Job Discussion Forums

[Trinley]

Hi, I've been looking into teaching in the Middle East. I'm not particular about Saudi Arabia, but I'm posting here because a) I see most jobs offered for Saudi Arabia and b) posting in General Middle East got me the dubious replies that I'm qualified for absolutely nothing, which I doubt. I'm definitely not assuming myself to be top tier, but I believe I'm qualified for something, and I would like to know what that is, as opposed to being reminded of what I'm not qualified for.

Anyway, here is what I posted. I would really appreciate some guidance as to what I may be offered in Saudi Arabia as well as what other countries you might steer me toward given my experience and goals. Thanks so much for replies that pertain to the questions asked.


I am hoping for a little guidance as to what countries I should aim for and what positions I might qualify for. I have been thinking about the ME for a while but haven't been there at all, so I don't have much to go on.

I'm 29, female, from the US. Bachelor in Linguistics, TESL Certificate from Duke University (132 hours). I have been teaching ESL in various countries (China, Canada, France, Japan) since 2006. I have taught all ages in language institutes, colleges, universities, and public school. I'm not a state certified teacher. I'm not willing to pursue any further credentials to teach ESL.

What I'm looking for mostly is the highest salary possible for me. My goals are to pay off nearly $40,000 in student debt as quickly as possible and save a decent amount toward my masters (which is like $20,000). [I'm not implying that I expect to earn that amount in any specific time frame.] Ideally this would be my last ESL venture that would help me pay for further studies and veer off into some work that I'm more interested in.

I would like to teach in a college or language institute -- no kids.

Considering my background and my goals, could anyone advise as to what my best options are? Thanks!

[veiledsentiments]

There are lots of teaching jobs in Saudi... but for the vast majority of them, you are the wrong sex. And what you were told on the General board is just what you will be told here. The acceptable jobs where you will be treated halfway decently and have such things as a legal work visa, require an MA plus experience.

The bad jobs in Saudi are not places I would ever want to be... especially as a 29 year old female with no Middle East experience.

VS

[huh?]

Try Saudi and Oman - Saudi is less desirable than most other ME jobs and Oman tends to pay less, so there is less competition. You might be able to get something- but probably in the $25,000 to $35,000 range - tax free. Other than that, you won't get a job at a university. When something is called a college in the ME, it is usually along the lines of a junior college or training school.

Your best bet might be Istanbul or possibly Ankara. Your job there would not pay particularly well, but it is possible to make lots of money giving private tuition if you are well-organzied, a good private tutor, personable and a bit lucky.

And even if you don't make a lot of money, you should have a good time for a year. Who knows - in Istanbul you might find a whole new line of work. The place is full of entrepreneurs.

[blackwellben]

I don't know who told you what on the General board, but you're qualified.
I agree with neither Veiled Sentiments, nor huh?'s opinions. (Love the handle.)
Other than Oman doesn't pay as well, or often pays the same but you have to afford housing.

Veiled Sentiments has never worked in Saudi Arabia and she sometimes forgets to mention this.
However, she is quite knowledgeable about the Middle East and no doubt has her reasons for steering prospective teachers from Saudi Arabia.
But claims such as it requires a Master's or above to have a legal working visa and be "treated half way decently" are simply not true.
They certainly can be. Veiled Sentiments is merely relating what she knows to be fact: In the past few years, many a woman with a Bachelor's has come to Saudi Arabia and suffered the stresses of bad employers and a sanctioned treatment of women repugnant to western, secular sentiment.

If your goal is the most money, Saudi Arabia is currently the highest paying market. At our project you'd start at $3200/month, have 30 days of official paid vacation and another 30 (unofficial paid) and live on an accommodating compound for free with other women. Many renew, many do not.

What changed five years ago was Saudi Arabia's commitment to changing over its tertiary level to English based texts. To ease this transition, preparatory year programs (PYPs) were introduced between high school and college.

Saudi Arabia was not alone in this change of policy.

This sent shockwaves through a long established culture of university teachers, directly hired by individual universities, nearly all with Master's degrees earning a decent, tax-free salary.

The PYPs were comprised of corporates, a consortium, contracted by universities to recruit, develop and manage this new, comprehensive solution to English literacy and university professors have, naturally, decried their expertise is being devalued as a wave of less-qualified ESL teachers have moved in.

But many PYP companies are not established enterprises in Saudi Arabia.
Many are poorly organized venture capital hot to land a contract and cut every corner only to disappear, as is the nature of a market-driven beast and an anathema to educators long accustomed to working for social institutions, and rightly so.

You need to talk (email) directly with teachers currently working in Saudi Arabia. It's only through the opinions of many you'll discern the likelihoods afoot.

Our staff is on a week's vacation currently.
Private Message me if you'd like more information.

[blackwellben]

On second thought, don't PM me if you don't want as I'll likely be accused of being a recruiter or manager-- that's the typical response to dissent.

I'm happy to describe exceptions to what often borders on misinformation found on this forum.

This forum is currently banned in Saudi Arabia for reasons only speculated about by the "regulars".

But to relay email addresses, I'd first have to contact the women on our team and can't publicly post their emails, of course.

And as I say, we're all on vacation.

[johnslat]

Dear blackwellben.

"But claims such as it requires a Master's or above to have a legal working visa and be "treated half way decently" are simply not true."

It is true that it does not require a Maters to have a legal working visa. The rest of your sentence, however, is not only false; it is downright cruel. If this lady does go to Saudi, the odds are 99% that she will undergo a very bad experience. And your encouraging her to do so is, in my opinion, irresponsible at the very least.

[blackwellben]

[johnslat]

Dear blackwellben,

And I am surprised at you. If you are currently in Saudi and your "project" gives you reason to encourage this lady, why not tell her where you're working and howe she can apply?
PM her the e-mail addresses of those ladies. And, while you're at it, why not PM her your real name, so she'll be able to thank you personally when she discovers how right you were?

[blackwellben]

[Trinley]

Thank you very much huh? for knowing the difference between opinion and information. That is exactly what I was looking for. Like I wrote, whether one person finds a job "acceptable" or "decent" is not useful at this point. Naturally, what a person with a BA finds acceptable is going to be different from what a person with an MA finds acceptable. I only wanted a description of the job that I am likely to get. I can decide if the job is acceptable to me or not.

[blackwellben]

[Trinley]

When one person thanks another person, do you usually take that as a personal insult? Good luck with that.

[blackwellben]

pffft
Maybe the subject heading for the thread needed changing:
Information Only, Knuckleheads

You asked for advice. You asked to be advised.
You compliment one poster with a phrase implying other efforts were superfluous.

What's not clear here?

[Trinley]

You are causing yourself stress over nothing.

Thank you for your post, blackwellben. The description of your project was informative.

Thank you, veiledsentiments.
Thank you, johnslat.

[johnslat]

Dear blackwellben,

"What's the hostility John?"

The hostility is because I think you are leading a young lady down the garden path, encouraging her to accept a position where, in my opinion (backed by nineteen years experience in the Kingdom) the odds are overwhelmingly high that she will, at the very least, be very unhappy.
I tend to be "not friendly" when I see someone doing something like that.

I have NO problem with the lady talking to as many women working in Saudi as possible (are you one?,) so I hope that you WILL PM her those e-mail addresses (have you done so?)

By the way, regarding Kool-Aid - I never touch the stuff. And I'm not keen on Jello, either.

If you're serious and being honest, that's great. Just let the lady know those e-mail addresses and tell her who you are.