Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear Grendal,
Hope you'll forgive my suggesting it, but wouldn't this personal exchange with shiekher be more suitable to be carried on through PMs? Apparently one needs only five now to PM.
Regards,
John

[Stephen Jones]

[Venusian Pollyanna]

I also worked as a teacher at KFU in Hofuf, Al Ahsa and, although Shabaka asked me to come back this year, I won't even entertain this proposal.

I have over 15 years experience in TEFL/TESL and never in my career had I witnessed such blatant incompetence and nepotism on behalf of the administrative and supervising staff. That was, alas, my experience. Obviously for those in power, and that means you Chthon since you are one of the so-called "Master Instructors" favoured by the director's cronyism, their stories will be a lot more palatable.

On the bright side, the native academic staff was wonderful and very helpful. Luckily, the local intelligentsia took our small team of teachers under their wing.

Sadly, we had very little support from management, to the point that we had to arrange work transportation on our own, even though it was included in our contract. The program director's militaristic style is ineffective in an educational setting and he treats instructors as grunts. As VS pointed out, most of the scandals will never get reported.

So, in the interest of those currently applying, these are the facts that Chthon has conveniently ignored:

-Salary has been reduced compared to last year's.
-Instructors will have to pay their own visas, including the monthly six-hour taxi drive to Bahrain and quarterly overnight stay to cover up the illegal 3-month business visas scheme.
-Class sizes will be around 25-30 students.
-Travel itineraries have to be reported to management before leaving the kingdom for statutory holidays.
-Instructors will live in Mubarraz, 35 minutes away from the university campus in Hofuf.

I don't have a vendetta against anyone. And if Chthon can refute any of the information herein contained, go ahead. But please don't try to dismiss my arguments as baseless over-generalizations as you have done here in the clearest and purest Rovian style which you are so fluent using.