Job Discussion Forums

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

Good for me that I'm in that 10-20%! Laughing

It's a hard, but interesting job!

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

fledex · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 342

Saudi is definitely a more difficult country to work in than the other five countries I have worked in for the past 20 years or so. I think the repression and treatment of ESL teachers in general is comparable to an old Eastern block country in the 70s or 80s. Remember, even this website is blocked in Saudi Arabia. My first year there we were even watched by Central Intelligence Department people who stayed in the lobby of our hotel.

That's not to say that the people are any worse or better than any place else, or that only bad things can be said about the country and its employers. From what I have seen; when a middleman, recruiting company, or profiteer is involved in the hiring process, it tends to be a bad deal in Saudi. Working directly for some International companies and some of the universities and other schools can be fine. However, you are still in Saudi Arabia.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I had two good employers in KSA - Saudi Arabian Airlines (6 years) and KFUPM (8 years). My experiences with the Ministry of Education (1970-1972) and Adnan Kazelly (contractor, 1990-1991) were not so positive,.

ganesh77 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 37

After almost three years here, I'd say a post with the Royal Commission is one of the more painless ways of getting a start in the region. Excellent job security and lots of perks. Also, get to learn about navigating the murky world of Saudi office politics with a considerable safety net under your feet.

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

ganesh77 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 37

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

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

How much of this is "our" fault and how much is the fault of the culture itself?

VS

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

ganesh77 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 37

Isn't the adage "when the student is ready, then the teacher will appear"? I've encountered lots of Saudis in my class, but only a few students. When a teacher recognizes they have students who are ready to learn, then there is an incentive to put in the extra effort. My class is usually full of people who look like they were on their way to Bahrain but somehow made a wrong turn for a few hours Laughing

These are deep-rooted culturally-ingrained educational perceptions that are not going to go away just because a teacher walks in the door armed with a philosophy that contains a moral obligation to raise the standards of what we might accept to be social and educational "maturity".

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

ganesh77 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 37

italianstallion39 · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject:

Both my employers in KSA were excellent. Booz Allen (ASE now with the Navy in Jubail) and Al Yamama University were both better than I expected. Sure there was always a little, well, you know..that other stuff, but overall I enjoyed working for both companies and always felt respected and appreciated. The Al Yamama University gig was probably my best teaching anywhere in the world as their model gives you a lot of freedom to be creative and do what works for each specific class. The teaching at KFNA wasn't that great, but the support was second to none.

reneebcc · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 60 Location: Georgia

I had a good experience with Arabian Education & Training Group. This was a few years ago when they were more organized with placing teachers and accomodating them.