Job Discussion Forums

robinbanks · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 77

Does anybody know about working with RAF recruits in Dammam?Furthermore,has anybody been in contact with a British TEFL agent that might be recruiting on their behalf.I will be considering KSA for the first time as I hear Dammam is "OK"as it is near bahrain for R&R&R (tha last one being Reflection).Any thoughts would be welcomed.

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 12:58 pm Post subject:

IMO opinion Dammam is okay to live in but I think Khobar is nicer. Got a better seafront and the causeway is there too. It's quite clean and the driving is quite polite and considerate compared to Riyadh. Saudis are friendly too.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

RSAF Cadets are hard work. So too, are the rigours of working in a Saudi Military Establishment. BAe used to be the big employer but I hear that they are now farming out the teaching.

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

I taught at the Kuwaiti National Defense Language School and it was rough. I'm sure you could get many, many interesting stories from posters trying to teach military personal.

I was very naive because I served in the military myself and I was under the impression that if a person was selected for a language school while serving in the military, they would be the "cream of the crop" and it would be classes of top-notch, hardworking, and focused people. I never thought I would have any lazy and/or disrespectful military students.

Ha, Ha, Ho, Ho, Ho.

I got confirmation from a few members of the Kuwaiti Military staff supporting the school that many of the students that attend were kicked out of their units and the easiest way for a company CO to get rid of a "bad egg" is to assign him to take the English course. Once their finish (if they finish), the students are always re-assigned to another unit. Many of the students at the school were below an "A1" level in English. Nobody wanted to be there.

In my first month of teaching at the school, a Private - the lowest rank in the military - drove up to me in a $90,000 Hummer and presented me with a $465.00 Seiko watch (I looked up the serial number off the back to confirm its value and to see if it was fake - I'm so shallow Razz

). He already passed the course and I was not even his main instructor. I wonder what he gave the lead teacher.

How do you asked a Major in the Kuwaiti Air Force, or a Captain in the Palace Guard to stop texting in class?

I'm only writing these stories to let you know that you will earn every penny during your time teaching at any military school in the Middle East.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It will not be like West Point or Sandhurst.

robinbanks · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 77

thank you for the replies.I was wondering about the set up with the saudi military and if you get support from brass and what the sts.are like.I am an ex MLI'er if any of the "old boys"from that venerable institution are out there.

Jcray21 · Joined: 09 Feb 2014 Posts: 11

The airbase is likely in Dharan and you will live in Khobar. Its a nice city but working at the base can be stressful, but easy at the same time. Basically there is no consistency. It is the instructors fault often that the students don't pass, not because they don't care. If they sleep or use their phone it is the instructors fault and you will be looked at as a bad teacher. If you disciple too much like they want the students complain you are a bad teacher. If you are not white I would suggest not even going, unless you are Muslim.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Airbase in question is the old civilian airport next to KFUPM and Aramco.