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What are my chances
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Valaki



Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:27 am    Post subject: What are my chances Reply with quote

Hi guys, yet another what are my chances thread, sorry.

I have:

*MA English,

*CELTA,

*maybe about a years' experience

*non-UK EU passport - I am a white European male in my late 20s

*no accent

What are my chances of landing one of the better Saudi jobs? I would really appreciate your insight.

Thanks
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cmp45



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

On the plus side, your credentials 'appear' to be okay, on the negative side...your age and limited experience.

Depending on where you apply, any job you manage to get would probably start at/ near the bottom of the pay scale. 6-10,000 SAR a month?...if you are lucky? This is only my guestimate...others are free to chime in with their expert advice... Wink

You are a European, but do not have a UK- EU passport... this shouldn't be a problem as long as your English is fluent.
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Valaki



Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks,

I recently got an offer in that salary range, but it comes with a business visa and shared accommodation.

I was thinking I might wait for something a little more appealing and worth all the hassle of relocating to and living in Saudi.

Regarding my credentials, my MA is not from the UK but is accepted by the almighty 'UK NARIC', and the CELTA is well..... a CELTA.
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cmp45



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Valaki wrote:
Thanks,

I recently got an offer in that salary range, but it comes with a business visa and shared accommodation.


If you have read up on other previous threads you will know that both of these are negative aspects and should be avoided...you are wise to keep looking.

You might want to try applying with the Institute of Public Administration, although a bit late in the game to get there for September start, maybe for January 2011??? No harm in trying. They offer employment visas plus your own accommodations- no sharing!

http://www.ipa.edu.sa/en/3.asp
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Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Agree with CMP.

The warnings issued by the 'oldies' (and often blightely disregarded by the 'newbies') on the subject of business visas have turned out to be quite accurate. As for shared accommodation: avoid at all costs. It mgiht be fine if you get on with your flat mate and if you're the type of person who's happy to share. But given that you have no idea who you would be sharing with, and that Saudi Arabia is a claustrophobic environment at the best of times, sharing is a no-no.

Also agree that now is a bit late to look for offers this autumn, espcially as it's now already Ramadhan. That said, even the better places can find themselves short a few teachers in September. Realistically, however, you'd be better off aiming for Jan-Feb 2011 rather than this semester.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd suggest that you get a few year's experience elsewhere... and then reconsider Saudi or the Gulf. Asia? South America? Europe (since you have an EU passport)

VS
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Valaki



Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the valuable input guys, appreciate it.

@veiledsentiments:

You know, this may sound strange from a 20 something guy, but I just wanna settle down somewhere and live a stable, financially secure life.

As I understand it, that's currently only possible in the Gulf for TEFLers- correct me if I'm wrong. (I'm not too keen on Asia at the moment)

I would love to live in Europe though! If you have any leads on how that can be achieved, can't wait to hear them. But just reading this forum makes this seem highly unlikely.

What country did you have in mind VS? France, Germany or maybe the UK?
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Valaki wrote:
You know, this may sound strange from a 20 something guy, but I just wanna settle down somewhere and live a stable, financially secure life.

What country did you have in mind VS? France, Germany or maybe the UK?

I can't tell you anything about EU jobs because as you can see under my name, I am from the US and we can't work there. I'd suggest checking out that part of Dave's for information. But, I doubt that the UK would be the place as all the Brits have decamped around the world to find jobs teaching EFL.

You probably do not have the experience to get any of the fabled, but few, stable financially secure jobs in the Gulf. Also, is your MA in TEFL or Applied Linguistics? If one wants stability, overseas TEFL is probably the wrong field. I only taught in the Gulf and consider it a gypsy lifestyle. Stability is usually what you find if you get a job in education in your own country. Cool

VS
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Valaki



Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:

I'd suggest checking out that part of Dave's for information.


I checked it out and it didn't make me too optimistic.


Quote:

Also, is your MA in TEFL or Applied Linguistics?

It's in English literature and theoretical linguistics. Must be relevant to TEFL.

Quote:

Stability is usually what you find if you get a job in education in your own country.

Not here....

Last question: what's the deal in the U.S. for a "non-native?" I might have an option to work there.

Thanks again everyone.
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dutchman



Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 84

PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cmp45 wrote:
on the negative side...your age and limited experience.


Why does age matter? Do you mean he is too young for a TEFL job in the Gulf, or is it the question of what he did previously if he only has 1 year experience?

Valaki, you may consider working in Spain, but the salary will be relatively low comparing to the Middle East. May I ask which EU country you hail from? The block-visa system in the KSA is country-specific, so institutions or companies may have visas for the UK, Germany and France, but not for Italy, Poland and the Netherlands for example. So it also depends which EU country you are from, and whether your employer has a block visa for that country.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Valaki wrote:
Last question: what's the deal in the U.S. for a "non-native?" I might have an option to work there.

Doing what? in ESL? There are thousands and thousands of unemployed and underemployed (part-time, low pay, no benefits... have you paid any attention to our health system?) ESL teachers in the US.

I have heard of some urban schools that are so desperate to get teachers that they have brought in foreigners. They are in neighborhoods where Americans are afraid to teach... for good reason.

VS
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Valaki



Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:

have heard of some urban schools that are so desperate to get teachers that they have brought in foreigners. They are in neighborhoods where Americans are afraid to teach... for good reason.


In the land of the second amendment? Sign me up....
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Valaki wrote:
In the land of the second amendment? Sign me up....

Remember to pack your flak jacket!!

VS
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Mia Xanthi



Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
*no accent


Sorry to be picky, but EVERYONE has an accent. It's just a matter of how close your accent is to a socially (and academically) preferred accent.
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Grendal



Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

veiledsentiments wrote:
Valaki wrote:
In the land of the second amendment? Sign me up....

Remember to pack your flak jacket!!

VS


Maybe: Remember to pack (as in "are you packin") and to pack your flak jacket.

Grendal
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