Job Discussion Forums

livro do desassossego · Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 4 Location: LISBOA

A query relative to time. I am a teacher who has enjoyed a four-year hiatus. I wish to return to teaching shortly and the do a stint in KSA. I have a BA and eight years experience without a formal teaching qualification. I am about to embark on a CELTA course and thereafter begin teaching here in the U.K. I'm veering towards doing a M.A. in linguistics but haven't made up my mind yet. Would a prospective employer discount my eight years of diploma-less teaching and only include experience from the date I became armed with a CELTA?
Any responses greatly appreciated.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

Welcome to the forum livro.

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject:

Employers might consider any and all teaching experience as valuable in the sense that it gives you some, well, experience in your profession. However, as far as salary bonuses are concerned, most third-level institutions in KSA will only recognise post-MA experience. In other words, even if you have spent several years teaching in Arab universities, if this experience was gained before you got your MA, you would still start off on the same salary scale as someone with zero teaching experience. Of course, like so much else this may be negotiable and varies somewhat from college to college, but it does hold as a general rule.

So, if you're serious about spending more than a year or two in KSA, or anywhere else in the Gulf, my advice would be to get that MA. As far as the better third level colleges are concerned (and you should forget all about private language schools) CELTAs are better than nothing, but really not that much better.

livro do desassossego · Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 4 Location: LISBOA

Hi van norden. I have experience of teaching everything from basic levels up to advanced business English one to one on location. Yes, of course I'd like to make some 'decent ' money (somewhere in the region of $35,000 -per- annum). Yes, it's all relative! I would wish to stay for two consecutive two year contracts. I'm assumming with an M.A. there would be more choice. I live a frugal existence and am not spell-bound by glitzy shopping malls. I would wish to save a fair proportion to re-locate permanently to South-East Asia. livro.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

livro, of course you're after a decent salary. Money's the reason we all come here. But, are you prepared to do monotonous and soul-destroying work - if the pay is good? If so, I'd get that CELTA then start looking for a military job in KSA.

If you don't want to demean yourself, if you want something semi-respectable, you'll need an MA. You'll have to work out if it's worth it, though: ie, how much does it cost (including forgone income/opportunity) and what will it get you in KSA? You might find it's just not worth it.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:14 am Post subject:

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Cleo, I used to work with a guy who boasted about only spending 1 QR a day.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:06 am Post subject:

Seriously?

And was that an average daily expenditure or was there something in particular on which he spent that 1 rial a day?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

He used to save up then splash out at the weekend and go to Starbucks.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

1 QR a day ? Yes. I wonder if this is the same guy that knows the pedestrian route from Heathrow Airport to Victoria Coach Station ? (24 miles)

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

So what did he eat?

The leftovers in the work canteen?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

You had the option of living at the college. 3 meals a day. Most people opted for their own (rent free) apt. though and buy their own food. You can imagine it was a barrel of laughs with those who were too tight to buy their own food.

sorry for going off topic

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject:

Did the college provide free toilet paper too? Or was that an undreamt of luxury?

livro do desassossego · Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 4 Location: LISBOA

Hi Van Norden. No I don't want to work in a monotonous and soul-destroying enviroment. I am in to teaching for the long-haul not as an expedient of one kind or another. One must maintain certain standards if you wish to preserve your sanity!!

I've decide to go ahead with the M.A. In the U.K. it'll cost about �3,500-�4,000. Not that much, all things considered. It just seems the next logical step to put my teaching career on a more sure footing.

Charles Bukowski.....what a guy! Read 'Ham on Rye' and 'Notes of a Dirty Old Man'. I loved them!

007 · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: I digress