Job Discussion Forums

rawlec · Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Mexico

Hi All,
I'm a 50+ single woman coming to Saudi Arabia. I was feeling enthusiastic but after reading many of the various comments in this forum I'm a little concerned.

Please comment on the following questions:

I've been offered jobs by AETG, ICEEL and English Times. The benefits and salary are fairly similar, so what are the significant differences between the three companies?

Most importantly, would some women respond and tell me about their experiences in SA - good, bad, recommendations

Thanks very much

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:01 am Post subject:

Just...

Read...

The...

Board!

NCTBA

MOD edit

killthebuddha · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:24 am Post subject:

Hi rawlec,

I'm new here too, but I'm not in the KSA. However, I WOULD encourage you to read the posts here further, if only to get past your first impressions--not that these will change, but you'll have a great time and something more valuable than dry facts might resonate with you--or not.

As for the specific recruiters or programs you're interested in, do a search, and limit it to Saudi Arabia if you like. Otherwise, you probably couldn't have come to a better place for the skinny on the KSA. These folks know their stuff, and if you think you're smelling something that seems a little "off," well, that's just part of the ambiance. I mean, you wouldn't lick your finger, stick it in the air, and complain to the wind which way it's blowin', would you?

--ktb

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

If one has read about much on this board, one should become a bit concerned. There are some terrible employers in Saudi... especially if your credentials are limited. What adds to this is that along with some very bad employers, there are difficulties and limitations that many of us Western females really don't want to deal with every day. That is why I avoided Saudi and spent my many years in the Gulf in other countries such as Oman, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Whereas, a poster like Cleopatra, has spent most of her teaching career in Saudi and finds it a pleasant life. But having an MA means that you are eligible to find jobs with the best employers.

Have you done a search of these employers? Even if you do a search on google, it will likely bring up threads from here and elsewhere.

VS

rawlec · Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Mexico

Thanks to all who responded to my question.
I'm still deciding between offers. Will have to decide soon.
September is coming.

Thanks again.

Puddlesz · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 16

Please let us know where you decide to teach, rawlec Smile

jb2010 · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 3

Please be very careful dealing with English Times;

Make sure to review the post about them and Education Experts.

It would also be wise to ask the recruiter to provide you with contact details of a couple of employees to get a clearer picture about what you are getting yourself involved in.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

KSA is less than desirable at any language schools...if you are not qualified to teach at college or university level ...I would not recommend teaching in KSA...period! Cool

sheikher · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 291

Parents fed up with business attitude of English language institutes

By SARAH ABDULLAH | ARAB NEWS
Published: Aug 18, 2010 00:12 Updated: Aug 18, 2010 00:12

JEDDAH: Parents who cannot afford to take their kids to the US, UK or other native English-speaking countries but are in search of an educative way for their children to spend the summer say they are frustrated with the lack of institutes offering real learning experiences.

�It has become well known that institutes and schools in the Kingdom claiming to teach English and other skills are purely a business, gaining students with empty promises, in turn taking the student�s money and leaving them the same way they entered: without the skills they were promised by the institute,� said Amal Badwulan, a Saudi mother of five.

�The director of the center blames the teacher who says that the children do not pay attention in class or study for tests when really the bottom line is that the institute has purchased a cheap English program from abroad, employed unqualified teachers and are just looking to make money.�

Other parents say they�ve been promised government-approved education certificates, job placement upon course completion and other perks, such as laptop computers and smart phones for signing up for a typical four-week or eight-week course. However, they say that they have recognized that all of these tactics are just marketing ploys to sell more courses.

�I wanted to enroll my 12-year-old daughter in a local institute and was told that upon completion of the eight-week course she would be eligible to go to the US or any European countries in the future to complete her higher-education studies because their certificate is internationally accredited,� said Rami Al-Johani, a father of three. But later he learned that the certificate wasn�t even recognized in the Kingdom.

The only school that responded to Arab News queries was ELS Learning Center in Jeddah whose director agreed that there are certainly many institutes around the Kingdom that focus on finances first and the student�s education second. �It�s wrong and that I don�t like it,� said the center�s Director Anthony Baker.

�I have had many arguments with schools and owners who do not understand that if you deliver a good quality education the money will come because once a parent sees that an institute or school cares about its students and takes the extra step to make sure they learn, those parents will tell others and keep bringing their kids back to the center,� he said.

Baker further said that he would also like to see the Kingdom�s English-language programs in its governmental and private schools become strong enough that institutes would not be needed.

According to Baker there are currently 36 different types of English-language institutes operating in the Kingdom.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article105192.ece

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 6:14 pm Post subject:

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

Oh... you mean their precious little darling spent a few weeks at an institute... where he continued to daydream, nap, ignore the homework, and disrupt the classes just like his regular English lessons during the regular year?

And the magic language fairy didn't appear and hit him with the English wand, whereby he suddenly was fluent in Academic English? All for just a few riyals?

Yes, these places are trying to make money. But the best teachers and curriculum in the world can't force many of these students to learn English.

Sorry... the language academies are the least of the problem... and I agree with Cleopatra. It isn't just with the kids in Saudi. This is a world wide problem.

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 1:34 am Post subject:

Well, I'd suggest letting most North East Asian kids off the hook on this'n...

NCTBA

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

True... I thought of that after I had posted. Yes, they will work hard, but how much can one really learn in a few short weeks in the summer?

They would likely be better off assigned to read a couple novels and keep a notebook of unfamiliar vocabulary... and do it on their own for free!!

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:28 am Post subject:

Naw, I wuzn't speakin' to the length of time. I wuz speakin' to the industry of effort...

NCTBA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I remember when I was moonlighting at a Language School (ELS in Jeddah) a parent came in and asked for a course for his son. He wanted to go from a Zero Level of English to a TOEFL score acceptable to a US university in 4 weeks. The Management of ELS put him right. Other schoolds might have taken his money !

Well done ELS, Jeddah !