone know if those schools are bad places to work for?
ESOL has a really bad reputation, mostly because of claims of unethical business practices by the owner, Walid Abushakra. I was hired at an ESOL school (my first overseas experience) and after signing the contract, kept hearing international teachers say "Oh God you're working at a WALID school"? Like I was supposed to know all about this guy and his schools.
As it turned out, it ended up being a good experience. He had little to do with that particular school (at that particular time). I think that he has cleaned his act up somewhat - many of the "horror" stories I have heard are from 10 years ago or so. However, I continue to hear "hilarious" (and let's face it typical) stories about his FOR PROFIT techniques of running a school. He is a business man supremo, so keep that in mind! It is all about the bucks at his school.
I know people working in his schools now, and the reports are varied: I hear people say they love a school and others hate it. I think it really matters who is the superintendent / director and whether or not they are able to keep it all together. I would consult teachers CURRENTLY on the ground at ANY ESOL school before signing on the dotted line. High turnover is NEVER a good sign.
Having said that, his school in Dubai (UAS) is brand new and rapidly growing so that could be a reason for that particular school hiring a lot. ESOL recruits for all their schools at once now, so check to see specific schools and how many positions are posted for a particular school.
As it turned out, it ended up being a good experience. He had little to do with that particular school (at that particular time). I think that he has cleaned his act up somewhat - many of the "horror" stories I have heard are from 10 years ago or so. However, I continue to hear "hilarious" (and let's face it typical) stories about his FOR PROFIT techniques of running a school. He is a business man supremo, so keep that in mind! It is all about the bucks at his school.
I know people working in his schools now, and the reports are varied: I hear people say they love a school and others hate it. I think it really matters who is the superintendent / director and whether or not they are able to keep it all together. I would consult teachers CURRENTLY on the ground at ANY ESOL school before signing on the dotted line. High turnover is NEVER a good sign.
Having said that, his school in Dubai (UAS) is brand new and rapidly growing so that could be a reason for that particular school hiring a lot. ESOL recruits for all their schools at once now, so check to see specific schools and how many positions are posted for a particular school.
My wife and I recently accepted a position at ESOL's Universal American School in Dubai.
We asked A Search Associate about all of the schools in the UAE
He pretty much said what raphael stated. He said when they came out 20 years ago, they were not very good. He also said, it is an organization "learning to be a good school." He told us the chief complaint is the housing situation. They pair up single teachers, which isn;t a problem for us anyway since we are married.
This being said, it nearly didn't work out anyway. Apparently, the recrutiers in one location didn't communicate with the recruiters in another location. We were originally offered positions at the Am. Int'l School in Abu Dhabi, but somehow there was a communication breakdown. In came Tamman (same last name as Walid--- and I don't know the relationship). He quickly offered us two BETTER alternatives. I personally never had any contact with Walid. As I said, I only had email exchanges with Tamman, but he has been very helpful.
I don't know if ESOL is bad organization or not,... I have read a wide range of opinions. I do know we are coming froma a real BAD situation in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. We are coming from a school where everything that could go wrong, as gone wrong. The director is a liar and profiteer. (BTW I evidence) Thankfully, the board finally announce that he will NOT be the director next year,... too little too late for us.
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We asked A Search Associate about all of the schools in the UAE
He pretty much said what raphael stated. He said when they came out 20 years ago, they were not very good. He also said, it is an organization "learning to be a good school." He told us the chief complaint is the housing situation. They pair up single teachers, which isn;t a problem for us anyway since we are married.
This being said, it nearly didn't work out anyway. Apparently, the recrutiers in one location didn't communicate with the recruiters in another location. We were originally offered positions at the Am. Int'l School in Abu Dhabi, but somehow there was a communication breakdown. In came Tamman (same last name as Walid--- and I don't know the relationship). He quickly offered us two BETTER alternatives. I personally never had any contact with Walid. As I said, I only had email exchanges with Tamman, but he has been very helpful.
I don't know if ESOL is bad organization or not,... I have read a wide range of opinions. I do know we are coming froma a real BAD situation in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. We are coming from a school where everything that could go wrong, as gone wrong. The director is a liar and profiteer. (BTW I evidence) Thankfully, the board finally announce that he will NOT be the director next year,... too little too late for us.
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