Job Discussion Forums

[uniteach]

I see that American Academy in Dammam has a job posting. I know about the city, but not the school. What's their reputation like?

[Lord T]

The job in Dammam is hell on earth: you will be worked into the ground and paid a pittance whilst working alongside people making twice your salary.

[Captain Willard]

Well, gee! Maybe try using the "search" feature before posting. There is quite a bit about them here, including this warning:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=113043&highlight=american+academy

[Lord T]

To be fair, I should say that if you are unemployed, homeless, and owe the local drug dealers $10,000, this may be what you are looking for.

Don't worry about your age, the state of your health, any criminal convictions you may have, your lack of a genuine degree, or the fact that you have never taught before.

You will be hired, if you can manage to almost look the part. After that, you will need to be mentally very tough to get through the day-good luck!

[uniteach]

I've waited some time before writing about the American Academy after my first posting to see if I was wrong in my short experience dealing with them. However, they've posted another ad, so I don't think I am.

I submitted all needed information and went through two recorded on-line "interviews" answering various questions. I was offered a position immediately. I needed to be there in two weeks. That was not possible, but they were alright with that. The offer was then amended to included a role in management.

Over the next couple of emails I attempted to get clarification as to the expected duties and what that management offer meant.

I also inquired why job postings on other sites had different salaries. Not getting clear answers, I suggested a Skype conversation to work out details. At that point, they went silent.

I have never had a company or school unwilling to answer basic questions.

With that said, I'm heading back to Latin America where the money is far lower, but the life style suits this old guy.

[siologen]

[Foo_Fighters_Dave]

What was the difference in salary between job ads?

I remember interviewing with them in the fall of 2015 and found out their salary was 12,000 a month in a remote town. I told them that it was too low because my last job working for a TVTC College paid me 16,000. They ended up raising it to 14,000 SAR but I said now.

I think I interviewed for an American who was living in Thailand and then the Head Teacher who was promoted a week prior during the process.

That is never a good sign when job ads have different numbers and the company can't answer basic questions.

[uniteach]

The posting on the other site was 12000 Sar, and then became 10000 on Dave's. The question became, while there is no KSA tax, what other deductions are there? Apparently, quite a few.

[leggeymountbatten]

The word on the street on AA is not good.

The wheels are coming off the wagon by all accounts. AA can't get enough teachers together to satisfy the requirement from Spsp.

And those that are there have either left or are booking their flight tickets as we speak.

A tragi-comedy in the making EdEx (remember them??) style.

The scandal here is that AA is run from a very small 4 person office in Canada. Clearly a lot of money has been made at the expense of toiling teflers. The company has 1 lonesome representative in the whole of Saudi.

A poor show to say the least, and one to avoid.

[siologen]

[Lord T]

[desertfox]

I understand that newly recruited teflers are being signed up on the understanding that they will be teaching at a "new start up."

No mention of Spsp by the recruiters. Sounds as if the recruiters are trying to pull a fast one.

Low pay and terrible conditions become a reality on the first morning that the unsuspecting teflers arrive for work.

Not good enough. And all for very low pay. When are these games going to stop?

[siologen]

[Lord T]

American Academy are currently advertising on Dave's for teachers to work in Al Khafji.

Teachers should be aware that these positions are at SPSP,which means that you will work alongside people who are doing exactly the same job as you, but making twice as much money as you.

It's better that you know this now than finding out when you get there.

Lord T

[leggeymountbatten]

Lord T - what kind of salary difference are we talking about here?

Leggey