Job Discussion Forums

Gogo05 · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 9

What's a feasible salary for an English Teacher in KSA?

I was offered USD1300 equivalent with free furnished apartment,free ride to school,return ticket,30 days holiday, a promise to get my a job if she wants one etc.

Your sugesstions/opinons will be highly appreciated.

SCHUBERT · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 71

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

This is not an appropriate salary - unless you are of a 'non-Western' nationality !

Gogo05 · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 9

Thanks Schubert,I meant my wife.The boss of the school promised to get my wife a job if she wants one,but that's not official.

Regarding my qualifications,i have a B.A. in Eng Lit.,Bsc Chemistry,TEFL Certificate,TEFL Advanced Diploma(yet to be completed).

Talking about experience,i've got over 5 years experience behind me,teaching English and Chemistry in some African countries,China and also lately had a stiint in the Sultante of Oman.

And for Scot47,yes i'm a non 'western' nationality from Africa.I know i might not be marketable as you 'native speakers' but i'm not going to lower the ESL profession by accepting peanuts.

All i want to know is just what's the cost of living like in KSA.

Anyway,thank you guys for the input.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

Welcome to the forum Gogo05.

There's no reason why you have to accept "peanuts" just because you're from Africa. I know of Somali and Sudanese ESL teachers earning good money here. I don't know about their qualifications or how they were recruited but I'll make some enquiries if you're interested.

Which country are you from and where did you get your degree and other qualifications? This might be relevant. Send me a pm if you don't want to post this information here.

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

I have to agree, with your qualifications, this is an insulting offer, and you should be offered something like twice that much. It may very well be based on your nationality, in which case, the employer doesn't sound reputable, and I would look elsewhere because I agree that you nay very well be able to do better. Some employers discriminate between natiionalities and are less reputable than others in KSA, so its better to keep looking.

Gogo05 · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 9

Many thanks Queen of Sheba,roger that.

desert date · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 67 Location: Australia

Hi Gogo05

Did you face any discrimination in China?

dd

goingbald · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 15 Location: Earth

Dear Gogo,

A friend of mine once told me "you never get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate."

KFUPM and Jubail Industrial College put their pay scales online, so you have some expectation of what you should get.

Also, it is sad but possible that two people with the same qualifications and experience may not get the same salary. Why? Different passports. The subject of unequal pay for equal work is a rather delicate one, if you assume that a person is here to work short-term i.e. a few years, all the while sending money home to his/her country of origin.

Bargain hard. Never lose your skepticism. There's a book I recommend too: The Arab Way by Dr Jehad al Omari. It contains useful info about Arab culture, including things about negotiations.

gb

Gogo05 · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 9

Thanks goingbald,i've never settled for less here in China despite the fact that i don't have the 'right' passport coupled with the fact that i don't have the preffered skin colour but was able to prove my mettle against all odds in the classroom hence the 'good' pay.

Hi desert date,yeah,i've encountered a barrage of discriminations,rude racial remarks etc despite the fact that i'm married to a Chinese lady.Can you beleive that?!
Though i feel dejected sometimes about this but i never let it weigh me down.These days, i'm used to it moreso now that i can speak and understand some Chinese.

Most times,Chinese people are shocked to the bone marrow when a 'black man'(me)responds jokingly to their rude racial remarks .
At those times some of them feel remorseful and apologize immediately.

All in all,what gladdens my heart are my students;when i see some of them that could barely mutter few letters of the alphabeth years back now communicating in English.

Lately,due to the pass rate of my students in the high school(English exams),i got accolades from their Chinese parents/school owners and of course loads of private tutoring jobs/private classes,which at most times, have to be dished out to my colleagues cos i'm almost filled to the brim.

That's the brief story of a black non-native speaker teaching English in China.

Thank you guys(in this forum) once again for the input.

007 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject:

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

gogo05, I just want to commend you on your effort and good nature. Many of us have faced this kind of discrimination, and we can relate to where you are coming from. It takes intelligence and perseverance to be better and know what�s right and wrong in your heart, and even more knowledge to joke about it. You have mastered this, and it is a challenging task, I know. This is your strength, rather than your weakness, to be different. It is the differences that make this world worth living in, and in time, you will find your mental "home," a place where you feel that you fit in, and can make a mark. I am sure your students are already privy to your empathic nature and understanding of what it takes to learn English, as an ESL speaker yourself. Keep up the good work, there is a place and time for it.

trapezius · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject:

May I ask the following questions:

1) Where are your degrees from?
2) And your TEFL qualifications
3) Is the job offer at a school, university, language inst., or a company? (send me a private message with the name and location if you don't mind)

I have lived in SA for 20+ years, so I know a thing or two about this place.

$1,300 is an insult. Lowest I have come across is $2,000 for ESL jobs.

Communicate with me privately if you wish for more insight and discussion.

Gogo05 · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 9

Hi trapezius,

Kindly go through my previous postings in this thread and you'd find my degree/certs info.

Gogo05

trapezius · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

Yes, needless to say, I saw them.

My questions were "where" you got them from. And I can also see you said you are African, but that doesn't necessarily mean your qualifications are from Africa.

Also, this is what I posted in another thread:

search for saudi arabia in the job board, and you will see several job listings which offer anywhere between $2,800 and $4,200.