Job Discussion Forums

CanItBILuvASaudi · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 28

I posted here before, unfortunately it became a personal attack thread rather than a professional advice thread. (I saw what some of you did to omar088 or whatever......jeez louise......)

Anyway, I have an MA in Middle East Studies. With an MA plus a TEFL certificate I should expect what salary, minimum starting?

Also, I understand the CELTA to be the safest qualification to get......unfortunately I'd have to drive 6 hours to NY and put myself up for the entire class, so Im talking thousands of dollars. Is there really NO reputable online program? Like ICAL or ontesol.com? Even if supplemented with an arranged practicum?

I do have experience teaching ELL's, albeit that is taking place right now (I teach in an Islamic elementary school) and I will be finished by the time I start a certificate. Surprised

( I will still note this point in my CV.

personal rant here: To the sincere ppl who are here to advise others rather than fancy themselves keyboard warriors---thank you. To the grumps out there whining about paltry earnings due to the twenty-somethings driving the wages down in this field---we make no apologies. I make $12,000 a year currently with student loans to pay from that. We are out of college with an economy down the drain, more ppl with college degrees, and social security set to run out by the time we're eligible. If you were part of our generation you'd do the same! So kindly cry me a river. You had your time, now be thankful and move on.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Have you considered one of the free MA in TESOL degrees? Some of the large state universities offer assistantships for an MA...you get a small stipend, enough to share an apartment and eat, plus full tuition waiver. I got two master's that way, one in EFL.

I'd like to remind you that in your original I'm-in-love-with-a-Saudi post, you went on and on and on about your love life..is that "professional"?? so you set yourself up for responses to that...then you whine and moan that people called you on it.

Citizenkane · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Xanadu

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

No experience ? Local hire ? 4000 SR, with no other benefits. You revealed on an earlier post that you have or will soon have a Saudi husband, so I assume that you will be proceeding to KSA with him and looking around.

Not the answer you wanted ?

Frankly honey, with your arrogant attitude you will not get far !

teflerlifer · Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 27

lol - I had my time? It ain't even started yet !!!

Reminds me of a gambler chronically throwing the dice hoping his luck is gonna change.

Good luck to you - as I said in a previous post -I'll race yer fer it (the decent job that is not Scot's 4000 ryal a mojo) !

h-train · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:02 pm Post subject:

While there are some cranky people that surface around here from time to time, the main point is that the good jobs here require experience. Unfortunately, experience takes time. The ones here who have worked their way up to high-paying jobs get frustrated when younger people with little/no credentials think they can get something comparable, or speak in half-truths that reflect no first-hand information (like the person you mentioned before.) Those here who have MAs and boatloads of experience feel no threat from the newbie crowd in my experience.

You will not come here and make good money unless you have worked your way into a position. It is a rough market. I finished a BA, then chose an MA in an unrelated field (like yours.) Then I went back and got a teaching credential. Now I'm working on the MA TESOL-what I should have been doing to begin with. It's a tough row to hoe, but it's also the only worthwhile way to go if you plan on staying in the field. I have no idea how you'd have an idea you want to stay in the field though, how long have you been teaching?

CanItBILuvASaudi · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 28

CanItBILuvASaudi · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 28

h-train · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject:

A certificate is a minimum. It is by no means on par with a proper teaching credential. If you're into scuba, think of it like this. CELTA is a PADI license, a teaching credential is a master diver, and an MA is a master diver instructor. With an unrelated masters and no real full-time experience, you're just snorkeling.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject:

Dear CanItBILuvASaudi,

I don't think any posters here with MAs in TESOL or Applied Linguistics and a good amount of teaching experience are worried at all about "twenty-somethings driving down wages."

These twenty-somethings who lack the right qualifications and/or experience are competing in a whole different ballpark since, given their situation, they won't be considered for any of the decent jobs in the Kingdom.

The MA in Middle Eastern Studies will not, I'm sorry to say, be of any help in getting a good job teaching EFL, and if the TEFL certificate is one of the "online" variety, that's also of no help (for a decent job) in Saudi.

However, if you are or will be married to a Saudi, the possibility of either he or his family/friends being able to use "wasta" might exist. Wasta can work wonders, so, if your husband or any of his family/friends has some, that could open doors that would otherwise be firmly shut.

Regards,
John

CanItBILuvASaudi · Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: 28

Read this on ESL jobs forum site:

"Requirement to get into an MA in TESOL from most universities: first degree plus at least two years of experience. "

Well I dont have the 2 years experience.....and not sure if I want to do it long-term....so does it even make sense to dive into an MA? Not for me I would think....I'd rather see what I can get with the CELTA and my current MA and if I like it after that then I can get an MA since it requires experience anyway, it appears.....I guess Im not buying the notion that one cannot find A job with a diff MA + certificate...maybe not the salary *you* would consider a "job" but maybe one I'd be grateful for......are you sure some of you are not just trying to scare off ppl.....wouldnt be surprised.....lol.... Laughing

h-train · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:53 pm Post subject:

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

I disagree that the MA programs I mentioned would require two years' teaching experience as a prerequisite for admission. Maybe some of them.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

Sure you can find work in KSA without an MA related to the field. The thing is, would you like the work/job you're going to get? Also, would you be able to put up with bucketloads of incomprehensible sh*t, e,g, visa/iqama issues; late salaries; unpredictable, despotic, incompetent, unsupportive management; students who may not be motivated to perform in a way that you might be used to, shared accommodation (i.e. having to share with people you don't know), recruiters who have no ability, or often any desire, to assist/support teachers once they're in the kingdom, etc.

A pretty grim picture? Sure. But it happens everyday - and that's why posters here warn newbies and even try to scare them off. Then again, some people luck out and don't have to deal with any of that or they end up with all or some of the above and simply bite the bullet for as long as they can. You'll never know how you'll adjust to Saudi Arabia until you get there and live there. As johnslat has said before, everyone probably has their own KSA...people come to terms with life and living there in different ways.

I wouldn't have done an MA had I not committed to the field either. So I support you there.

Good luck!