Job Discussion Forums

Aira · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Malaysia

I am a graduate of Bachelors in English language & literature. i'm thinking of pursuing my Masters in English Literature. is that marketable in Saudi Arabia? Does KSA need graduates or majors of English Literature?
i'm planning of moving to KSA in late 2006 (after i get married; my fiance has a PR in Saudi and has lived there for 10 years) and would like to start teaching in schools or colleges once i arrive there.
Basically, how much do they pay degree holders like me who has no experience in teaching, but has experience in Human Resource management.
Another problem is that i don't speak Arabic, but will learn when i arrive there. My English is excellent and i've had lots of experience in Debating and Public Speaking in English. Do i need to speak fluent arabic to be employed as an english teacher?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You will get a job but there is a prejudice that "native speakers are better" This is nonsense of course but..........................

I would say that you should be looking at from around 5,000 SR a month. A Master's will get you a college or university job whereas if you have only a BA you will be condemned to teaching in school.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Aira,

I fear that Scot47 is right that they have the incorrect idea that native speakers are better.

But, an even bigger problem for you that I see is that a Master's in English Literature is not really marketable anywhere in the world. Majoring in literature is for people who like to read, but probably don't want to earn a living. Smile

If you wish to make yourself better placed for the better jobs, you should get a Master's degree in something related to teaching English as a Foreign Language or Applied Linguistics. Add to that a good CELTA course and you should be well prepared to go into the classroom. You definitely don't need any Arabic to teach English - most EFL teachers in the Gulf know almost no Arabic.

Good Luck

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I am not sure that many employers in KSA differentiate between degrees in Litearture and degrees in Linguistics. Some of them might have problems in understanding the difference !

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The problem is going to be your nationality. They will pay you half what they will pay a native speaker.

The lack of Arabic should not be a problem.

Incidentally the State schools are short of teachers. They normally recruit on a country to country basis though, and the problem is you may have no choice over where in Saudi they post you to.