|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 2:52 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| safabibas wrote: |
I have lived in the US since 1998 and my English is very good (near native proficiency ). I have a US passport and I'll be graduating Spring 2015 (BS in IT Management). I work as an ESL paraprofessional at an elementary public school here in US.
I am interested in getting an ESL teacher job in Saudi Arabia but I heard they only hire native speakers only. Is there a possibility to take US citizens but non native??? And if Yes, will the pay be very low comparing to what native speakers get? |
Your US passport would qualify you for a position with a Saudi contracting company. However, a newly-minted, non-TEFL related degree; lack of a TEFL qualification; and zero experience with adult English language learners will put you at the bottom of the pile. In other words, you're likely to only catch the attention of the sketchiest of contracting companies willing to hire a newbie with an unrelated degree, so don't expect much in regard to salary. See Saudi ads on the Cafe's job board.
I was born outside the US (my dad was in the US military), have a foreign-sounding name, and a rather international look. I state the following as the first bullet point in my CV 'Summary' section: "Native English speaker, American nationality (US citizen born abroad)" so there's no confusion when potential employers see my scanned passport information page. In your case, you can simply state your nationality (US citizen or American) on your CV. However, another option (in addition to your stated nationality) is to take the IELTS or TOEFL exam and include your score in your cover letter and that you have near-native proficiency. That covers all bases on that issue.
| safabibas wrote: |
| And by the way I am an Arabic native speaker plus I am fluent in French, will this be an advantage in an Arabic country such as Saudi Arabia? |
Employers expect EFL teachers to teach in English 100% of the time. Therefore, if you want to come across as a credible English language teacher (despite your lack of TEFL qualifications), do not mention your Arabic language skills on your CV unless it's stated as a requirement for the position and/or the interviewer brings it up. Anyway, you'd be a dime a dozen since there are plenty of EFL teachers from Arabic-speaking countries presently teaching in KSA.
A few suggestions:
- If you expect to teach EFL in the Mid East, get a CELTA or SIT TESOL before applying for positions. Also, AMIDEAST and SIT offer a PCELT in various countries in the Mid East.
- Seriously consider heading to Korea to gain your first few years of teaching experience. You can then give KSA another look. Your BS in IT Mgmt. will still be deemed as unrelated and will limit you, but at least you'd have several years of teaching experience under your belt.
- Think about changing your undergrad major to Educational Technology or Instructional Technology. It means staying in school longer; however, it will help get your foot in the door if you're interested in working in education. You'd then be able to use your Arabic-English bilingual skills overseas while combining education and technology. See related threads: "Master of Education Technology" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=108597); "Instructional Technology in Asia?" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=1187752); and "University of San Francisco online degree program" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=1168441). Keep in mind that the governments of Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia do not accept degrees that entailed distance/online coursework. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
safabibas
Joined: 23 Nov 2014
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hatcher wrote: |
I was at one of the largest unis in the KSA and most of our staff was non-native.
Getting women is almost impossible. And I know they hire non-natives.
But the Saudis have no idea how to treat guests so.... |
Can I have the university's info if possible?
Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
safabibas
Joined: 23 Nov 2014
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nomad soul wrote: |
Your US passport would qualify you for a position with a Saudi contracting company. However, a newly-minted, non-TEFL related degree; lack of a TEFL qualification; and zero experience with adult English language learners will put you at the bottom of the pile. In other words, you're likely to only catch the attention of the sketchiest of contracting companies willing to hire a newbie with an unrelated degree, so don't expect much in regard to salary. See Saudi ads on the Cafe's job board.
. |
I am sorry, I forgot to mention that I have the TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification (100 Hours) from Oxford Seminars. Plus I have volunteered for a year or so in an adult education center working with adult ELL. I also took an ESL Tutor Training,(it's a 12 hours training for ESL tutors).
Does this increase my chances in getting a better offer?
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| safabibas wrote: |
| Hatcher wrote: |
I was at one of the largest unis in the KSA and most of our staff was non-native.
Getting women is almost impossible. And I know they hire non-natives. |
Can I have the university's info if possible? |
Hatcher didn't consider your US passport and also failed to mention that non-native speakers who are hired by the universities directly have relevant master's and/or doctoral degrees. However, even with US citizenship, your qualifications (an unrelated degree + zero experience) fall short; university employers won't give your CV a second look. As I stated previously, you'll only get the attention of the sketchiest of Saudi contracting companies. Period.
| and safabibas wrote: |
| I am sorry, I forgot to mention that I have the TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification (100 Hours) from Oxford Seminars. Plus I have volunteered for a year or so in an adult education center working with adult ELL. I also took an ESL Tutor Training,(it's a 12 hours training for ESL tutors). Does this increase my chances in getting a better offer? |
No, it does nothing to boost your chances. A mediocre 100-hour TEFL course from Oxford Seminars, 12-hours of tutor training, and a year of unpaid teaching won't cut it. Your TEFL training should entail at least 120 hours of face-to-face instruction and include 6 hours of supervised and assessed teaching practice with real students. Again, as I mentioned, the CELTA and SIT TESOL meet this standard, as do some generic TEFL cert courses.
Please reread my previous response. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
balqis
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 373
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In Oman, Nizwa University, the whole Dept of Nursing is run by a certain uni from the Philippines' staff. They are on lower salaries though, and need to share accommodation, unlike everyone else at the uni.
There used to work there, i.e. Nizwa University, a few Philippino teachers at the Foundation Programme too, some of them with Us or Canadian passports, though I reckon their pay was lower than the usual pay, i.e. they were in one basket with Indian/Pakistani teachers.
CAS, by the way, Oman, will offer you a salary of the same level with other Western nationalities only if you are a direct Ministry hire.
The big Saudi university mentioned here by one of the posters is probably KSU in Ryiadh. At least so I think. At Nizwa Uni I met female Phillipino teachers working for their Foundation Institute, who had worked before at KSU in KSA. One or two only, though.
balqis |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
