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PNWtotheWorld
Joined: 08 Aug 2013
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 8:33 am Post subject: Another qualifications thread! |
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Hi board! Sorry to inflict another of these on you all, but I have lurked for many months and done other research besides and still can't arrive at a clear picture of my prospects in KSA with my qualifications.
I have a BA in Political Science from a top-25 university in the U.S.
I have a CELTA.
I have 3.5 years of experience in South Korea with learners from K-middle school, 2.5 of these years post-CELTA.
I have some volunteer experience tutoring college students who are refugees (though I know volunteer experience generally counts for little to nothing).
I am a member of TESOL Arabia.
I want to teach at a university or technical college in the KSA.
If I had my druthers, this job would be in the Dammam area, followed by Jeddah, followed by Riyadh, but that is not as important as:
I want to maximize my income.
A couple friends of mine taught at a technical college in KSA in the last few years, and one of them (who had the same qualifications when he started there as I do now) told me not to accept anything less that $4,000 a month. Is that feasible?
I am fully aware of the conservative climate of the area and the difficulty some people have with adapting. This will not be a problem for me.
My plan at this point is to directly apply to as many colleges as possible (though with some of the outdated and unworkable websites, and the email addresses of a lot of schools un-findable, this has been a little challenging). If that fails, my next step is to contact recruiters from the job board here. If that doesn't get me the results I'm looking for, I will then attend TACON 2016 in March and market myself as best I can at the job fair. I do believe that I can interview very well.
Any suggestions? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:12 am Post subject: |
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| PNWtotheWorld wrote: |
I have a BA in Political Science from a top-25 university in the U.S.
I have a CELTA.
I have 3.5 years of experience in South Korea with learners from K-middle school, 2.5 of these years post-CELTA.
I have some volunteer experience tutoring college students who are refugees (though I know volunteer experience generally counts for little to nothing).
I am a member of TESOL Arabia.
A couple friends of mine taught at a technical college in KSA in the last few years, and one of them (who had the same qualifications when he started there as I do now) told me not to accept anything less that $4,000 a month. Is that feasible? |
Although you have two and half years of post-CELTA teaching, your unrelated BA and minimal experience are at the bottom for KSA. As such, your expectation of $4000 is unrealistic. Plus, salaries have been slowly declining.
| and PNWtotheWorld wrote: |
| My plan at this point is to directly apply to as many colleges as possible (though with some of the outdated and unworkable websites, and the email addresses of a lot of schools un-findable, this has been a little challenging). If that fails, my next step is to contact recruiters from the job board here. If that doesn't get me the results I'm looking for, I will then attend TACON 2016 in March and market myself as best I can at the job fair. I do believe that I can interview very well. Any suggestions? |
Your qualifications won't net you a direct-hire university/college job; you'd need a TEFL-related BA (or an MA for most positions). Ditto for TESOL Arabia. The annual job fair attracts many highly-qualified MA and PhD holders who have lots of Gulf foundation year teaching experience; your CV wouldn't get a second look. (In the next couple of months, you'll see job ads for direct-hire openings posted on TESOL Arabia's website, which will give you an idea of the level of qualifications required.) But definitely go for the conference presentations.
That leaves you with positions via a contracting company (e.g., those ads posted on the Cafe's job board). Not ideal, but you'll still be able to meet your financial goals. Just be sure to research the employer before accepting an offer. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| Apply and see what happens. Some institutions may frown on experience gained only in Korea. |
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Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 602
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 1:15 am Post subject: |
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The KSA would frown upon Korean experience?
Where would the KSA like experience?
I would say the opposite.... The KSA is happy for experience from anywhere and further, many other places including the UAE dont like KSA experience. |
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PNWtotheWorld
Joined: 08 Aug 2013
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 6:02 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the advice! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| Some people in KSA. The KSA itself does not do anything ! |
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