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also in saudi
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 137
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 Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:37 am Post subject: King Faisal Air Academy, Riyadh Air Base |
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| Is anyone familiar with this school, the students, military staff and BAE Systems/Saudi Development and Training support instructors? |
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kanterbrau
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:28 am Post subject: |
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Unfortunately, I cannot comment on KFAA itself but I can comment on military contracts in KSA in general - not for the faint-hearted. I would refer you to the other thread on the RSNF - that gives you a very good idea of what to expect.
Neither can I cannot comment directly on SDT but in my dealings with BAE Systems I found them the most arrogant, unpleasant and generally self-important little people I have ever met.
You can call me insane - you won't be the first ( or the last ) - but I turned down the offer of a teaching position with them. I had many valid reasons for this but uppermost was the thought that a military contract in KSA is demanding enough when you can rely on those around you and the thought of being surrounded by people like that was too much. Life is just too damn short, my friend.
These are purely personal comments and if you go for the position then I wish you all the best and every success.
Good Luck. |
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kanterbrau
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:02 am Post subject: |
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CORRECTION
Line four of previous contribution should read - "Neither can I comment directly ... "
Yet another victim of ' Fat Finger Syndrome '. Apologies.
Good Luck. |
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Paul in Saudi
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Location: Doha, Qatar
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I find the honestly-held dislike of military jobs held by so many people on this board to be puzzling.
I have a military contract. I teach civilians after hours. The military students come on endlessly. My civilians come and go. I can work this month, not next month.
My military bosses are nice, the facilities are super, the work easy. The civil job also has nice bosses, but the facilities are poorer, and I have to do more prep work as they do not provide a program of instruction.
All in all, military work has a lot to recommend it.
BAe is a super company. They have the best compound in town. Super security, nice social life, on-time pay life support.
I say go for it. |
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kanterbrau
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Paul in Saudi, think were going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
I'm very glad that things are working out for you and that you're obviously making lots of money.
However, from my experience, a military contract in KSA can be extremely stressful for two reasons.
1) The obstructive attitude of the "Directing Staff" - who seem to make life difficult for the teachers simply because they can.
2) The appalling way the students are treated by the officers and particularly the NCO's e.g. expecting them to spend hour after hour learning a foreign language after little, or in some cases, no sleep. I'm damn sure I couldnt cope with learning Arabic under those conditions.
As reards the BAE Systems/SDT contract - if its such a good gig why are they constantly advertising for staff? SIXTEEN vacancies once again on tefl.com this week.
Good Luck. |
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soitsenglishweteach
Joined: 11 Jul 2005
Posts: 18
Location: ksa
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:13 am Post subject: |
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| kanterbrau wrote: |
Paul in Saudi, think were going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
I'm very glad that things are working out for you and that you're obviously making lots of money.
However, from my experience, a military contract in KSA can be extremely stressful for two reasons.
1) The obstructive attitude of the "Directing Staff" - who seem to make life difficult for the teachers simply because they can.
2) The appalling way the students are treated by the officers and particularly the NCO's e.g. expecting them to spend hour after hour learning a foreign language after little, or in some cases, no sleep. I'm damn sure I couldnt cope with learning Arabic under those conditions.
As reards the BAE Systems/SDT contract - if its such a good gig why are they constantly advertising for staff? SIXTEEN vacancies once again on tefl.com this week.
Good Luck. |
I thought they were just picky. please tell us more about the horrors of working for the merchants of death, it really takes the shine off that 20 k plus package. The compound isn't such a pull cos we all know that living in a big prison is still living in a prison even if you can get what you can't outside. Why would you need to have great security. This is KSa not Orpington where that girl just got STABBED to death for her handbag with probably a tenner init and an oyster card.
Whats the paranioa all about?
Can you get into there compound in Arab thowb and Iqal?
Please add more stuff about the realities of the merchants of death cos to be honest that will make this thread more readable.
What's the course structure like. How are the facilities?
