| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:59 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| the latter. They have you stare into a camera while they do the retina scan and they (very) laboriously take fingerprints. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ..........and often get them wrong. What are the chances of them being able to track down any individual from a retina shot and/or a fingerprint ? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Rather than tracking anyone down, I think the point is that this info presumably goes into a database, and so, if any EFLer either does a runner or breaks the contract and leaves early (even if all contract provisions are fulfilled)
that teacher would likely not be able to return to the Kingdom, either not at all or only after some time.
If a runner is involved, the implication is that no return would ever be possible.
If it involves leaving (legally) before one's contract has been completer, the implication is that, at the very least, a 2 (or more) year period would have to pass before a return would be possible.
Does that sound right?
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
How desperate does an EFL teacher have to be to get him/herself into a situation where this is the conversation that needs to be conducted?
I believe there are far easier Asian countries which are (nearly, totally) as lucrative as Saudi - and far less difficult to navigate the legalities! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SirAristede
Joined: 26 May 2014
Posts: 83
Location: Salmiya, Al 'Āşimah, Kuwait
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 3:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| spiral78 wrote: |
How desperate does an EFL teacher have to be to get him/herself into a situation where this is the conversation that needs to be conducted?
I believe there are far easier Asian countries which are (nearly, totally) as lucrative as Saudi - and far less difficult to navigate the legalities! |
Sadly, if one is non-white, he or she has a more much difficult time landing a position in Asia (especially Taiwan, Korea, and most of China). It's easier for minorities to secure positions in the Middle East. I'm a highly-qualified K- Grade 9 teacher (who just happens to be African-American) and work with many ESL students. The first position I was able to secure was in the Middle East, despite spending months applying to various Asian and Latin American countries. Since many schools require a photograph, they can weed out undesirable candidates with little effort and much of that elimination process comes down to skin color.
One of my friends who taught in South Korea years ago (she's also African-American) recently applied again to teach and was told flat out that employers in South Korea (especially that particular one) prefer to hire whites as teachers. Undoubtedly, the atmosphere of Asian countries would be preferable to Arab ones, but employment opportunities aren't the same from person to person. This is not to say that minorities can't secure teaching positions in Asia (clearly they have), but rather that it takes considerably more effort to land in the better positions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 3:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Sadly, if one is non-white, he or she has a more much difficult time landing a position in Asia (especially Taiwan, Korea, and most of China). It's easier for minorities to secure positions in the Middle East. |
Hmmm. Fair enough. I hadn't realized that race was such a significant barrier in the Asian region. To be honest, this is the best rationale I've seen so far for the apparent willingness of some EFL teachers to knowingly risk being treated badly in the ME, though I still think there must be better options somewhere!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| spiral78 wrote: |
How desperate does an EFL teacher have to be to get him/herself into a situation where this is the conversation that needs to be conducted?
I believe there are far easier Asian countries which are (nearly, totally) as lucrative as Saudi - and far less difficult to navigate the legalities! |
Apparently, the benefits and salary (and potential savings) offered by Saudi employers are better than what one could get in Asia.
Teachers who get themselves into this type of situation are generally those who
1) didn't take time to research the employer before applying for and subsequently, accepting the job; or
2) researched the employer but figured the money was worth taking the risk of signing on with a sketchy employer; or
3) decided to head to KSA despite their ambivalence about the contract, job, employer, and/or Saudi culture; or
4) went to KSA with the intent of quickly and easily changing jobs to another presumably better Saudi employer while still in country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 11:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Many choose KSA because they can visit Mecca and Medina. Lots of the Faithful desperately want to come and live in the Magic Kingdom. We ain't all WASPs, brother ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
