Job Discussion Forums

ayeshamai · Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 5

Dear all,

I am looking for a college or university that recruit EFL teachers, I haven't got a UK/US/SA passport. I have an European passport.

I have had many jobs offer in KSA but they won't take me because of my passport.

I have a UK degree, PGCE and a CELTA. I have been teaching for 7 years but cannot find a job anywhere.

I really need help!!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

There are a number of errors in the English in your post. If potential employers have noticed similar issues in the documents and emails you are using to seek employment, this may be the problem.
Otherwise, it may just be the perception that native speakers are better versed in the language, as you are presumably from a non-Anglophone country.

ayeshamai · Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 5

sorry for the spelling mistakes i was typing very fast

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

There is a number of non-native speakers in KSA, quite a number I should say, and in the Gulf in general. So being an EU citizen is not the reason you cannot find a job, especially that you have a UK degree.

What is the reason then? You are unlucky, for example, and the competiton is quite tough here in the Gulf or KSA. Or you have been applying for jobs at universities which have visa restrictions, usually a pool of visas issued only for the 5 English-speaking native nationalities.
Or you do not have enough tertiary experience in your CV to work for a uni in KSA. Or you are a single female, too young for KSA.

In general I have met many European continental teachers in the Gulf, not only French, German, Dutch or Italian, but a number of Russian teachers too, and then again not only Russians per sei, but also teachers from Estonia, a number of Armenians, Georgians, Ukrainians and Belarussians, even one Lithuanian TEFL prof. I also met a charming Serb, a Macedonian, and a few Romanians. So your nationality doesn't necessarily exclude you from the TEFL game in KSA. I reckon reasons are different.

Besides, if you say, as you are saying, you have had many job offers from KSA, how is it possible then that somebody is offering you a contract and at the same time is telling you they cannot take you on board because of your nationality? To me it is mutually exclusive to offer a contract and withdraw the very contract at the same time.

balqis

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The strange visa allocation system in KSA specifies the nationality for vacancies. Many EFL jobs will be earmarked for holders of UK or US passports.

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

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

You're best bet is to post you're resume on www.seriousteachers.com. There are some schools in Saudi Arabia that might look at it and hire you. One of the problems will be the school getting you an employment visa as a nonnative English speaker. A company most likely would have to bring you in on a business visa. Another thing, there is no way you will make the same wages; if you get hired by a school you would get 9000 Riyals (2400 US) with no accommodation or travel allowance, or you might get 1500 U.S. with travel and accommodation. With no accommodation or travel allowance your options would be to rent a car and find an inexpensive apartment, or rent an expensive apartment close to the school. It would amount to same earnings in your pocket roughly $1500.

I think you're best option for teaching English may be to find a school in Cambodia then jump to Vietnam. You will have to be present in those countries to find a job there. The wages in Cambodia can be spotty but liveable. Phnom Pen is a nice place to be compared to other places.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

OP has dependants.

cultofpersonality · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 94

As if some of these doughnuts in Saudi Arabia can notice improper use of English....lol

The best bet is to try Al Yamamah University through Interlink. I am certain they are not so fussy over nationality.

FrenchConnexion · Joined: 22 Jan 2015 Posts: 48

Hi,

As a French native working as an ESL lecturer in a KSA uni, I can tell you that yes indeed, having a non-UK/US/Australian, etc. passport IS a major issue. It might be from the EU, but so long as the company doesn't have a visa for your country, even your UK degree won't do much good for you.

However, I have found that a European passport holder has much more chances to get a job in a government uni than in a private one, or through a private recruiting company. Government bodies easily get the visas they need, and as a matter of fact, I have been working with people from the Netherlands and Sweden, Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan, India, you name it.

I also find that what Plumpy Nut has written in terms of benefits, or lack thereof, for non-native speakers, is absolutely not true... where on earth did you get your facts?
I don't know where you got the idea that "A company most likely would have to bring you in on a business visa (?). Another thing, there is no way you will make the same wages (true, but not always; depends on your experience and degrees, provided you have a Western passport); if you get hired by a school you would get 9000 Riyals (2400 US) with no accommodation or travel allowance (??), or you might get 1500 U.S. with travel and accommodation (???)".

If one is hired from abroad (not locally), he/she will get the regular benefits other natives get, as usually, they are standard within one company (for people with the same jobs). The salary will be higher for native speakers in a school, but a European will get a salary very close to them (for eg. if an American makes 12500, a French will be around 11000).
At the government university level, all Western passport holders get the same salary scale. Unfortunately, other nationalities will get a lower salary, even though they might be PhD holders, but they will get their housing allowance of 25000 SR/year (as PhD holders - standard in all KSA gvt unis), while MA holders will get 1700-17500 SR.

Private educational companies might have a wider range of salaries, but still, there is no way one would be employed from abroad without housing, medical and transport allowances. 1500 $ .... LOL.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

Perhaps you could list the wonderful opportunities that could provide a Frenchman with 11000 Riyals monthly or perhaps even above. There are some native speakers that don't make that much. My salary and benefit stipulation for non-native speakers comes from seeing the pay of actual non-native speakers and having a pretty good idea of how the people who will hire non-natives think and operate.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Frenchman ? I think you have selected the wrong gender, mon ami !
Reading between the lines do I detect a hint of jealousy that she is on a reasonable salary ?

She is not even an Anglo-saxon !

MuscatGary · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:12 am Post subject:

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

FrenchConnexion · Joined: 22 Jan 2015 Posts: 48

Oh, I surprised you with the numbers? Well, I was talking about someone with a Master (from France, obviously, in this case), and a reasonable amount of experience in international school settings, such as around 4 yrs. I know a reasonable bunch of non-natives from Arab countries (Syrians, Pakistanis, Malaysians, etc.) earning around or above that sum. They do have good experience in their field though, and are working as EFL lecturers in Saudi unis. 11000 SR in Saudi Unis is the average salary, even for non-natives in their ELCs (prep year prgrms). A degree + experience is needed. Actually, I know several non-natives at Bayan College or TQ in Madinah making way more than that, being from Sudan and Syria. With just a Master. I have been in the ME for 11 yrs, working there for 10, and in KSA for 7. I know what I am talking about.