Job Discussion Forums

[Stuart Munro]

I'd avoid working for American Academy if I were you.

This is a small school operating in Dammam and Khobar. The manager has a degree in English and Marketing, and his so-called director of studies has an in MA public education management specialising in Georgia. Neither have studied ELT, although was a marketer for CUP for a while. The consequences are that they have unrealistic ideas of what is attainable, and in fact will promise a client whatever they think the client would like to hear.

I was recruited by them from Korea at the end of 2014. They promised furnished accommodation in a compound and no interference in the classroom. The accommodation was shabby - unfurnished and not in compounds. Pay was invariably late. But they negotiated away hourly short breaks, insisted on hourly roll calls, and recycled formative assessments as high stakes tests to market themselves to the client - this was with beginner level students whose retention is reasonably volatile at the best of times.

Worse, if you leave them, they will blackguard you to the Consular authorities to prevent you from taking up further work in the Kingdom.

They do however pay 10% over the going rate - and still can't retain foreign staff. If you are confident you can outfox these foxes you might do very well with them - and they certainly need help - but if you want a quiet professional teaching life try almost anyone else first.

(MOD edit for names)

[scot47]

My sympathies. I am not sure what you mean by "blackguard you to the Consular authorities"

It is within an employer's powers to refuse you a No Objection Certificate (LONO)( which can make it difficult to come back to another job ion KSA.

[Stuart Munro]

[scot47]

You need to have that NOC/LONO on paper. And note that "the NOC is no longer a legal requirement, but may be required for administrative reasons."