Job Discussion Forums

TESOLnola · Joined: 15 Dec 2013 Posts: 3 Location: United States

I've been offered a position at PMU and have been negotiating the salary (it seems low to me, but perhaps that's just the trend) with limited success.

In terms of work environment, though, all I can find on PMU is several years old. I would be in the female branch and am just wondering how it is these days... any better than the horror stories of old? Have accommodations been updated as promised?

Any insights or recommendations are VERY welcome -- regarding PMU or what out there might be better for me in the Dammam/Khobar area. As a frame of reference, I have an MA TESOL and 6 years of experience teaching both adults and children in the U.S.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

TESOLnola · Joined: 15 Dec 2013 Posts: 3 Location: United States

Thanks for replying, VS. I'm hoping someone will have some news, but I won't hold my breath.

For now, I'm focusing on that area (Dammam/Khobar) as my husband, also an English instructor, got a great position there and I'd like to join him as soon as possible. We may look elsewhere after our contracts are up -- in your opinion, what's the best spot to work in the Gulf right now? Where were you happiest?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

OK... thought it might be something like that.

My least favorite was Kuwait. The UAE and Oman both had/have positives and negatives. The key is normally the employer in either country.

Does your husband have a family contract so that you can join him? Once there, the easiest thing might be to get adjunct teaching so that you aren't tied to a contract, but can switch until you find a place that is tolerable. Cool

VS

TESOLnola · Joined: 15 Dec 2013 Posts: 3 Location: United States

He does -- I will definitely look into that option. Thanks again!

dominogeronimo · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 18 Location: KSA

I have a friend who works at PMU and lives on their largest compound for teachers. It's an old compound with little maintenance or grounds upkeep. Compared to other compounds in the area, that one is low standard. As for the work, I hear it's more work on the women's side for the prep year, but that seems common in KSA. If your husband has a job, wouldn't you just live with him? The vacations aren't great at PMU, other than the paid summer holiday. Khobar/Damman is a great location for weekend escapes to Bahrain, though.

MsRT · Joined: 25 Nov 2013 Posts: 20

VS, how does 'adjunct teaching' work?? Could you come under your husband's sponsorship and work with the uni?

I'm asking because the gov is being strict on expats working w/out their sponsorships?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

This was awhile back, but in a discussion of women working at ARAMCO, I was told that they normally just hire spouses of current employees that are already there. Of course, that may be something that only ARAMCO could get away with and universities could not...

VS

Grendal · Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Any news on PMU?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Prince Mohammed University. The said Mohammed is the son of King Fahd who was one of the many sons of King Abdulaziz.

ww.pmu.edu.sa

PeterParvo · Joined: 18 Dec 2011 Posts: 103

HavCrick · Joined: 26 Mar 2014 Posts: 16

There are VERY good reasons why PMU is still short of teachers (10 days before classes start)!!!!!!! Think about that.

HavCrick · Joined: 26 Mar 2014 Posts: 16

Today is officially the 3rd day of classes. Rumor is that PMU is at least 22 teachers short based upon enrolled students (mostly PREP) and they are STILL RECRUITING / ADMITTING students!!!!!

Teachers will be offered (forced) overtime hours to teach extra classes.....they may never see the overtime money they earn.

ALL coordinators, at ALL levels (PREP) have been replaced without warning. There was no reason given and there was no "thank you for your service," "screw you" (actions speak louder than words), "this is the plan", nothing!! And the school wonders why morale is in the toilet??? and the toilet has been flushed!!! haha

Coordinators are "supposed" to have a reduced teaching load in order to concentrate on admin duties. It doesn't happen. Instead, they end up working many extra hours, teaching a full-load (maybe overtime) and doing a lot of extra work..........for absolutely no reward. And, then, to be summarily dismissed without cause. The coordinators we had were actually NOT bad teachers or coordinators. Everyone is mystified and no answers are being put forth.

As for their replacements..............I would not hire a single one of them to shovel sand from one pile to another. They would have trouble organizing the shovels (they would only need 1) and deciding which pile to shovel from. One of them, the beginner level coordinator was fired because he was such a horrible teacher; and it is DIFFICULT to be fired in this country. He took them to the labor board and was reinstated. They created a position for him as "test maker."

His tests were so incredibly bad and off target that EVERY SINGLE TEACHER at the university (PREP), including administrators (3 stooges) complained. What was the solution??? Make him a coordinator.

Now, I ask you, is that the sort of decision making you expect from sane people?? From people who know anything or care about actually educating students?

I did not think the place could get any worse. I have been proven wrong.

Right now, we do not have books........many have not even been ordered, the bookstore does not even know which books are supposed to be purchased by students at the various levels.

Further, none of the supporting materials....CDs, DVDs, test making CDs, etc. have even been ordered. Yet, we are supposed to be using the Heinle Pathways series that is HEAVILY dependent upon use of multimedia. The books are good if one has all the materials to support the books.

Shall I continue????? Remember, today is the 3rd day of classes!!!! 99.9% of teachers do not even have a schedule, do not have student lists and do not know in which classrooms they will teach...........when they finally receive the above.

Do you really want to work in this environment????? Word is definitely spreading throughout the ESL teacher pool as well as the country's population that PMU is getting worse by the day.

HavCrick · Joined: 26 Mar 2014 Posts: 16

With the issues happening in the region, one would think that entry into the PMU housing compound would have been "stepped up." NOT THE CASE.

IF (big IF) the "guard" even looks for an ID card, it it not 100% of the time. Now, I can understand this if the guard has seen your face, coupled with your ID, enough times that he remembers who you are. THEN, it is a convenience. But, this year it is basically a whole new crew. I only recognize 1 face.

Yes, there are a few more soldiers SOMETIMES (infrequently), but I have never seen them doing anything except smoking cigarettes at the gate (if you see them) or hanging out in their trailers (mobile homes) OUTSIDE the compound.

Even local hotels now (not dives) do an under-car mirror exam before they let you on their property. NOT at PMU!!!!

One of the new teachers, been here less than 3 weeks, has already done a midnight run. I know of one more who is thinking about it. They are saying the absolute chaos is just too frustrating.

Think long and hard before you accept an offer with this place; ESPECIALLY with the heightened security threats to any and all things western. Is the money really worth it???