Job Discussion Forums

dmelton · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

I have just been offered an ESL teaching position with Arabian Education and Training Group. I need specific, factual information about this firm preferably from teachers already working there. I have been offered $39,000/yr with housing. I am married; my wife will accompany me. Is this a reliable firm, pays on time, decent housing and so on. Is this a decent salary? I have an MBA, CELTA, and 2 years post-CELTA teaching experience. At this point I do not know the job location. I've lived in Saudi Arabia before. Again, please provide factual information I can use to make an informed decision about working for this company. If you are working there now, do you plan to continue? How far is your housing from the job location? Do you own a car? Are used cars inexpensive and easy to obtain? Saudi drivers license easy to obtain? There are many other questions, please feel free to respond with any facts you care to; I am not interested in the usual whining, drivel all too common to ESLcafe.

freesoul · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

A fact: They are hiring ESL teachers and their website is only in Arabic. Go figure!

http://www.alfac.edu.sa/gifts1.aspx

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject:

Dear freesoul,
Might be one reason they need the teachers. Laughing

Regards,
John

freesoul · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:37 am Post subject:

You know John, after so many years browsing websites of schools, centres, universities, colleges and the rest, I feel I have developed a kind of sensitivity to detect the level of professionalism- high or low- each workplace has by- among other things of course- surfing through their website.
Examples:

http://www.zu.ac.ae/main/ ( Trendy and Rich)
http://www.ipa.edu.sa/en/index.asp ( Simple but practical, just been updated)
http://www.jazanu.edu.sa/main/ ( Confusing Arabic with English!! mm avoid it for the the next two years)
http://sbc.com.sa/qf1c4en/ ( places like Saudi-British Centre & whatever Arabian Group, don't even think about it! Just run away)

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:12 am Post subject:

freesoul · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:28 am Post subject:

http://www.pmu.edu.sa/enn/employment.asp ( gloomy colours and plzzz change the font. they even don't have a Vision. When I want to click the main headings above, you see the subheadings moving up, it's a red flag of unprofessional people there i.e. Click About PMU and see what pops up not down)

My favourite website- not educational- is BBC. they way you can personalise the page by dragging some parts according to your preferences is amaaaaazing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk

Never Ceased To Be Amazed

dmelton · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

The teaching position is at Al Baha University; Al Baha is a city in SW Saudi Arabia and (apparently) a tourist destination. I still need factual answers to my questions preferably from people who may actually be at this location. Real answers would be much appreciated.

freesoul · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

So you will be working at Al-Baha Uni, but for a contract (Arabian Education and Training Group, another name for Al-Faisal Academy)

It's not really advisable to be a subcontractor teacher, you will find yourself working with less benefits than your fellow teachers there who are direct hires.

Good luck.

egyptfan · Joined: 29 Nov 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Middle East

Why would you go through an agency when the university has already advertised?

http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=19134

When working for an agent, the university will not get involved in any issues or problems you might have with your employer. The uni will have paid a substantially higher premium for you through the agent. So, naturally, their obligations end with the payment to Arabian Education.

If you want real answers from people there, why not ask the agent / employer for names and contact addresses or phone numbers of people already in Al Baha (not just working for them somewhere else). If they don't provide them, a red flag?

Finally, I would suggest there are plenty of 'real' answers above, if you care to read between the lines. The lack of lack of people rushing forward with positive feedback on your potential employer (or Al Baha University, for that matter) might also indicate something.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject:

InterRick · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 86

Markemark · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 82 Location: ksa

$39,000 works out at a not very impressive 12,000 riyals per month. That's the low end of what you could be getting, however, with an MBA and just a CELTA, it's probably not a bad starting point.
However-, apart from a barely satisfactory wage, you need to start asking the following questions:

a) Will they provide your spouse with residential papers, and, more to the point, are you coming on a business visa or an iqma?
b) Will they provide married accomodation, or is their idea of being 'with accomodation' based on you being single?
c) Is it a married status contract at all- is this specified?
d) How long will it be before your wife actually gets out to KSA- 3 months, 6 months, or, whenever they feel like?
e) With just 12,000 SR- can you even afford the collateral costs of living out there, bearing in mind a car is a must

InterRick · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 86

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

And yours leads top the Min of health site for Baha with a further link (in Arabic) to baha Uni

Have you guys any idea what Baha is like? I have. I have been there. Don't go.