Job Discussion Forums

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Never before have I experienced such nebulous rumors in terms of a country's work environment. I worked 1 year in Italy, 1 year in Guyana, 7 months in (then) West Germany, and now 1 year in Korea. Before each assignment I researched quite well the conditions in each country. Of course I discovered many pros and cons, etc.... And when I had spent a good time there working, I looked back and realized that the cons were just to-be-expected and usual cons, representative perhaps of MOST places on God's earth. And also for the pros.

But this time---whewwww!!!! This time!!!!-----seems there's more of a fear-factor floating freely out there regarding KSA.

Is it really so much more difficult/nightmarish than, say, Indonesia or Brazil or Russia or India? I just find it interesting to say the least, and wonder if it is justified. I guess I'll only know by DOING it.

Such is the case with most things in life.

I'll let you know, 'cuz off I go!

007 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject:

Well, for someone who could not finish 1 year job in Italy, or 7 months job in Germany, I think he will not finish 1 month job in the Magic Kingdom! Ask our Uncle Scott, he will confirm the above theory! Laughing

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

007, uhhh........you have misread my post. I said I WORKED 1 year in Italy, and 7 months in Germany. Why do you say I couldn't finish the job, then? And how is it you are drinking alcohol in the Kingdom just prior to appearing so pickled on this forum?

Well, I say, for someone who couldn't read my post correctly, I think he will not have knowledge of English. Laughing

Ask our Aunt Judy, she will most certainly concede. Laughing

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

007, btw, where is your painfully obvious omission of the use of the article "a"? And you are an English teacher?

This a case of Chicken Kiev, then. Tell me, how was Chernobyl?

Kipling · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject: United we stand

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Eclectic,

This is the first time I have done any research before considering an ESL job. I flew to Korea with $500.00 dollars in my pocket and one contact. I guess the older we get the less adventurous we become.

my significant other is resisting assimilation. He says he cannot live without beer, and does not like the idea of only seeing a womans eyebrow from 50 yards away. I need some help with the mystic aspect of kSA, or at least the monetary rewards.

I'd like to go to Chernobyl to see if there really area human flukes.

Tillymd

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Wesy Germany united with East Germany in about 1990 I believe. I worked in West Germany with Colgate-Palmolive in 1986.

Not sure what the confusion is about.

Kipling · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

Sorry Mr E...still a bit confused??/ are you a TEFL teacher? Did you work in those countries as an English teacher or in another capacity.
I should think Guyana would be very interesting.
Mr K

007 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

Eclectic
You're wise to be cautious about moving to the Kingdom. Getting a good employer is crucial (easier said than done, of course). My employer was British. Salaries paid on time EVERY month. Contract honoured to the letter. There are good employers. Maybe you are worrying too much. BTW the country itself is a s*******.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

No I didnt teach English in Germany at Colgate. Yes I taught English in Guyana, which was indeed interesting as they actually DO speak English but it is very ungrammatical. Very interesting indeed, as well as quite low-paying!! Laughing

My original post was about different countries' work environments.

One more time to 007, who is still omitting the article "a": I FINISHED the 1 year in both Guyana and Italy, and I FINISHED the 7-moth contract with Colgate in Germany. And I FINISHED the 1 year contract in Korea.

Does the word "finished" mean anything to you, sir?

Therefore, your whole point that I couldnt make it through a month in KSA because as you mistakenly read I DID NOT FINISH my contracts elsewhere, is null and void and zilch and moot.

Sheikh R: you were quite fortunate with that British employer I see. What is yoru #1 and #2 reasons for saying the country is a s*******?

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

007 wrote: I am a maths teacher

What is a "maths" teacher?

and "Where you teaching English........" should probably read "Were you.......", no?

Question

littleoldlady · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 286 Location: knitting heaven

sorry to but in but the littleoldlady just wants to point out that we teach "maths" in the UK and across the pond they teach "math". Now I will shuffle away and polish my zimmer

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

Ah littleold lady... there are many of us approaching zimmer polishing, but we use the term "walker" rather than zimmer. I remember being confused by the term "maths" when I first taught in Egypt in the 80s. After a few years teaching EFL, we eventually become used to our differences in grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. Add in a few Aussies, Kiwis, North Africans and sub-continental English speakers... and the fun expands. Laughing

Eclectic... get used to the missing "a" because it is one of the constants of teaching Arabic speakers - of which 007 is one. There is only one article - "the" - in Arabic, so a/an is difficult for them to use correctly consistently.

VS

Kipling · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject:

Sorry Mr E if I got mixed up. So you have taught English In Korea, Guyana and Italy in the last 3 years? And have lived in Germany too.
The old noggin you know, not what it used to be?