Job Discussion Forums

[PowerPuff]

Hi plp, So I don�t know if this is a good offer, but I have been offered a 6800 Riyal base salary + 500 for transportation from school and a housing allowance. Is this a pay package that I should except as a new teacher? I�m a bit confused but trying to figure it all out.

[johnslat]

Dear PowderPuff,
That's darn low - what are your qualifications/experience? And how much is the housing allowance? And where will you be in the Kingdom?
Given the salary, I'll bet the housing allowance isn't sufficient for anything but a dump.
Regards,
John

[PowerPuff]

John
I have a bachelor and Masters in business and earth science. I am not a linguistic or education major but i know my way through English lool. This is my package, I guess it isn�t much and I�m sad but somewhat happy that there is hope
They offered a base salary of 6800 Saudi Riyals.
Transportation allowance of 500 Riyals, a
Housing allowance of 18,000 riyals and a furniture allowance of 9,000 Riyals.

[johnslat]

Dear PowerPuff,
It still seems very low, especially with an MA. Will you be teaching EFL or business/earth science? Are you being hired by a university, another government facility or a private school? What city will you be in? Do you have any overseas teaching experience.
I'm assuming (from your user name) that you're a woman (please excuse me if I'm mistaken.) If so, do you know what life in Saudi is like for women? Will you be single status or coming with your spouse?
It may seem like I'm a very nosy busybody, but all these questions are necessary in order to answer your questions.
I suspect, from the low salary/housing allowance, that you're being hired by a private school. Yup, the housing allowance is low, too - though again we'd need to know where you're going to be living there.
Regards,
John

[PowerPuff]

Yea I am a woman, and for the most part I know how life is, veiled in a Niqab, no frolicking with guy�s and all that or else, lool. I think the school is private, English Language Center of Al Baha University, but unsure. Do you have info on this school? I am coming as a single person, but I have a couple relatives that have relocated to the kingdom from UK. I am newbie to the teaching profession, and want to teach English and earth science. This school wants to hire me as an ESL teacher. Any info u can provide may be helpful. Thanks

[007]

Al-Baha University is a new government university which was opened in 2006.
The basic salary for a Master holder with Government University is at least SR8500 (with 0 experiences). I think you should re-negotiate with your employer about your master degree, especially if you hold a British passport; it will be an added advantage for you.
I think because your Master is not in TESOL/Applied Linguistics, they offered you a contract at the BA level!

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[PowerPuff]

Thanks for the info on the school I had no idea they were a government Uni. I totally need guidance on this issue; I don�t know how the schools operate in KSA. I will have to request a better offer, because it is safe to assume that this offer is the work of Misogyny, considering my credentials, minus the experience Lool. I am going have to be creative in my lingo- for sure Uggh they are making me work for pay before a check is given. I actually took the TESOL, TEFL course and finally completed it, will that effect my pay as well

[quote]Al-Baha University is a new government university which was opened in 2006.
The basic salary for a Master holder with Government University is at least SR8500 (with 0 experiences). I think you should re-negotiate with your employer about your master degree, especially if you hold a British passport; it will be an added advantage for you.
I think because your Master is not in TESOL/Applied Linguistics, they offered you a contract at the BA level!

Yes no flirting, and all that, I�m not going to jail: roll: . I�m going to try and be a as low key as possible, but I don�t know how that�s going to work out for me seeing as I am not soo quiet.

[veiledsentiments]

[meri]

I don't think al Baha is the kind of place where you can uncover your hair and the niqab is to be recommended in such a place, unless you like being checked out.

It's OK to be less covered in certain parts of Jeddah and other big cities. However while in Toys r us the other day the men were really staring at a european woman who was just wearing abaya. It's your choice, but I believe al Baha is the kind of place where women don't even walk into shops alone.

One good point: the weather in Baha is relatively cool.

[Kipling]

From what I have trawled and read on these boards you can most definitely get better than that in the ME/KSA. Patience for the good jobs is advisable....cast your net wide.
Mr K

[12 Monkeys]

LOOL or LOL

It has something to do with laughing on line or something like that. It's a chat room expression that made it nto the cyberspace linguistic code.

I think.

Therefore.

I am.

Cornelius

[johnslat]

Laughing Outrageously Out Loud.

[PowerPuff]

Lool and Brb are slang words that we use on the net.
Lool=Laugh out loud
Here is a link to some of the more common web slang phrases.
http://www.internetslang.com/

Use them wisely.
PP

[PowerPuff]

I have applied to 2 other schools that I also have no real idea about. I feel somewhat weird at how little I know about the school system of KSA. I am trying to widen my net, and be an educated person about my work conditions. That�s why I have enlisted the help of everyone on this site. So please bear with me and your advice is not going on deaf ears. I am writing as professional as I can an email asking for the reconsideration of the purposed pay. They just may laugh and say what is wrong with this girl, she is asking for to much, *hit the delete. This is a funny situation I am putting myself in. So advise me plp.