Job Discussion Forums

[TEFLonWi]

I am new to this forum and am really looking forward to taking a CELTA course very soon.

I am very keen to get my new career in TEFL on the road and, having read the many very helpful postings on here, would be grateful for a bit of practical advice.

After doing my CELTA I would love to apply for TEFL jobs in KSA, but have read lots on here already about the need for experience in TEFL before arriving in the Kingdom.

My background is as follows: I'm a bit over 40, BA in Modern Languages 20 years ago, then straight after that three years TEFL to adults in Germany, several Masters in unrelated subjects including one from outside the UK, a PGCE secondary teaching qualification, two years as a secondary teacher, a Postgraduate Diploma in Conference Interpreting, freelance interpreting and a little bit of (relatively informal) TEFL in KSA. Apart from that I have been employed by a big travel company for the last 10 years.

... So a fair amount of experience here and there but none of it post-CELTA.

Do I stand a chance of getting a TEFL job in the Kingdom for this August/September? If I do, what sort of establishment might take me and what salary should I aim for?

Thanks very much in advance for your thoughts...

[nomad soul]

Assuming your interest is in teaching adults, given a newly-minted CELTA and lack of experience (post TEFL cert), you're likely looking at teaching positions via one of the Kingdom's numerous contracting companies. Many post job ads on this site, which should give you a general idea as to qualifications and pay. However, you really would have to apply to see what your specific quals would get you especially since you (currently?) hold a secondary teaching qualification. Anyway, definitely research the company before accepting any offers.

[TEFLonWi]

[nomad soul]

The expectation is that previous experience be full time, relevant to TEFL, recent, and gained post-TEFL cert. Certainly try for direct-hire positions (KAU, for example), but your lack of a TEFL-related degree, especially an MA, could also be a challenge. You'd have to carefully word your cover letters and CV in a way that presents you as an experienced, qualified English language teacher and not as a teacher of German, for example. By the way, if German is the language you've taught, consider looking into German University of Technology in Oman.

[TEFLonWi]

[nomad soul]

[TEFLonWi]

My degree and a lot of my job/life experience would certainly be relevant to the GSL post in Oman, but I'm not sure I would be classed as having "native speaker proficiency" in German. TEFL seems more realistic provided I get my CELTA...

So if I take a look at current job postings on this site for KSA they are from companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, World Languages Academy, Skyline Global Solutions, Prime Teachers... Are these examples of "contracting companies"? Or are they agencies who represent KSA contracting companies?

Sorry, I'm new to this and it all gets a bit confusing!!!


...And may I throw another question in?

I might have the option of keeping hold of a small chunk of my current salaried job in the UK while at the same time taking up a teaching job in KSA. The hours in the UK would be minimal and flexible, and as such could be fitted around my teaching duties in the Kingdom (during vacations). This would help with my mortgage payments (if not with my work/life balance!!) as I transition to a new career and life...

I have read plenty on here about moonlighting in KSA, but would I be allowed to keep a small salaried post abroad if working for a direct-hire or a contractor?

(MOD edit to delete duplicates and fix quotes)

[nomad soul]

[TEFLonWi]

Thank you once again Nomad Soul for the speedy and thorough response.

I am taking a look at the vast array of threads here and agree with those who say what a marvellous resource this site is...

I have some questions about vacation to which I haven't yet found answers (although logic dictates they must be on here somewhere...!)

According to many job specs, contractors often allow 30 days of paid vacation plus Eid holidays and KSA national day.

- Is each Eid holiday normally a full week ?

- Would you typically be required to take your 30 days at set times (for example, around the two Eid holidays) ? Or do you just agree your 30 days with your employer (say, five days in March, five in April, a few in September) in the same way you might book vacation if working for a company outside the field of education ?

A Saudi friend tells me that if you are a KSA employee and you want to book five days vacation, you get the weekend before the five days, then the five days, then the weekend after the five days (total nine). This means using five of your 30 days and seems logical. However, if you want 10 days off, then the two weekend days between each block of five working days are also counted as vacation days. So to get a two-week holiday you must use 12 days of vacation.

- Is this standard ?

Again, Many thanks for sharing your knowledge with a slightly bewildered newcomer!

[lcanupp1964]

Dear Nomad Soul,

The advice about carefully wording ones' cover letter and CV to make sure the people reading understand something better is very good advice. I just wanted to point out that in the case of KAU, the recruitment unit (in general) will only glance at CVs for less than 2 minutes each. I would be very surprised if anyone really reads the cover letters.

If the CV contains the general requirements (education/experience), they might place it in the "look at again" pile. They get around 500 CVs a week that three, or four Saudi Government staff workers will read - you do the math. (LOL) When I had to read around 1000 CVs for the ladies campus, I only had time to scan each quickly and give the ladies campus my recommendations on which ones they should contact for an interview. They only wanted the top 50 CVs. To be honest, if I saw a person with a background in teaching a subject other than English/English-related, I would have tossed it aside and kept reading though the other 999 CVs. If I didn't have enough interviews set-up, I would have gone back to the stack and read over them again.

In most cases, the unit has been instructed not to process any CV that does not list a CELTA/TESOL/TEFL/DELTA/ etc.

[veiledsentiments]