Job Discussion Forums

demitrescou · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 122

Not confirmed yet but might be starting there in September. Anyone else from these boards joining them?

dominogeronimo · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 18 Location: KSA

I currently teach with Shabaka. If you have read the recent 4 page postings about Shabaka and its management, don't let that deter you from coming. You get paid on time, the working hours are decent, and you get lots of paid vacations throughout the year. The compound is comfortable and there is a great compound manager who makes sure that things get repaired in a timely manner. If you do your job and aren't a trouble maker, then this job will be fine for you. So, maybe I'll meet you in September.

The Good Abaya Girl · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 7

As long as you aren't a poofter or a wanker, and can be smiling happily like the Filipinos all the time, and aren't as (use your own derogatory, denigrating phrase here) as the Saudis, you'll do great!

I mean, if your sole purpose coming here is to make money and get paid "on time" then it's a good gig. If you actually care about teaching, probably not so much.

I'll bet you weren't asked a single question about teaching during your interview. Probably the only question you were asked is: Can you stay positive in Saudi for 9 months? (Do you play hockey?)

But, the other poster who says he's coming back (and obviously a tourist) is right . . . as long as you are able to keep your head down, take all the crap that is thrown your way and you aren't a professional, . . . you will LOVE it.

ExpatinTown · Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Posts: 22

Hi,

There is a good and bad side to working at any place. Here, they pay on time. You never have to worry about that. One time there was a delay but that had to do with the bank's computers. They do pay your bonus too. Owners are nice people and their daughters and nieces are really nice to work with. From what I heard, his one daughter is going to be coordinator on the women's side so that should alleviate a lot of the problems. Hockey Brother will have to be more accountable because now the family is getting involved in management.

The interview does say it all. I only came here because of the interview/conversation I had with the female manager who made it sound like a professional and real teaching gig. The Hockey Brother only told us the bad about Saudi and asked if we could put up with it. He did tell us how the students behave on both the men and women's side. However, the women behave just as bad as the men do. Discipline is a serious issue in this job and you have to be able to deal with disciplining the students.

Grendal · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:32 am Post subject:

'I'm a Boston Bruins fanatic and love Don Cherry.'

Write that in your CV. You should get an offer as a lead teacher there.

Grendal

Grendal · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:41 am Post subject:

But seriously folks. When I first got the gig there we were getting 13554 riyals a month with a apartment fully furnished and the university just across the road from housing. The company driver Waleed was a great Tunisian example of hospitality and warmth contrary to their Saudi brothers professing the same faith. Elainy his wife was working on the women's side and was in grief at times about the situation there. The men were an assortment of nationalities and the hockey brother just got his posting there as a teacher. While there he slithered and squirmed his way into management and generally got what HE wanted contrary to others' needs.

Since then the rest is history that is recorded here on the pages of Dave's ESL cafe.

Oh, and one more thing. The French Canadian he was something else. Pinching the last penny he could. Even mine.

Grendal

dominogeronimo · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 18 Location: KSA

Sorry to any new or prospective Shabaka teachers out there. It will be a hard decision if you don't know anyone personally who works here due to the negative environment that a few teachers bring to any Shabaka thread.

Good luck!

Grendal · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 10:27 am Post subject:

Shabaka is grand. They are great. I had no bad dealings with them personally. Nothing negative to say about them at all from me. I know the Sadoons and have great respect for them. I despise however the management under them and this reflects bad on my dear Sadoons. They must read these posts here on Dave's I'm sure. And if your are reading this right now Dr. Sadoon then please rectify the situation of certain management positions in your company. (public execution is preferable).

Grendal

axfoley · Joined: 21 Apr 2013 Posts: 11 Location: KSA

Posting PMs - especially those with names - is an offense that will get the poster banned.

MOD edit

dominogeronimo · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 18 Location: KSA

Classy, axfoley. I mentioned names in a PM, PRIVATE message.

Grendal · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 11:40 am Post subject:

way to go guys. now this thread is going to get locked. or even worse, deleted.

Grendal

demitrescou · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 122

Posting a PM. Such a cheap thing to do. Totally lost respect for axfoley. Can't trust someone who makes those sorts of moves.