Job Discussion Forums

[MsSuleiman]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum my name is MsSuleiman!

I am looking to find a job teaching in Jeddah, Mekkah or Medinah.
However, finding a job there has been quite difficult for me can anyone please give me some advice. I am a Canadian and looking to work as a teacher in KSA . I hold a BA in Applied linguistics and discourse studies from a accredited Canadian university. I do not have much experience with the exception of 4 months ESL teaching which I am doing presently and about 2 years private academic tutoring. Can you refer me to any good schools or recruitment agencies I would hope to land a job by Feb 2016. Any advice would be appreciated

[nomad soul]

Keep in mnd that the better employers like King Abdulaziz University, Effat and Dar Al Hekma Universities (both for women), and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Jeddah want to see higher, stronger qualifications. Unfortunately, private tutoring isn't counted and your four months of teaching put you in the newbie category. Plus, you'd need a CELTA or equivalent TEFL qualification (i.e., 120 hours of face-to-face instruction including a 6-hour supervised/assessed teaching component with a classroom of real students).

That said, you might still get hired but it won't be with a "good" employer. For the Makkah region, try Laureate. You'd have to research this employer to see if they're a fit for you or within your tolerance levels.

By the way, if you expect to be in KSA within the next few months, be aware the employment/work visa process is lengthy.

[paul.conlong]

A quick question about working in Makkah, do you have to be muslim? or can non-muslims work in that region just not live there?

I ask because, I remember seeing motorway signs clearly marked muslim and non-muslim for journeys towards Makkah.

[scot47]

The central zone and the Holy Haram are Muslim-only areas,. the outskirts of Mecca/Makkah are open to non-Muslims.

When living in Jeddah I had a part-time teaching job with LANSA. I taught at their Jeddah Center but also 2 evenings a week at their Mecca Centre. We were driven up for the three-hour stint, using the "non-Muslim road".

A colleague taught on a one-month summer course up there and slept on the premises. Admin told him to satay on site and keep his presence there a secret.

(LANSA was Larsen-Neilsen Saudi Arabia. they had been set up as a Training Company, but changed their emphasis to running English Classes. Boss was a charming American called L.....B......)

[paul.conlong]

Thank you scot47, similarly to the OP.

I have a BA (Hons) Finance degree from Manchester University. I also have CELTA. I have 3 years ESOL experience (2010 to 2013) from a private ESOL centre for british citizenship.

Would this experience be recognised when applying for KSA?

I have a contact in Saudi who can make a referral for me and has said it will be fairly simple to get in. I've not got all the details, but is this practice common in the kingdom?

[nomad soul]

[gregory999]

[scot47]

There is a boundary which non-Muslims should not cross. It is shown on some road-maps. Outer suburbs of Makkah (and Medina) are accessible.

[Hatcher]

My question is why do you want to teach there? The KSA is the most difficult place I have ever been for work and travel.

There are only two kinds of "teachers" in the KSA - M and 3M.... so I ask, are you muslim and if not, why go there?

[scot47]

I rather liked it.

[2buckets]

scot:

Me too! Since the LANSA students paid for the classes, they were more motivated than the average student encountered.

The thrice weekly trip up to Mecca, napping both ways, the extra SR7,000.00 a month was quite nice too. Past all those "rutting stations", fond memories of Lou B.

[Hatcher]

Scot47 you are unique in your love for the KSA

But you know most have a rough time there....

2 reasons to go there.... money and Mekka

So unless the original poster needs the money then no need to go

[nomad soul]

[Hatcher]

I knew hundreds of teachers when I was there and I stand my claim that most have a rough time there.

Show me a survey suggesting otherwise.

[nomad soul]