Job Discussion Forums

[americanjoe]

Anecdotal thoughts on teaching in the ME currently:
1. My quals: Absolutely nothing in TEFL, ESL, DELTA etc ad nauseam. I have a BA in English Education with an endorsement to teach Secondary English in high schools in the U.S. in three states and am licensed to teach in three American states, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii. Several years experience teaching high school in HI and AK.
2. Instead of getting endless certificates in CELTA, DELTA etc (I went another route and got creative and since I've been teaching over here Since 2009 now) I started working as a stringer for the AP and travel during breaks to areas where you can sell news stories; New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Washington Times plus a bunch of other ones have bought my writing. Been to Libya, Rep Congo, Eritrea, border LEB, Iraq, Kurdistan, SYR, Somalia and other places I literally cannot remember over the past 10 years plus the two Gulf states I've worked in have published my work. Also published 2 articles in UN journals on issues in issues in Arabic education. For some reason the interviewers are always impressed with that.
3. I'm older (almost 60) a white male American, reasonably intelligent, or as I have made the joke at the first all-staff meeting in a new school in the always present self-introduction part "I'm minimally qualified and barely competent..." I personally do think having a sense of humor and not being a pompous ass at meetings where you avoid bragging about your masters in something can buy you a lot of good wasta over here.
4. right now I'm in a dusty little town in northern KSA making almost $4000 USD a month and get multiple offers ever week or so. I've even received cold offers like 2 weeks ago I got an email for a $3800 a month job.
5. I am actually a good teacher and in my classes we do a lot of basics and I have the students do a lot of practice writing and drilling, which while not flashy with a lot of the tech learning, produces the dramatic results: Basically, I can show the admin and students that my techniques, based on good old fashioned American school teacher methods, do work and by doing that the students realize they are actually learning so they buy into the process, which the admin always seem to love.
6. Yes, I'm on a Business VISA, but I like that as it is mutli-entry so I can come and go as I want and is 6 months in duration which my company arranged somehow. I was offered an Igama earlier in the year but came here because the area is interesting and my editor has approved (tentatively at least but that is what being a stringer is) an article on the bedu here and I've started doing the interviews and going into the camps so it's coming along. I've actually got some of my university saudi students doing some of the legwork for me and I have the new mayor's son in my class so I cut them a little slack because, well, if you don't learn that a favor buys a favor here in saudi then you should as it is true and there is a lot of wink, wink, nod, nod in education here so either go native or go home is my opinion.
7. Two other teachers in my office are from England I just found out they have the British equivalent to my teacher's certificate (PGSE?) and they have no problem getting job and one of them in my office is 67 so, while age is an issue it is not a death sentence to working in the remote areas of saudi. And I ma talking now, right now, November 11, 2016 at 7:15PM KSA time not 5 years ago or "the good old days" of three years ago I keep hearing about.
So, my point in writing this long-winded "essay"?
a. There looks like a shift away form igamas to contractors Business VISAs, bu they treat us pretty good, nice apartment, salary, health insurance etc. (My uni just announced no more direct hires by the way...) They are going 100% subcontractors.
b. If anything, this opened the market for older workers like myself. I've met 5 people over 70 still teaching here and contracts are still being renewed.
c. The work situation has changed here in KSA, The $90,000 a year jobs are over (if they ever really existed) and the salaries are about $3600 -$4000 a month now but the English guy I was talking about just got an offer in Kuwait 3 days ago in the PE department of some type of Cambridge high school but I do not remember the details. He's 63.
d. Yes, the official retirement age is 60 here in KSA, but three teachers at my uni just got renewed igamas and they range form 61-65 years old.
Anyway, it's not all doom and gloom. There are still plenty of jobs.
e. And I'll tell you my opinion: I do think you can be over qualified. They are not renewing a PhD and the rumor through the coordinator is that because he's been here several years it is cheaper to let him go and just hire a BA like me for less money. So maybe back off a little on the endless paper chase a lot people are on here.
f. And finally...Lighten the Hell up. If you want a job over here, you'll get one. Just apply and take the interviews.
g. Last last -- when you are here, have a little fun, let the students skylark a little, smile, be nice, make a saudi friend, take a cup of tea to the saudi dean once or twice.
Even if he doesn't want it, they like that sort of thing, and they are your Saudi masters after all.
So, just relax.
It's not all doom and gloom due to low oil prices.
While writing this I just realized I'm having the best teaching year ever, and the first class I taught was at Lathrop High School in (gulp!) November 1985.

[cnthaiksarok]

It's GREAT that you're doing well.

And I agree with a lot of your insights and so on, but this:

[bigdurian]

[cnthaiksarok]

[FrenchConnexion]

Loved the post @ americanjoe. The visa business thing works well for singles. For teachers with dependents, impossible. I guess if one is over qualified, he could just forget to mention his PhD on his CV. That would surely do the trick.
I also do not have any ELS formal qual. Been acquiring them through PD (online research, workshops conducted by colleagues... I almost wrote "ESL conferences/seminars" but that would be lying).
Ah the bragging-about-my-degree complex. I hear that coming a lot from my Arab colleagues, who never fail to present themselves as: "Hello, I 'm Dr. so and so", or even worse (in my French opinion), "I'm engineer so and so" (sounds really weird to me). Sadly, it has permeated some of my Western colleagues too, who start using and abusing the titles. Doesn't help that our students often call us "doctor/ doctora" when addressing us! It does inflate the ego, particularly when they are just addressing BA holders. If they only knew!

[plumpy nut]

[cnthaiksarok]

[Makkah]

[scot47]

Plumpy
I have not yet met anyone who was captured, taken to Arabia and forced to teach English against their will.

[FrenchConnexion]

Actually Nut Case, I was referring to Westerners who like being called "doctor" by their Ss, while they have a BA. You need to re-read my post. And I was pointing out that it was an Arab cultural trait to state your title before your name. And that some Westerners were now copying that.
I hate that my post is used as an occasion to bash Arabs. Particularly since, whatever you have been accusing them of in your post, is actually way off, as it is my Arab colleagues who have PhDs and MAs, usually accompanied with some TESOL cert. And yes they did get their degrees and certs through hard work, no they didn't buy them online.

[americanjoe]

French Connection:
I have noticed the same thing, of students calling us "Doctor" and the use our first names.
I do correct them by stating, "No, I am not a doctor, as I only have a Bachelor's degree which means my ego doesn't stand between me and my being able to teach you something."
Nine times out of ten they do not get the joke but I think it's funny because, well, there's a lot truth in it.
And to be honest, I do enjoy teaching arab students, as you can have more fun in the classroom than back home.
But I have to say as I taught the young ladies in Oman more than the young men, simply because I like girls more than boys.
Plus I loved being greeted by their smiling faces and the occasional "Ohhh, Mr. E., we are all so happy to see you! We brought you tea today - just one sugar, yes?"
Lovely girls and a joy to teach.

[plumpy nut]

[scot47]

Grumpy Nut

So where are you now ? The Big Rock Candy Mountain ?

[AmericanAmina]

Hey Joe. Thanks for this. We were in Saudi a few years ago while my husband was teaching there. We're planning a move next year and aren't sure where to go. Heading back to KSA is a possibility. We had a pretty good experience there overall.

How is the weather up north? We were in Taif, so we had mountain weather (cool and breezy) which was nice. I would love to find a really green area, though. I know... it's Saudi, it's a desert... I know. I'm just keeping my hopes up that I might find a little oasis somewhere. An oasis that's hiring teachers, of course. We drove up to Madinah a few times and then on up further to Mada'in Saleh once, and I remember passing through some green areas on that trip.

[bigdurian]