Job Discussion Forums

dmelton · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

I have received a contract from AETG. I would like to contact others who have received a contract from them to trade any specific information I/you may have. I am dealing with Salem (Mod edit). I have some information but it is sketchy. I was told that I was to arrive in Riyadh on September 20, 2009 to begin training and that the job itself would be at Al Baha beginning mid-October.

Please PM me with your email address or your Skype name so we can trade information.

Sadly, these threads on Dave's quickly degenerate and are not the best way to share specific information.

(Edited for name)

johnslat · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject:

Dear dmelton,
Sorry - but you'll need 2 more posts (five is now the "magic number") before you can use (send/receive) the PM function.
Regards,
John

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

I thought you got some very good advice on the previous thread that you started on this topic.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=776846&highlight=#776846

And then there is this one:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=74798

I get the feeling that the problem is that there is no one here who has worked for them and few that would want to...

VS

dmelton · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

Toeknee, there was no contact information in your PM and I cannot respond having failed to meet some posting criteria on this site.

hope3809 · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:20 am Post subject: AETG offer

I�ve also received a contract from AETG. Salem is who I�ve been communicating with as well. My information is probably the same as yours�or lack thereof anyway. All I can say (write) is that most would put me in the �foolish� category because I am going to move forward with this offer. After all it�s an organization no one seems to know anything about and they seem to be running a not so tight ship. But hey this is an opportunity to live and work in a country like none other. Yes it will be a culture shock. Yes the weather is extremely hot. Yes I, as a female, will have to quickly adjust to a way of life like I�ve never experienced before. I get all that but it�s still an opportunity I want to experience for myself. I mean I didn�t get into TEFL/ESL for the fame and glory or promises of extravagant high life living�and yes I�m being funny here. This is my journey and one that I�m sure I�ll be able to write about one day.

So, for all those out there that are seriously thinking of taking the offer as well I look forward to meeting y�all. And for those on this forum that will jump to replying with something humorous (as y�all do a lot of that on here)�no worries...it's nothing personal I'm sure.

Cheers!

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

From the sounds of it, you'll fit is jes' fine. On my last occasion of flying out on an Exit-only visa, The fella at Passport Control said, "Y'all come back here now, y'all hear?" Laughing

NCTBA

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

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: AETG offer

dmelton · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

Home, please PM me with your contact information. I would like to email you directly. I can't send you a PM because I haven't done enough posts.

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

Yes you can... you have just hit the magic number of 5!!

PM away...

VS

hope3809 · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

thank y'all for the input. Very Happy

batman1 · Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

The girl that is taking the job...good friggin' luck. I have seen a bunch of contracts from various schools around the world where I have applied and this one is only the second worse to M-trading, both of which are Saudi operations.

1. THERE IS NOTHING, AND I REPEAT, NOTHING IN THAT CONTRACT ABOUT HOUSING. Yeah they mentioned something in the OFFER, but you are not sighning an offer, you are signing the contract. I asked this Salem dude about it and it seems that I could end up in company SHARED housing. Been there, done that in Turkey, thinking that it would be nice to have roommates and then ended up with Europeans (won't say which ilk) who don't believe in bathing or washing their clothes much. WRONG! Even if you don't mind the stench, or you get lucky and get clean people, you still have NO DESCRIPTION of the accomodations supplied in the contract. You'll end up sleeping on a kilim in a tent, in a desert parking lot next to the school, cooking off of a bunson burner, wondering if that recipe for camel burgers is going to go over with your Saudi students that you have invited over. You are right, it's an experience. Just remember that when payday comes and... you weren't included.

2. Where is the visa information IN ENGLISH? NOT! It's in Arabic, and in Arabic for a reason.

3. Why isn't the contract in English AND Arabic? If you have problems the only recourse that you will have is your contract...if it is in Arabic too.

4. Where is the medical exam information? None!

Have fun, ride a camel, cook a camel... And keep us posted. In the meantime I'm waiting for a contract NOT from a sleezeball Saudi recruiter.

toeknee · Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 14

I have a contact with my embassy in Riyadh, and they write the following concerning AETG/AlFaisal

"As for Alfaisal International Academy (ALFAC), owned by the former King Faisal's family, under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), I consulted a friend at MOHE and was advised that the Academy is of an excellent reputation, is accredited with many institutions among them The North Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and with the Licensing Authority for Teaching International English (LATIE). The Academy has also an cooperation agreement with NAIT covering more than 150 specialities. They receive few Canadian visiting professors yearly."

Grendal · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:

batman1 wrote:
The girl that is taking the job...good friggin' luck. I have seen a bunch of contracts from various schools around the world where I have applied and this one is only the second worse to M-trading, both of which are Saudi operations.

1. THERE IS NOTHING, AND I REPEAT, NOTHING IN THAT CONTRACT ABOUT HOUSING. Yeah they mentioned something in the OFFER, but you are not sighning an offer, you are signing the contract. I asked this Salem dude about it and it seems that I could end up in company SHARED housing. Been there, done that in Turkey, thinking that it would be nice to have roommates and then ended up with Europeans (won't say which ilk) who don't believe in bathing or washing their clothes much. WRONG! Even if you don't mind the stench, or you get lucky and get clean people, you still have NO DESCRIPTION of the accomodations supplied in the contract. You'll end up sleeping on a kilim in a tent, in a desert parking lot next to the school................

toeknee wrote:
I have a contact with my embassy in Riyadh, and they write the following concerning AETG/AlFaisal

"As for Alfaisal International Academy (ALFAC), owned by the former King Faisal's family, under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), I consulted a friend at MOHE and was advised that the Academy is of an excellent reputation, is accredited with many institutions among them The North Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and with the Licensing Authority for Teaching International English (LATIE). The Academy has also an cooperation...............

and then on the "AETG/Al Faisal International Academy" post
batman 1

destionable · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 46 Location: wherever

Dear Batman1:

I also got a contract with housing Article 5 saying N/A but was stated in the offer letter that housing was provided...so I asked Salem to clarify...and this is what he replied:

[quote]It says you stay in the Company provided housing or claim your allowance .
Salem

Sorry Salem, what's "IT" ? The contract doesn't say that! So I would clearly take the housing allowance...3 months...would I get it? when? How much at a time? Tricky! Where would I stay in the meantime I find a place?

I am very skeptical about AETG. My probs with them are many:

1. 30hrs contact phew!! alot...and how many office hours plus activity hours??

2. Split shifts: 8-12 then 430-9!!! Forget social life!!

3. 6 days a weeK??? MY God!

4. LACK OF CLARTY

5. That last entry on this forum about being such a reputable company seems to me to be "damage control".

Recall that Al Shabakah in Al Hasa last year made a deal with UCW(University Canada West) from Canada...a university that has since gone Bankrupt...and was rebought by a rich Chinese tycoon.

Shady businesses and not very above the table information. So I agree with your skepticism Batman1.

Destionable Cool