Big up to the man Kanter cos he had the guts to choose what would make him happy and not what pays the mortgage.
More like you will see KSa a better place to work in EFL.
hey did you see how the jokers got a perfectl;y good discussion locked down. I am still accepting suggestions on the Saudi problem and Stephen they were superb comments about the irrelevance at the later stage. I do have more to say than nastiness. I just need a muse |
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Mohammad
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: |
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| It's funny that Abba assumes that you are from either Bangladesh or Pakistan! LOL |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:57 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| hey did you see how the jokers got a perfectl;y good discussion locked down. |
Unfortunately, your contributions are rather the kiss of death to any discussion. I'll PM the moderator and ask him to open the last one, because it is getting impossible to discuss anything.
| Quote: |
| Why would you need to have great security. This is KSa not Orpington where that girl just got STABBED to death for her handbag with probably a tenner init and an oyster card. |
You seem to have forgotten all the Al-Qaeeda killings in 2004. However the real reason for the compounds was never security; it was segregation. |
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soitsenglishweteach
Joined: 11 Jul 2005
Posts: 18
Location: ksa
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Mohammad wrote: |
| It's funny that Abba assumes that you are from either Bangladesh or Pakistan! LOL |
naa'm lol look at his posts and you will find strange mistakes that hint that he is far from native himself.
Oh well i never look down on people because of that - i mean where would I be as a German teacher???
also lets give aba a break cos he needs one.
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| Am I alone in thinking the standards have fallen since we were joined by soitsenglishweteach ? |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:02 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Am I alone in thinking the standards have fallen since we were joined by soitsenglishweteach ? |
Standards!? |
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Mohammad
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:45 am Post subject: |
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Abba,
What is your challenge to do with teaching English in KSA? He did say that if you want to discuss Islamic issues with him, then to send him a PM. Why can't you just do that? This site is not for Islamic discussions or debates; it's for English language teachers. Please respect that and post your challenges elsewhere.
Shukran jazeelan wa ma3salaama |
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Abba
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 97
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Mohammad wrote: |
Abba,
What is your challenge to do with teaching English in KSA? He did say that if you want to discuss Islamic issues with him, then to send him a PM. Why can't you just do that? This site is not for Islamic discussions or debates; it's for English language teachers. Please respect that and post your challenges elsewhere.
Shukran jazeelan wa ma3salaama |
Well, I wonder if your posts on Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:56 pm , Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:47 am , and Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:46 am , have anything to do with teaching English in KSA, or with classical musics? so which one is it? |
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Mohammad
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 79
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| Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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Abba,
Please see the PM I sent you. |
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Gordon Bennett
Joined: 04 Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Jeddah/London
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| Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| kanterbrau wrote: |
Paul in Saudi, think were going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
I'm very glad that things are working out for you and that you're obviously making lots of money.
However, from my experience, a military contract in KSA can be extremely stressful for two reasons.
1) The obstructive attitude of the "Directing Staff" - who seem to make life difficult for the teachers simply because they can.
2) The appalling way the students are treated by the officers and particularly the NCO's e.g. expecting them to spend hour after hour learning a foreign language after little, or in some cases, no sleep. I'm damn sure I couldnt cope with learning Arabic under those conditions.
As reards the BAE Systems/SDT contract - if its such a good gig why are they constantly advertising for staff? SIXTEEN vacancies once again on tefl.com this week.
Good Luck. |
I came to read these kinds of comments and to find out even more about these organisations that sound great on paper but hide a darker side.
Why is this Abba guy ruining all the threads? I was also surprised to note that there is a number of missing posts here which somehow spoil the flow of the discussion. It looks to me Stephen had it right
What standards were there in the first place!??
nice one steve wander !!
hey you know what if you want to have it out about religion why not go to the BBC board on religion or another one.
Who is behind me in saying no more speaking about religion??
Lets talk about the good the bad and the ugly of where and who we have worked with. |
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