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[truth_seeker]

What brings more �bucks�: change nationality to EU or get an online ESL American / British postgraduate degree ?

Hi everybody,

I need a piece of advice on the following :

MY SITUATION :
I am currently residing in Saudi Arabia where I am looking for an ESL position. I hold a MA ESL from an international university in South-East Asia. I am from a developing country, and am a near-native English speaker. I have the possibility of acquiring the nationality of a European Union (EU) country.

MY PROBLEM :
I don�t want to be paid �peanuts� while working in Saudi Arabia, as I have noticed that employers in Saudi lay a heavy emphasis on nationality (but to what extent, I don�t know).

What is best in my situation :
1- Change my nationality (i.e. to an EU nationality).
or :
2- Get an American / British, online, postgraduate degree.

In other words, what matters the most : the nationality (irrespective of the country the degree is from) or the country of your degree (irrespective of your nationality) ?

Also, are post-graduate online degrees taken seriously ?

Thank you very much in advance,
Truth_Seeker

[johnslat]

Dear truth_seeker,
A tough question to answer "generally". From my experience, usually your "nationality" - or rather the perception of it - does not always depend on your passport. And, unfortunately, though your posting certainly seems to verify your claim of being a "near-native speaker", it's also usually a case of either you are or you aren't, in the Kingdom.
Now let's look at the other choice - an on-line American or British postgraduate degree. Well, the crucial word here, I believe, is "on-line".
I'm pretty sure many/most employers in the in Saudi Arabia tend to view such degrees as being less than "kosher", so to speak.
But, as I said, it's probably wrong to generalize about both options, as there are likely some employers, anyway, who'd find either the EU passport or the on-line degree a plus.
However, given the current situation in the Kingdom, and the consequent departure of many "Western" teachers, I'd say your chances are improving day-by-day. But why make it an either/or option? If you can, why not do both - unless you have some objection to doing one or the other?
All that probably wasn't much help. But I can say that, from my experience, anyway, more and more "non-native speaking" teachers were being hired in Saudi Arabia, even a year or two ago. That state of affairs can, I think, only increase.
Regards,
John