Nowadays, it is a well-known fact that teaching English as a foreign language, or TEFL for short, is a highly sought-after trade to ply, especially in a rapidly globalized world. In fact, it seems that the thirst for acquiring this language knowledge is becoming more and more desirable with each passing day. 

However, what most people do not know is that there can be wildly differing TEFL experiences and that what might work for one budding instructor might actually be the opposite for another. In the following article, one option that has a number of positive features is presented, as well as a company that evaluates several of these aspects all in one convenient place.

Dubai

Located in the heart of the United Arab Emirates, or the UAE as it is otherwise known, Dubai offers a wealth of opportunities for anyone looking to move there. As one of the seven emirate states that form the UAE, Dubai is often considered to be the easiest to enter for work purposes, providing a plethora of teaching and other associated professions for an ex-pat to dive into. Beyond that, the following five reasons below add to the overall appeal to the place, so read on!

Salary

With more and more teachers leaving the British school system behind, it is well worth thinking about the financial implications of such a move. Naturally, it makes sense that many TEFL professionals head for mainland Europe to hone their skills, especially in places such as France and Spain, but they are often hamstrung when it comes to earning their crust. While those places do frequently offer enough to get by, Dubai is notorious for its generous salary packages, which not only come tax-free but also usually include accommodation and utilities built into the structure. 

So, in effect, all the cash that is earned in the day job can go straight into the rainy day fund! Alternatively, for the TEFL teacher who enjoys living life in the moment, that dough could go right onto the weekend excursions with friends, or to trips around the Gulf. All in all, it is no wonder why so many TEFL experts recognize that their skill set is much better suited to foreign climes.

Working conditions

The reality is that many state schools are vastly underfunded, with crumbling textbooks and ancient VHS tapes forming the backbone of a traditional school’s repertoire. However, in Dubai, as with other states in the UAE,  funding is a hugely important part of the programme. Partly, this is due to the fact that many schools in Dubai are privately funded, meaning that there is little to no reliance on state subsidies to keep the place afloat. In addition, this is something which is sustained right throughout the lifespan of a young child in education, from kindergarten all the way up to the final years of compulsory study. 

Furthermore, much of the mandatory professional development work is done right at the beginning of the school year, which provides some much-needed respite later on in the year, when teachers often begin to feel burnout from all the expectations placed on them. This, allied to the summer holidays which are much longer than the paltry six weeks on offer in the UK, and it all adds up to a consideration worth pondering.

Free-time activities

On top of all the aforementioned perks of working in Dubai, there is also the living side to reflect on in a positive fashion. For many, this will involve frequenting the Irish Village, a vastly popular ex-pat haunt, where working foreigners from across the globe mingle and share their stories from around the planet. For others, being in the UAE offers the ideal opportunity to visit the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at the time of writing. 

Beyond that, there are chances to watch live sport galore, from football to tennis, and golf to cricket. Indeed, many of the world’s elite sports stars in these areas come to the UAE to demonstrate their sporting prowess, whether it be the European Tour’s Race to Dubai or the nearby Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Furthermore, there are excursions outside of the main downtown region, such as going on a desert safari, that truly does appeal to the thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies out there.

The ex-pat community

Speaking of the ex-pat community, Dubai is in actual fact an extremely tolerant and accepting place for expatriate residents, especially when compared to some neighbors with more extreme restrictions in place. This should absolutely assist in the process of adjusting to the new country, particularly for TEFL teachers making the move abroad for the very first time. Knowing that there is a network of fellow native speakers in close proximity ought to smooth the transition from home, keeping connections with the old country while feeling more secure to explore the new environs with that help in place if needed.

Weather

Here, one of the biggest and most perpetuated myths of this region is the climate. Despite the aged cliches, the weather in Dubai is actually extremely tolerable for much of the year, especially during the winter months. More specifically, the period between late October and early March is spectacular, offering temperatures between the mid-teens and late twenties almost every day, dropping nicely in the evenings to make it a place where sweaters and jackets are needed to make the evening adjustment bearable. 

Plus, the fact remains that there is relatively little rain in this part of the world, which does equate to not having to pack an umbrella on every single journey outside the home. The predictability of this actually makes some of the warmest times that much easier to bear, safe in the knowledge that it is not a fluke or unexpected proof of some sudden global warming attack. Besides, the very hottest months of the year, between June and August, happily happen to coincide with the previously cited summer break for teachers, which translates to the TEFL tutor missing the vast majority of the worst climate in this region.