Job Discussion Forums

[Grendal]

&@%$in A

Grendal

[Al-Mansoor]

That sounds terrible. You should protest ...

[7168Riyadh]

Well said boysfromtheblackstuff and teach star.

KSU PYP was/is a joke, and teachers were treated in an increasingly abusive manner during my time on the program. The "Academic Manager" and "Personnel Manager" (2009-2010) were both loonies.

That said, it was one of the best paid TEFL jobs worldwide back in 2008. Two years helped get me out of financial straits. I would not now recommend this job to anyone unless that person happens to be broke

[Wicked_Witch]

Next year KSU will work with bell managing the english project - obeikan is off the team.

[Bebsi]

[Havana]

I recently turned down a job to start about now on this project because of the comments I found written on this page - (Thanks for the warning!) I did tell Bell that I was declining the job offer because of reading so many negative comments about the project on the web.

They replied by saying "Many of the complaints are from last year and we the management team have since changed and the majority of people are very happy working on the project."

and

"I do hope that further research allows you discover all the positive aspects of the project as well.

For more information about the KSU project please visit our website: http://www.bell-worldwide.com/locations/saudi-arabia/default.asp"

Since they were recommending a Bell website in order to provide positive views I was inclined to think there could be some bias...

My questions are: Have conditions improved? Are people happy working there or 'is it still a place to avoid like poison?'

[7168Riyadh]

@ Bebsi - nice one; sums up Bell pretty well

@ Havana - OK, look anything Bell tells you is regarding KSU is about as trustworthy as what an estate agent/realtor tells you about a property. In other words, not very trustworthy at all. In their muddled way, I suppose they're trying their best, which has been a major problem all along!

I left last year. I swear this is going to be my last word on KSU's PYP program, and I only comment again because colleagues who are still there keep me informed of what's going on, and many current teachers I know will not comment on this site for a variety of reasons.

so, an update on the male side:

- teachers have been refused a break between semesters
- many teachers have even been refused unpaid leave
- the university continue to be unhappy with Bell/Obeikan (all the problems come from the university side because Bell/Obeikan failed to understand their clients needs, and teachers are the punching bag in the middle)
- multi-visas are not being issued making trips out of the country expensive and troublesome to arrange; no more spontaneous trips to Bahrain

Not a pretty picture.

Has the management improved? Not sure about that. I don't think it would make a lot of difference actually because the die has been pretty much been cast. If the Academic and HR managers are the same people as 09-10, however, then the answer must categorically be no. Most of the competent managers moved on when they saw the writing on the wall. A few veteran English teachers cling on for the money, but if you are looking for job satisfaction, look elsewhere, preferably not in Saudi Arabia

[veiledsentiments]

[hashim99uk]

[Dedicated]

Hashim99uk,

Were you an English language teacher?

[Saudi4Ever]

Hashim99uk,

Are you a native English speaker?

[7168Riyadh]

What Hashim99uk is saying makes perfect sense to me, even if it is not expressed in Standard English. Standard English is recommended for scholarly discourse, but is not essential for everyday communication. It is regrettable that many so-called language teachers don't have a handle on this, and continue to hold prejudices against non-native speakers of English.

[boysfromtheblackstuff]

In response to Bebsi.

KSU (the client) insisted that we had to come in, although they themselves did not. As the contractors we have to do what the client says.

In response to Wicket Witch.

I very much doubt that the program will be continued without Obeikan, Bell would have to find a new Saudi partner to organise visas, accommodation, payroll etc.

[Bebsi]

[7168Riyadh]