Job Discussion Forums

Nashledanou · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

Some of you may remember that I once asked for info about LangSols, this British company that provides TEFLers to the Magic Kingdom. So, now I am here in Jubail, working for the Industial College via these guys, and I can tell you what it's like.

The package the company offer is enticing. Contracts for 3, 6 or 12 months, 12000 SAR nett per month, accommodation and return flight provided. I asked if I could fly from a different origin than London (Milan) and "return" somewhere else, specifically Thailand, and they said no problem, provided I don't have them spend more than 500 quid; that is to say that they are pretty flexible on that one. What's even more important is that the company pays for the flights in advance, so no setbacks.

I landed in Dammam (flew Qatar Airways, fabulous) and got picked up by a driver who took me to my compound. My room is in a shared apartment in a compound; three people per house. There are 8 houses in the compound, so 24 people in total - and that includes the big guys, other than the teachers. Every room is equipped with A/C (vital, in summer), there is a dining room and a living room with satellite TV (but the most important channels are all scrambled). No internet, but big plans to install a dial-up (swell...). Two bathrooms, which is quite reasonable for three people, and a spacious kitchen. The whole house is spartanly furnished; what's essential is there, though (iron, board, pans, cutlery, toaster, kettle, etc.).

The big guys (the ones I've met so far) are Crispin, a pleasant gentleman in his late 40s, who together with a certain Mark runs the business; Nadeem and Saad Ansari, two easy-going Saudis high up in the company who apparently take care of matters as far as their country is concerned; and Simon, an eternally flustered Brit who does just about everything, from taking on DOS tasks (subbing etc) to managing operations and solving human problems (should there occur any). At present Crispin is looking for a DOS or two, and one can see why.

The organization is not exactly what one would call running a tight ship. Everything is "inshallah", God willing. On arrival we were given cell phones with SIM cards and 100 SAR worth of credit, but 4 out of 10 cards turned out to be dodgy - bogus or pirated. After 2 weeks, we are still awaiting the replacements.

The paperwork we are supposed to take care of (something Simon hastily explained on day one) is on a network drive which is not easily accessible - there are only 6 oldish computers, and the so-called broadband connection is slower than a 52K modem. The computers are in a room that we only see after work, for one hour in total, when we are supposed to perform these vaguely defined administrative tasks and prepare the lessons. Big time.

The lessons take place at the Industrial Academy, which is 20 min by mini-van away from our compound, and 10 from the LangSols Center (where the PC's and the photocopier - please note the use of the singular - are). We are supposed to teach 5 days a week, 6 hours a day (blocks of 50 minutes, so 5 full hours in total), same students. The students are young Saudis who've just been hired by SABIC, a company who apperently owns the whole city, or almost. Their level is beginners to pre-intermediate, their spelling atrocious, and their mood depends on your skills as an entertainer. In general, very nice fellas.

After these endless 6 hours (5 during Ramadan), as said, we go back to the Center, to send a couple of emails (no more - the speed is irritating) and maybe write the end-of-the-week reports on who was there and who was not, what we've done and when.

Eventually, home sweet home. So to say - there is a swiming pool (filled with chloride and some water) in the compound, and thank the Lord, because it's just about the only thing to do, together with surfing at the nearby Internet Cafe and doing the weekly shopping at Giant Stores. But it is no news that entertainment is thin on the ground in KSA.

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

Get yourself down to Khobar at the weekend. There's a bus. Or hire a taxi to take you there and back. It's quite cheap if you share. Jubail is dead! I lived there for 4 months. You could get yourself an easier job in Khobar or Dhahran, teaching far fewer hours. You'd earn a bit less to begin with. But there's plenty of time to teach privately. Provided you get on an incremented salary scale you'd be on well over SR 12,000 after a couple of years. And you're nearer to Bahrain!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If you can't entertain yourself best not to come to KSA. Some of us oldtimers still read books, but I suppose the younger generation never learned how to do that.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Post deleted by the author as he confused JIA with JTI. Advice on discount meds for galloping Alzheimers would be greatly appreciated, especially if you can remember the address to send it to as I've forgotten it!

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Cleo is right. Sharing is a no-no. Interestingly enough BAE Sytems make their staff share - presumably as a tool of supervision. Get the squaddies to spy on each other.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The BAE villas are big enough you don't need to see each other, and you could always rent somewhere private with your pin money.

I think the thing is they have a lot of married accommodation, and few people on a married contract.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject:

Judging from the OP, and others I have read on this subject, LangSols and their ilk might impress KSA newbies (which I assume the OP is?) who have just come from language school drudgery in Europe or Asia. By these standards, the pay and conditions probably seem OK - after all, you'd have to be quite wealthy to be able to afford your own place in any major Western European city.

However, for those who have grown accustomed to the higher standards (in terms of pay and benefits, not neccessarily job satisfaction or education) LangSols sounds like a pretty raw deal. Those with MAs and/or good experience would be better off looking elsewhere.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The point is Langsols pays SR12,000 to everybody, regardless of experience.

If you have ten years or more of accredited experience then direct hire is much better, but if you only have a couple of years you start around SR8,000 . which is hardly anything to write home about.

Nashledanou · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

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

Not just Saudi, but anywhere in the world. I wouldn't have considered a job paying twice that salary if I had to share my living space with strangers.

I wouldn't have done it at 20, and I certainly wouldn't consider it at 30 or 40 or 50.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Life in KSA can be stressful enough without having to share with some of the flakes that find there way here !

It is a measure of TEFLing in the wider world that its practitioners think it is acceptable to share living accommodation with strangers.

I suppose for those who have been TEFling in Greece or Thailand anything is acceptable ! It does seem that many of our colleagues are only one step away from a life of dereliction on Skid Row !

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I think Cleo and Scot that the matter has a lot to do with age. If you are a professional in your twenties or early thirties in much of the UK or in big American cities you have no choice but to share rented accommodation with other adults, unless Daddy and Mommy can help you with the mortgage.

Those in Thailand generally have no problem getting single accommodation. $300 a month will get you a top class flat in the centre of Bangkok.