Job Discussion Forums

eslinstructor15 · Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Posts: 15

I am aware that the question I am about to ask has already been answered in other threads. However the answers were not adequately informative so here goes;

Can you kindly suggest any recruitment agencies, universities and schools in KSA that are currently hiring non native English teachers for immediate start?

I hold a master's degree in a non English related field and I also hold a CELTA. I have almost three years teaching experience. My bachelor's and master's degrees are both from anglophonic universities (USA and UK respectively).

In addition to being educated in English all my life, I have also lived in English speaking countries for the past ten years. Not only did I reach near native-like fluency through schooling but I also managed to master the intricacies of idiomatic English by living in America and England.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on this matter!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Try Al Yamamah Uni in Riyadh, but make sure you approve of their ways in teaching. They - Interlink/Yamamh - also do massive recruitment for vocational colleges and I think language schools. Their ad was out a few days ago for vocational colleges. They view non-native background as asset, not obstacle.

If you have tertiary experience in your career, approach all direct-hire unis and colleges in KSA with your CV and see what happens. You never know, future is open [ find a good listing of KSA tertiary education on wikipedia]. Keep in mind the market for female education in KSA has just started and will still be growing for a long while and there will be more and more opportunities for female ESL faculty in KSA.

There are ads for KSA daily here, and on tefl.com and probably other websites too. Keep track of these sites and send your CV wherever you see anything of ur interest, unless nationalities specified for hiring exclude EU.

balqis

Perhaps try U of Nizwa in Oman, they always recruit [ Dr Al Kharassi at FI there].

eslinstructor15 · Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Posts: 15

Thanks Balqis - appreciate the information!

I bookmarked eight different job sites on my browser. I keep an eye out for ESL positions in KSA on a daily basis and I apply when a new ad is posted. I even apply to positions where they are only seeking natives just to try my luck.

I applied to Al Yamamah recently and they didn't even confirm receipt of my application. A lot of Saudi institutions don't confirm receipt and it's quite frustrating.

U of Nizwa currently doesn't have any ESL positions but I'll definitely keep an eye on their website.

Lastly, I haven't directly approached direct hire unis but it sounds like a great idea now that you mention it. Many thanks once again.

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Just send your CV to U of Nizwa to Dr Kharassi for a review, you will find his email on the FI website, he is an HoD. I know they had many Eastern European teachers there, Germans and Dutch too, Russians as well. Do not worry that they are not currently advertising. They may soon have vacancies. If Dr Kharassi likes ur CV, he may reply.

In general, approach whatever place is of your interest and send there ur CV for a review, best to the HoD of the PYP, despite the fact that as of now, as of today, they are not recruiting, They will be soon, as the hiring season will be in full swing till September, and then also past September with most of the places too.

That they do not reply, it is normal, let alone confimr receipt. So do not get disheartened. KSA, from my own experience, has the longest procedures re, answering, processing, hiring etc...All inches on like dead snake.

During my 15 years in the Gulf I think there was no European nationality I haven't met, save maybe Albanians. I even worked with a Macedonian!

balqis

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Sent you a pm with emails of three recruiters for KSA

balqis

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

I'm always surprised when people are looking for job information but are reluctant to give out information about themselves. Without very specific details, it's nearly impossible to give out relevant information of the kind you ask. For example:

1. What is your age, your sex and your nationality? If you're a 65 year old married female from Budapest, I would answer you one way. If you're a 25 year old single male from Finland, I would answer you another way. This kind of information is vital to have to form a substantive response to your query, but you don't mention these details at all.....not even a peep....like they're totally unimportant. Yet they're essential.

2. You hold an MA degree in a non-English related field........but then you don't tell us what field it's in. Why not? What's the secret? Then you say you have 3 years teaching experience. Fine. In what? What exactly were you teaching and where? Again, you're mum...not a hint. You're BA and MA are both from anglophonic universities, but again, you don't mention what your BA is in. In addition, you say you hold a CELTA. When and where did you get it? (Why did you get it? ) Have you ever been hired just on the basis of your CELTA? What did you teach? And so on.

Reading what you sent out in your first posting we (or at least I) get very superficial background information.

From what you say, it seems like you're attempting to get an ESL job in the Gulf based solely on your CELTA. Is that true? If that's the case, I don't think you stand a chance, certainly not for any substantial job that would be worth coming to the Middle East at this point in time to teach.

But without more precise information, I can only guess. I certainly can't "advise" you on anything other than with "generalties" which you'd find useless. .But in any case, good luck

eslinstructor15 · Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Posts: 15

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

eslinstructor15 · Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Posts: 15

Thanks for the birthday wishes Nomad Soul! Appreciate the advice too!
I have been including elaborate cover letters in my applications to sell myself effectively. I think getting a job is a numbers game so I'll just keep trying.

I keep hearing there is a large number of European nationals working as ESL instructors in the Kingdom so there must be a way for me. Sometimes I think I am struggling at the moment because of timing (since the academic year is about to finish and there's not much work during summer)

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

eslinstructor15 · Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Posts: 15

Understood! Many thanks!

MuscatGary · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 4:25 am Post subject:

Try applying to the medical colleges and unis Your quals would be very relevant then for teaching EFL with specialism.

eslinstructor15 · Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Posts: 15

Good idea! Will look into it now!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

There's this ad, "ESL Instructors Required for Top Medical University in Saudi Arabia" at http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=34458 but you won' t qualify for a visa. However, you should still contact the recruiter for potential similar teaching opportunities.