Job Discussion Forums

[goteach99]

I am a teacher at KFUPM. Expect the low end of the pay scale if you come
here. I have two Masters and one is in ESL. I have years of public school
experience but they only give credit for ESL teaching. They also don't pay
for certifications with public school systems, advanced degrees, or
ability. The pay is good if you are not qualified to get a job in your
country and have spent a few years working for peanuts in a developing
country and having a good time.

The housing is a constant complaint. The single men say they have a
small hotel fridge and not enough room to cook. Married couples get a
tiny one bedroom apartmen. The handbook they sent me said that we
would get a two bedroom but you have to take what they give you.

The plus side is the time off. You teach four hours a day and have a nice
long summer break. I like the students and enjoy teaching. One other
complaint is that you may have to teach up to five extra classes a week
if other teachers are sick. You don't get paid for that. Luckily I have had
to do only two classes this year but the danger is there. The university
is also very supportive with paperwork and does not try to hold on to
your passport.

I would be happier here if they paid me based on my qualifications, I was
single (my wife cannot work or study), I could work on my PhD, and
they gave us a decent apartment.

If you are single and unqualified this is a good deal.

I will be glad to answer any posted questions.

[veiledsentiments]

[nikon]

From what I've learned about KFUPM, I agree with the the comments and would just like to add just this: besides being single, and unqualified, it appears that employees need be required to have police academy training and police experience- I've heard that the majority of the classroom work over there, is police work!

[nathan_lomax]

Wow, thanks for the info. I had just sent off for the application form. I thought from the description the campus lufe would make up for the low (even though tax free) salary. I don't think I'll bother now. Thanks!

[Stephen Jones]

[goteach99]

If you have no qualifications or background in ESL but a couple of years
teaching I think you have a good chance of a job. We are so short on
staff that I think that they are looking at anyone that applies. I started
this semester with 35 students in each class and a limit of 38. Luckily,
some did not show so I am down to about 31 each.

I taught in Jeddah at the teachers college and we did not have to cover
classes. In any professional educational institution you are not required
to cover classes. I'm sure the professors don't have to do it. You also
don't have to do it in any public school where I worked. The policies
here show how much they respect us as professionals.

As far as give up education as a career, we are not in a career. We are
temporary laborers and are treated accordingly. As long as they can fill
the classrooms with anyone that wants to travel and don't worry about
training or qualifications that is the way they will treat ESL people. Try
getting a professional qualification in any other field by taking a two week
class. That is how you become a bartender, not a professional educator.

By the way, the University of Florida is advertising for a full time ESL
lecturer and requires a Masters Degree. They are only paying about
$22,000 for the school year. I can get $50,000 in Miami public schools.

Countdown till summer. Good luck to all.

[veiledsentiments]

[Stephen Jones]

[cassava]

When I worked in Saudi Arabia a few years ago, KFUPM had a policy of appointing only Saudis to deanships and departmental headships, except for the ELC. At the time, I thought the policy somewhat unfair because so many fine administrators were excluded. I don't know whether this policy still exists today, especially with the emergence of the new universities. All things considered, I think that KFUPM is an adequate university.

[goteach99]

Congratulations Stephen. You have found the job of your dreams.

I came back to the kingdom because I love the people and culture.
I had better jobs in the US but find domestic life there to be boring.
I settled for the pay because it took so long to get a contract offer
that it had too much time invested in the application process to turn
it down at that point. I had hoped that the campus life would make up
for the deficiency in pay. I have been disappointed. If you have no
other teaching options then this may be the place to stay. I hope
everyone finds what they are looking for. KFUPM is not a bad job.

I still say that anyone that wants to work here should apply, even if
Stephen thinks they don't have the proper qualifications. We had one
guy hired with two years teaching and no background in education.
That was this year. There are opportunities here and the staff, students,
and environment on campus are very easy to put up with.

Best of luck to all.

[Saudi4Ever]

Is KFUPM currently hiring and if you are already in the Kingdom is it advisable to apply in person?

[patrykt]

I am pretty satisfied so far at KFUPM, but goteach99 you did hit the nail on the head with the statement that the salary is good if you've been working in a developing country which I was. But where are the high paying jobs in Saudi? I've got a buddy at BAE and he's making loads, but where are the jobs between KFUPM and BAE, for example? I've come to the conclusion that coming to Saudi to make your fortune is a thing of the past. This also leads me to believe that the KFUPM gig is not too bad considering the amount of time off and the pleasant work environment. It's given me a chance to breathe easy for a while.

I'd also question the statement about hiring people with no qualifications. I have a TEFL certificate and a MA in linguistics, and during my interview I was asked very poignant questions about my TEFL and MA programs. I felt as though I was quite thoroughly examined during my interview. Moreover, my neighbor who has a PhD in literature and years of teaching experience was made to do a CELTA before being accepted.

I could write more, but I'll leave it at that.

[scot47]

The days when working in one of the Gulf States was a quick route to riches are long gone. Teaching here is still a bit better paid than in some language mill in Spain oir Thailand though !

[veiledsentiments]

Those times were pretty much gone by the time I got to the Gulf in the late 80's. Funny how that (mis)perception lives on. Perhaps it is because so many backpacker teachers in Asia or South America with no credentials are paid appropriately tiny salaries... so the Gulf pay looks grand in comparison. Of course they naturally don't qualify for any of the still decent jobs.

VS

[scot47]

The boom was from the mid-70's to the mid-80's. To a certain extent jobs with BAE and some of the US military are still lucrative. But with those jobs there is a terrible price to pay.

With 'ordinary' jobs in Saudi Arabia salaries are sliding as the dollar gets sicker.