Can non native speaker teaching in the United Arab Emirates

You are here

Community Middle East
gravatar-icon Posted on ยท by Mohamed A.

Greetings I just have a question I am a U.S. Citizen who is currently at University studying to Become an ESL teacher, but the thing is that I am not a native speaker. Although I have been here at the United States since I was 12 years old and I have the American accent. So I was wondering is this enough to gain employment at the UAE beside the B.A. degree.
Thank you so much

11 Comments

  1. gravatar-icon
    Sibahle M.
    January 22, 2016 at 1.06 pm

    Hi my name is Sibahle Mkhize from South Africa and I only communicate with my native language which is Zulu and English. I am a qualified teacher and I have been teaching English for past 4 years in different schools, middle aged and high School. My question is how much chances I have to be considered and teach in UAE.
    Thanks

  1. gravatar-icon
    Janice L.
    January 25, 2016 at 7.43 pm

    Hi Sibahle, if you are a certified teacher with teaching experience, you should be good to teach in the UAE. Please make sure you complete your teacher dashboard completely with your certifications and experience prior to applying.

  1. gravatar-icon
    Bulelani N.
    June 9, 2020 at 9.13 am

    Hi Sibahle. I hope you are well and safe. Four years later, did you ever land a job overseas? Like you, I am South African and wondering if the "Native Speaker" clause is the reason I have been applying for two years to no avail. Andaz...

  1. gravatar-icon
    Janice L.
    January 25, 2016 at 7.42 pm

    English does not necessarily have to be your first language, but most of our schools will require native proficiency in the English language.

    Mohamed - it sounds like you're on your way to completing your BEd, which is a great start and will put you ahead of others who don't have a BEd or teaching license. Please not that for UAE positions, typically a minimum of 2-3 years of post-certification teaching experience is required. Make sure to take a look at the job requirements of each position.

  1. gravatar-icon
    Soner .
    May 24, 2016 at 7.51 am

    Hello,
    I also have the same question. I'm from Turkey, so I'm not a native English Speaker. I have teaching experiences in international schools 2 years in Pakistan, 1 year in South Korea. I would like work as a Science teacher in UAE. As far as I have known, it is difficult to find a job in international schools, especially in UAE . I wonder if anyone can give me an advice about that. Thank you all!

  1. gravatar-icon
    Muhammad A.
    May 30, 2016 at 4.31 am

    Hi! I am an Egyptian based in KSA for almost 9 years now. I hold BA English, TESOL Certification, DELTA M1, DELTA M3 in ELT Management, and MA TESOL from a UK University. I applied to 4 vacancies in UAE, but it seems all of them have been closed! Is it for being a non-native of English. However, I am a naive-like ESL teacher with almost 15 year experience.
    Your advice please!

  1. gravatar-icon
    Muhammad A.
    June 6, 2016 at 3.11 am

    May you kindly reply to my query Janice?

  1. gravatar-icon
    Muzahidur Rahman M.
    September 29, 2016 at 9.44 am

    Hi.... I have completed my MBA in Human Resource with corporate communication. I am a certified teacher in English having 4 years experience in India. Can I teach English in UAE?

  1. gravatar-icon
    Diane Carissa G.
    February 10, 2017 at 9.32 am

    I am a trained and certified teacher from Singapore. I have more than 15 years of teaching experience in local elementary and am international school in Shanghai, China. My master's degree is in applied linguistics. Is there a chance for me to find a teaching job in U.A.E.? Thks

  1. gravatar-icon
    Renan T.
    March 8, 2017 at 7.43 pm

    Good day madam, sir! I am a Filipino. I have been teaching English for nine years here in one of the biggest universities here in the Philippines. I don't have MA yet. I was supposed to be Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in English, with a lot of english subjects taken before I shifted to Elementary Education. Before I got my full time teaching here, I happened to teach in two different ESL schools, teaching Koreans and Japanese students and professionals. I found it easier than my current full time teaching in Academic English here in my school. How much chance do I Have of getting hired in UAE? What do I need to accomplish more for this opportunity? It's my first time posting and just hoping for a positive response.God bless!

  1. gravatar-icon
    Zahir Z.
    June 4, 2017 at 3.14 pm

    Hello,

    I am a graduate in English from India. I keep applying for various English teaching posts. I am obviously not a native English speaker and do not have TESOL or CELTA yet. But my academic qualification, command over all three forms of English and my passion for teaching English can satisfy my potential recruiters. Besides I have about two years of experience working as a contractual teacher of English in government of India public schools (Kendriya Vidyalaya) and am very keen to start teaching abroad. Am I absolutely ineligible? If there are chances in countries like China (where I am given to believe that training is provided on the job too), why do my teachaway applications not yield any results? Please help