Job Discussion Forums

chrisp728 · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 40

Hello class, how is everyone today?

I was wondering whether one or more of the users of this board would be kind enough to furnish me with some information about KFUPM. I've had a browse through the forum, and I understand scot47 worked there until quite recently. Replies from him or anyone else would be most welcome.

I've been in KSA for a few years, working in a military job. It's a decent gig - compound accommodation, company car, over $50k a year tax free - but having been here for a while, a slight itch has set in, as it sometimes does, and I was wondering idly about other options.

I have BA + CELTA + several years of experience in the Middle East (plus a couple working in a university Foundation ESL course in the UK).

I understand that there are two kinds of TEFL job at KFUPM: the pre-course Foundation; and writing clases for students who have started their courses proper. I imagine that I would be better suited to the former. Scot47, would you agree? Which of the two did you teach?

From my limited research, I understand that KFUPM provides on-campus accommodation to all staff. I'm a single guy, under 40. Would I have a flat to myself? Since leaving university, I've always found it a good rule not to share accommodation with anyone you aren't having regular sex with (and even then...)

Are the TEFL staff all accommodated on top of one another, or can you choose whereabouts to reside? Call me antisocial, but I can live without seeing people from work every five minutes of my free time.

How is life on the KFUPM campus? Is it liberal and relaxed, like a compound, or is it the same as ordinary KSA, where mutawas and ninjas abound? I read that KFUPM has lots of facilities, including a private beach for staff use? How does that work? Are there staff sports teams, ie five a side football, that kind of thing?

As to the job itself, like a few people I know, I rather enjoy the classroom cut and thrust, but I'm less partial to bureaucracy, admin, and hanging around. I understand the Foundation course mandates 20 teaching hours per week, plus 5 "office hours".

What exactly do you do during "office hours"? And in general, is it the kind of gig in which you are forced to sit in the office for the required 40 hours per week long after the students have left, with some fascist checking up on you every 15 minutes? Or is it the kind of place where, as long as the classes are done, the boxes are ticked and everyone's happy, you can make yourself scarce?

Generally speaking, is it a sane place (ie. do they leave you alone once they establish that you can teach, and that the students like you, as mine always do)?

How much bureaucracy/paperwork/marking is there? I read that there are two semesters of 15 weeks, with a week of exams at the end of each. Do we write the exams? Mark them? Is there officially marked coursework during the course? Midterms?

Do they work at weekends? (Please say no.)

Salary-wise, I imagine I'd have to take a slight cut. However, I read that it's possible to take some evening classes (official) or private tuition (off the books). Any advice on that? In addition, I understand that one can work for a month or more during the summer break, for which payment will be added onto your regular salary.

That brings me onto the biggie: summer holidays! From what I read, there 's a break of some 3 or 4 months over the summer, for which full-time staff continue to receive their salary and keep their accommodation. That would be most welcome: working in a nonstop military job, the idea of 15 weeks of freedom just over the horizon is a veritable oasis. Or is it a mirage?

How about the students? There are notable exceptions, but the overall calibre of military students is fairly low, and sometimes leaves me uininspired. It would be a nice change to have a higher quality of student, with whom one can have better banter, and who might actually remember something you taught him every day for the previous week.

Another biggie: working in the Eastern Province. I understand KFUPM is situated very near to the causeway with Bahrain. Does the university provide staff with multiple exit/entry visas, so that one can get away perhaps two weekends a month?

Generally speaking, are you looked after reasonably well? With my current military job, that is the case: the compound has plenty of facilities, cable TV with Beinsports and OSN; the company has a transport dept and emergency number to call if you get into a scrape.

At KFUPM, is there decent support for staff, or do they simply give you the salary and expect you to turn up? Is it easy to get a car, get cable TV hooked up, etc?

Well, I've almost written a book, so I'll stop there. If anyone's left who hasn't marked it "tl;dr", please do give me (and no doubt many others) the lowdown on this university.

Many thanks,
Chris

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

I really think you need more on your CV in order to get a good university job in KSA. Ideally, related MA (TESOL/Linguistics/Education) and some more experience. There is nothing stopping you applying but lots of teachers have MA degrees nowadays and 10 plus years of teaching experience.

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

Ninjas?

This is Saudi Arabia, not feudal Japan.

chrisp728 · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 40

chrisp728 · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 40

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

chrisp728 · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 40

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

Yes, they check with the registrar whether the degree was completed through online/distance learning. It is the Saudi Consulate that checks not the university in the first instance... There are many threads about this on the site if you search through the forum.

Of course, if you would like to work in China or elsewhere later on then an online degree would not be such a problem.

During interviews it is also common to be asked whether any of your degrees were studied online as well.

In my own experience in Saudi, I have worked with a number of teachers who have an online MA in TESOL and yet they are still working for the EdExs, ICEATs, Laureates, and Kaplans of this world!

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

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Officially your summer vacation is 2 months, but........................

"Office hour" means making yourself available in that time for students. Make an appointment and they will rarely turn up !

There are sports facilities on campus. Some |(eg swimming pools) are segregated by gender. Also a beach the last I heard. I never went. Transport needed for that.

Teaching staff from all departments are spread throughout the uni - TEFLers are usually low-grade and in the not-so desirable accommodation. For some, an apartment/house as far as possible from the Mosque in Ferdaus is highly desirable. That is the area favoured by the Bearded Ones from Hind. Shebab and New Shebab are heavily populated by TEFLers and the more junior Academics.

chrisp728 · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 40

Hi scot47, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Might I be so bold as to pick your brain further?

As someone who was working at KFUPM until recently, do you think I would have a chance of a job there with BA + CELTA + several years of GCC experience?

I would probably buy myself a set of wheels to pootle over the causeway on. Do KFUPM give multiple exit/entry visas to staff as a matter of course? Do you have to pay extra? Is there any major impediment to spending a weekend or two a month in Bahrain?

(KFUPM don't work weekends, right?)

When you say "Officially your summer vacation is 2 months, but.......................", what do you mean? Is it in reality longer or shorter?

As to the job itself, beyond the 20 hours of teaching, you have to be in the office for 5 "office hours" (during which I imagine you can do most of your preparation and admin, while waiting for students not to show up), but beyond that, there's nobody standing over you making sure you're present for a set number of hours, regardless of whether you have anything to do? That would be a boon.

How much admin/paperwork/marking is there, as a rule?

And might I inquire, if it's not too rude, as to salary specifics?

Many thanks again for the benefit of your wealth of experience in the magic kingdom.

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

Or Dammam Community College, which is under KFUPM.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Do crosswords. God forbid, read a book. Just be around. No one will be checking up.

As for salary, I am out of touch and/or have forgotten. There is a scale laid down and adhered to. No room for negotiation.

Now sh** or get off the pot !

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

Considering you are in-Kingdom, the best thing for you to do is to contact a current teacher there and speak with him directly.

That shouldn't be too hard to set up although it'll cost a bit. If you're American, ask for an American and if you're single, ask for a single teacher since the experiences of single/married status employees are quite different.

If you're really serious, you might even arrange a campus visit. Again, since you're in-Kingdom, such a trip shouldn't be impossible to arrange.

However, if you're just sort of "vaguely" interested...........

Naturally, this advice would apply to any prospective employer, not just KFUPM.

I remind you to always take everything you hear, especially with regard to past, present and even future accomplishments with a heavy dose of scepticism. (see following msg below).

.