Job Discussion Forums

WHIRLPOOL · Joined: 20 Feb 2015 Posts: 21

Hi!

I'm a UK qualified Chemistry teacher and I've been approached for a job working in a Kingdom school. They don't do any UK IGCSE, or beyond as students leave age 16 so it's just 'a science course' that will be part of their US-style high school diploma (HSD). 2 Questions
1) Anybody working in such a context - the Sci course/curriculum you're delivering..how academic is it compared to bona fide North American HSD level - or GCSE if you're from the UK?
2) Attitude of the students - if in the KSA context all have the money to go onto other things anyway how motivated are the students to actually try/learn??
Thanks in advance.....

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

This board is for ESL/EFL teachers, not content teaching. The vast majority of members here teach adults in university, military, or petroleum related.

From the very few K-12 teachers who have posted here or I have known, the students are to put it mildly - a handful. They tend to be very spoiled and not at all academically oriented.

There are a very few decent International Schools that might be more enjoyable to teach in. They will be the ones where the expats also send their kids. They are also quite difficult to get into - require certified teachers with good experience on their CV.

VS

WHIRLPOOL · Joined: 20 Feb 2015 Posts: 21

Cheers VS,

Any feedback is welcomed. Looking at the range of jobs on offer and posts in this forum it is clear that it is almost ALL ESL/EFL related.
I have a Trinity CERT TESOL and so could work in either the EFL or content fields and am weighing my options.....
Re: kids being a handful .... (and parents no help re: discipline probably) I thought it would be as you suggested.
The proposed pay - cf the lucrative military job sector- is not bad though

Cheers

ps (Is there a content teaching/K-12 section in the KSA forum somehere then?)

Hatcher · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 602

VS doesnt run this board and it is fine for you to post your question. Let the moderator take it off.

Check email.

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

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

Double post

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

How much are you being paid? My experience is that the elementary - high schools don't pay much and I see no reason to believe it will be any different for you. The standards just simply are not there for a high paid teacher, not that the ESL schools that pay much higher have standards. You would be like a catch that they could post on a list of teachers, while getting paid not very much. I don't think you could advance your career by listing the Saudi schools on a CV, and Saudi Arabia is a horrible place to be.

Keep in mind if they don't provide housing expect to shell out $960 US for an apartment in Riyadh, the same amount during the summer time in places like Al Baja etc. Taxis charge about half of what they charge in the US, so travel expenses can still be quite high.

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

WHIRLPOOL · Joined: 20 Feb 2015 Posts: 21

Thanks for all the suggestions as to where else to look and for your opinions too....
e: fishing for content teaching opinions on an ESL site- I thought there might be a chance that a subscriber had switched to teach content/was a parent even though Daves is as an has been said ESL site

Tax-free salary (plus 21 days holiday, accomodation etc) was 2.5 Bags (of sand) Ha! Sorry if you're not from the UK, you won't get the gag)