Job Discussion Forums

[DivaDaDanca]

I am currently negotiating a position with this school and am trying to find out as much as possible before formally committing. Has anyone had any experience with this school?

[nomad soul]

There are enough negative comments regarding the men's side of the Berlitz operations, but I'm not sure if the women's section has ever been mentioned on this forum since nothing showed up in search results. Other posters might have info for you. However, know that having Berlitz listed on your CV is not a good idea if you plan on making TEFL a career; the Berlitz method is not considered to be credible or "real" teaching by many in the TEFL industry in this part of the world.

Perhaps there are other (better) teaching opportunities out there for you. What are your qualifications (degree/TEFL cert/experience)?

[DivaDaDanca]

Thanks for your response, Nomad Soul. I think this Ladies'School is rather new, so there may not yet be a lot of information about it. I understand what you are saying about Berlitz on the CV, however I have some other consideration about my position that don't allow me (at this time) to have all of the options I would like. This is a second career for me. I am a woman who just turned 57. I was (and still am) an architect and specialized in forensic architecture toward the end of my career.
I have a Masters in Architecture from Berkeley and I received a post-baccalaureate certificate in TESOL from Seattle University 2 years ago which meets the 120 hour requirement.
This would be my first full time position in a classroom. Many places want 2 years FT experience and I recently interviewed with a recruiter in SA who said that new Saudi visa requirements for universities require 2 years FT classroom experience, which further limits my options.
Berlitz may not be ideal, but it may be the best place for me right now.

[nomad soul]

[vashdown2]

I have just left a post at Al-Ahsa... actually at the airport at the moment.

A friend of mine told me that they salary at Berlitz Al-Ahsa was only 6,000 SAR a month!!

There is no way that anyone could expect to live in that desert of a place for such a low salary... You could do so much better- even straight out of a TEFL course.

[DivaDaDanca]

Thanks for you reply, Vashdown. They have offered me a much better salary and other very good terms that seem comparable to other positions I read about in job offers for Saudi Arabia. I have emailed them some questions and I'm waiting to hear back from them.

[vashdown2]

Well, if oyu do end up going to Al-Ahsa, try to connect with the teachers at Shabaka... there are around 60 teachers living on a compound there. There is also another company (the drink manufacturer I believe.. Nada) that has compound there. Other than that, there are no foreigners in town...