Job Discussion Forums

desertmonkey · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 25

Hello,

My wife is a British qualified medical doctor , she is still in the UK at present. She had recently rejected a medical job offer in the Eastern Province of Saudia partially because she wants to spend more time with our baby (and ME!) as I am based in Jeddah. Now, she is interested in teaching. I am currently in Jeddah and she will be joining me soon. Please can you help us with these queries :

1) Can anyone suggest insitutions in Jeddah where my wife can teach . BTW she has no formal teaching qualification but has experience with ward teaching to medical students and had given talks at medical postgraduate meetings.

2) Should she best apply as a local once she arrives to Jeddah ? Should I send her CV now ? Or should she apply while she is still in the UK ?

3) What are her chances of getting a teaching job ? Would a weekend crash course in TELF do her good ?

Sorry for asking so many questions !! Thanks very much in advance

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

Why would a doctor want to work in TEFL? My GP here makes a fortune. Even more than me!

Can't she find doctor work in Jeddah?

desertmonkey · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 25

Saudi hospitals doctors standard working hours is 48 hrs / week EXCLUSIVE of lunch breaks. We have a young child and my wife is looking for an "lighter" job until our child goes to school.

Being a GP is an excellent idea but she didn't train as a GP in the UK. She is currently a hospital physician. Ideally she would also like to work as a doctor in Saudi but as a part-timer or with lower work intensity. We haven't heard of anyone who works part time apart from EFL teachers.

So with all the uncertainties, plus the fear of feeling bored being a full time housewife, teaching is her main option now seeing me working 4 hours a day in Ramadhan and finishing work at 12.45pm outside Ramadhan.

Yes, she could earn 3 times more than me, but thats only if she would be prepared to work 3 times harder and 3 times longer , on top of having a child craving for her mother's attention when she gets home! ( And having me to bother her further !!!)

Do you know of anyone in a field other than teaching who works part time there in Saudi?

Abba · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 97 Location: UK

Do your search with the private hospitals, they might offer her a part time job. Also, you may try the teaching hospitals in Jeddah, in which she can work as a medical teacher in her field of speciality. Some of the teaching hospitals they have child nursery for female doctors who have children to be looked after them when she is in work.
It is better if she applies from UK, to get better contract.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

As always the much maligned Abba is right on the money. I'd also consider what a waste to her career teaching English would be.

Mr Gohlam · Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 22

I understand your concerns, but why should she teach when she can make more money and work less hours working as a doctor? I would really check into those suggested hospitals and other local clinics before going to work as an ESL teacher.

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

Ah, but Mr Gohlam, medical doctors work 3 or 4 times the hours of TEFL teachers per week. I don't know that she could find a part-time doctor position. But, she should certainly check around before wasting her education by becoming an English teacher.

VS

Rennenkampf · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 91 Location: Hail

'wasting her education by becoming an English teacher'VS
You are,I presume,speaking from personal experience?

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

So you consider the education time and professional level of a medical doctor to be equal to an EFL teacher? Laughing

yeah... right... Rolling Eyes

As a matter of fact I do have two majors, two sets of degrees, and two careers, but that was by my choice.

VS

Abba · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 97 Location: UK

Rennenkampf · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 91 Location: Hail

I believe you.

Rennenkampf · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 91 Location: Hail

The way to inject civility and decorum into this forum is to restrict it to persons who actually teach English in Saudi Arabia and persons who wish to teach English in Saudi Arabia.There will therefore be at least one corner of cyberspace dedicated to the exchange of positive information without the inelegant intrusion of the 'retired,tired ,elderly etc.'.
Surely there are enough websites catering to the fantasies of the bottox set?

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

Do feel free to go and set up your own forum and then you can make the rules. That way all your fantasies can be fulfilled.

VS

Rennenkampf · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 91 Location: Hail

The dazzling wit and scintillating subtlety..........
Now is the time for civility,decorum,positive information in discourse
restricted to the teaching fraternity.
Why should the young and vibrant be hectored by the elderly?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In civilised societies - like Saudi Arabia - we listen to our elders and betters. I am not sure about listening to Maghrebi Maths teachers domicled in London whose hidden agenda is the creation of the 'New Khalifate' covering all of Planet Terra.