Job Discussion Forums

[Turando]

Hi,

I've been reading the forum for a while now and finally signed up and am posting to ask for some advice.

Some background information - I'm a 23 year old Muslim female from Australia currently living in Madinah, Saudi Arabia for the past 6 months with my husband who is studying here.

I am interested in getting into teaching English in the future and want some advice regarding the education path to take to maximise job opportunity in Saudi Arabia.

I am currently finishing off an Information Systems degree that I was studying in Australia (but now will continue through distance education through another university). I am thinking of doing a Bachelor of Teaching (which is two years full time) which I can also do by distance except for the two practical components which I can do in the 3 months I go back to Australia every year. I also plan to do a TESOL certificate this summer.

My other plan is to actually work in the English teaching area (for alot lesser pay) whilst I'm living here and doing my degree so that I have practical experience as well.

At the end of my Bachelors I plan to do a Masters in TESOL as well most likely.

Would any aspect of this be the wrong way to go? Would my experience teaching whilst studying count to in future jobs? Would having experience in Saudi Arabia be a bonus?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks in advance!

[veiledsentiments]

Turando,

I am impressed!! You have a very good plan there. It sounds like a lot of hard work (and probably expensive too). And, it is going to take you a few years.

The only thing that I might think about is concerning a Bachelor of Teaching. Now, I am not all that familiar with the Australian system, but you might look into it covering both your IT training and your interest in EFL. (for instance, my BA in Education has a double major in English and Business - done years before ESL/EFL was even offered) This would open up the chance to teach computers too.

I think that most employers would give you some credit for your teaching experience before your degrees. It may not get you any higher pay, but it will make your application look better than someone who has no experience. And the more related that experience is to the job you are applying for, the better that is too. Experience teaching in Saudi would certainly benefit you if you were looking for a job elsewhere in the Middle East, but it may not help you as much in Asia or Australia.

But, all teaching experience adds to your personal knowledge.

VS

[zakiah25]

I agree that you have outlined a rather diversified plan but I have a query regarding your original purpose in doing the Information Systems Degree. Have you fully analysed the career paths open to you in this field?
And why do you want to change to teaching English? I don't want to put you off but I think that you need to review these questions. If you have a passion for teaching , then go for it.However, be aware that it is a profession that can be just as frustrating at times as it can be rewarding.

[Turando]

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback

VS: I was wondering whether to do a Bachelor of Teaching (2 Years) or Bachelor of Education (4 years) or Bachelor of Arts (Major in English). The reason the Bachelor of Teaching appealed to me is that it is shorter and like the Bach. of Education has 2 practical components of teaching. But maybe the Bach. of Education might be the way to go.

Fortunately, Australian higher education is not expensive to Australian citizens because we have a system of HECS where the government basically pays for your education and you pay it back once you start earning over a certain amount (still a small amount like 2% per year). You pay it back with you annual tax return. Basically if you don't work in Australia you don't pay it back. I think all this basically free education is why I don't mind doing multiple degrees

I love computers and actually am a web developer and do work (mainly through word of mouth from home). However, none of this I learnt at university. When I left high school, I wanted to enter the computing field (due to my love of computers) and chose to do this degree. However, I found university not that interesting and I learnt alot more by myself than I did from teachers. However, since I have nearly completed this degree I might as well finish it before moving onto something else. Also I don't have plans to enter the Australian workforce using this degree as the environment would most likely not fit in with my religious obligations.

I would actually love to teach computing subjects though because I like practical aspects of computers more so than theory. My favourite part at uni was actually the programming lab work

I'm only planning to teach English in SA and not anywhere else. Maybe in the very far future I would work at an Islamic school in Australia. I don't mind the long time it'll take to finish either. I'm not looking for quick solutions. I'll be here for another 3 years with my husband and I would like to have most of my studying done by the time he finishes and then I would probably look for a proper job here. Plus I have alot of time and I love studying.

I'm currently finishing off a Certificate in Proofreading and Editing from the Australian College of Journalism as well and have done a small business management course too (I run two home based businesses and am starting a 3rd with my husband. Lucky for me they don't take up much time).

Well that was a long essay and probably too much information. But I appreciate all the advice and any more advice is always welcome!

Thankyou once again!

[usool]

Assalamu Aleykum

I would proffer that you consider doing the distance learning MA first. The way things work in the kingdom is that employers credit you with experience after the MA and not before, so even if you have a few years of experience before your masters you wont get anything for it.

Ma Assalama