Job Discussion Forums

goldphysh · Joined: 17 Apr 2014 Posts: 1

Hello!

My wife and I are looking to get our CELTAs. We had heard that it's good to get the CELTA in the country that you want to teach, and we would like to go to Saudi Arabia, so we're naturally looking at getting ours there.

When I contacted the Jeddah and Riyadh centers, only the Jeddah center responded. They said that they only accept people into their program if they're already in the country with a visa. The Riyadh center has not replied. And I cannot find any contact information for the Khobar center, which supposedly also offers the CELTA.

Does anyone know if all CELTA programs in Saudi Arabia require you to already have a visa? Will any of the CELTA programs in Saudi Arabia help you obtain a visa to do their program? And if you do complete their program, do they offer any assistance in finding employment in-country?

Thank you!

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

You were given correct info. The generic advice about getting trained in the country where you want to teach doesn't apply to every country. You can't just come to Saudi Arabia solely to take a CELTA course and then stick around to look for jobs; the Kingdom has very restrictive visa regulations. Besides, you and your wife wouldn't be able to even take the course together because of KSA's gender segregation laws. Courses for men are on different dates than those for women. Plus, the locations vary.

Get your teacher training elsewhere and then apply for Saudi TEFL jobs from your home country.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

If however your desire is to work in the Middle East, it would be wise to look into doing a CELTA through a centre somewhere other than Saudi in the ME. For example, I believe the British Council centre in Cairo does the CELTA. The political situation there would probably prepare you well for Saudi along with the experience of Arabic language and culture.

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

Check the CELTA website. I believe that it is also offered in Jordan and Morocco... both of which I would also recommend if you are concerned about the situation in Cairo. (though it has settled down a lot now)

VS