Job Discussion Forums

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

HL Colleges (Hertfordshire London Colleges) Buraydah and Unaizah

http://hertfordshire.ic.edu.sa/?lang=en

Anyone have any decent first or second hand feedback?

Unaizah with a population at 160,000 seems quite small.

Salary of $4492 plus accommodation for 26 hours teaching seems a bit high
(when BAE is offering $4500).

Students get government stipend of 1000SAR a month so we can expect the usual level of motivation and engagement.

voyagerksa · Joined: 29 Apr 2015 Posts: 140

Those classes will be dismal. I have first hand experience with this type of a set up attempting to teach those not interested in learning.

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

I would go for it for a year at least. Considering the money on offer and what others are offering it is a very good deal. To be honest, the students won't be that much worse than what I have seen at university preparatory year programs. All students in KSA get a stipend and are mostly demotivated.

Yes, on the CoE programs you do tend to teach a little more and the academic year is longer as well.

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 12:05 pm Post subject:

Unaizah is a small town but it's nice enough. Quite clean compared to Buraydah.

If I had to choose between living in either I'd probably choose Unaizah. Buraydah is only 30 minutes away, so it's not like it's far.

About a three hour drive to Riyadh AKA civilisation.

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

Bigdurian

Useful to know - thanks!

I gather the compound accommodation is shared - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.
Would be ok if the 3rd bedroom is used as a communal living room.

After all, agency teachers have to share at BAE Sara compound (unlike Direct Hires).

Here, it also seems to be a 6-month multiple-entry business visa.
How is the monthl border run organized, I wonder?
At least with BAE 6-month work visa you are in Dhahran near the Bahrain border.

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:37 pm Post subject:

The only real compound in the area(AFAIK), is LaPalma on the outskirts of Buraydah. They've got a website so just Google it and have a look. If the recruiter tells you it's not there, then I doubt it's a real compound.

It would be a thirty minute speed down the highway to Unaizah from there.

Be aware though, living in Qassim area makes Riyadh look like Amsterdam. But, having said that, people are friendly enough and there are some good options for getting into the desert etc. And a lot of it is quite green compared to other places in Saudi.

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:41 pm Post subject:

As for the visa, probably a flight from Qassim airport to somewhere . It is an international airport, just........

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

Flights from there are quite cheap so that figures.

Certainly beats the long queues on Thursday evening to get across to Bahrain...would even be quicker and more comfortable (if the company pays).

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

Anyone had a concrete offer back from them? Emailed but heard nothing back. Is this gig MA/PGCE only?

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

With the aim of getting the students to level A2, that would be a little much.

Bachelor's needed "in English Language or Literature, TESOL, Applied Linguistics or education with an English teaching major", plus CELTA.

The British guys in charge would recognize the value of a UK PGCE.

ginger123 · Joined: 25 Jun 2016 Posts: 33 Location: By the beach

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

Some recruiters regard a one-year PGCE with practicum as evidence of an extended ability to plan lessons etc in a classroom/learning environment.

The shorter intense 120-hour TEFL or CELTA which can be completed in one month provides a necessarily much more truncated theoretical and practical setting.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

Interesting to read. Hoping to get to the bottom of this whole CELTA thing once and for all. I got a TEFL from my UK university, done over one month during the summer, which was actually more like 140 hours in total attendance time. Do I need a CELTA if I have a TEFL that is already 120 hours, or more, or is a CELTA a prerequisite to obtain a DELTA? Anyone know?

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

If you have a TEFL you usually don't require a CELTA (and vice versa).
Some language schools will state a 'preference' (usually without compelling cogent reasons). A CELTA MIGHT be preferable as there are some 'dodgy' tefls out there (either fraudulent, or, whilst non-fraudulent, many schools specify non-online TEFLS). I won't even mention the absurdity of "the TEFL University' of Brighton which has BAs, MAs and even PhDs in TEFL (the owner of which has certain videos of himself teaching at NITI on Youtube).

A CELTA would be a good prerequisite for a DELTA but a non-online TEFL at a standard institution would also be a stepping stone.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

I have just read that 1 years teaching experience (presumably in EFL?) is considered acceptable for the DELTA....so it seems to be a case of as long as one has a pulse, and ponies up the cash all is well, and is a good student as well perhaps? Cheers again...