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Michael In Tainan
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 31
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 Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject: still more questions about working in the KSA... |
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I have read most of the posts in the forums and i have a general idea about living and working in KSA. However, I have some specific questions:
Background: I will be 33 when I finish my MA. Single Male.
.Credentials: By the time I plan to try my luck in the KSA, I will have a MA in Linguistics with an option in TESL, Graduate TESL Certificate, Credential for teaching High School History in the states.
.Experience: I taught ESL in Taiwan(4 years) to students of all ages, but mainly children. I have taught history and reading in the states. Substitute teacher, Teacher Assistant, camp councilor.
Questions:
1. When experience is talked about, does it have to be in universities, or just ESL experience in general?
2. What is the work load? Average amount of hours a week. Preptime/office hours. Year long or summers off? Paid or unpaid vacations? I know that it depends on the institution, but could someone give me some examples.
3. Pay..... What is the average salary compared to average workload?
4. Benifits: housing, transportation, year-end bonus?
5. Cost of living compared to average salary.
Personal experiences would be perfered to generalities.
Thanks! |
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Michael In Tainan
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject: i posted this in the wrong forum.... |
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Sorry, I just realized that i posted this in the wrong forum.
However, feel free to answer even if it refers to another ME country. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Michael,
These questions have all been answered any number of times. Your credentials are similar to many who have asked it. You didn't make clear whether you want to teach in university level or high school level and use your secondary certification too. You have possibilities of international schools where you could combine history and EFL.
It sounds like you should do a bit of research here on the different countries and think about your goals and expectations. I think you have lots of good options. But for instance, why Saudi? is it only about money?
VS |
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Michael In Tainan
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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I have read tons and tons of posts but there is nothing specific concerning salary and workload.
I would like to teach at the university level.
Yes, KSA seems to be where the money is. Also, I would like to see what it is like to live in a conservative Muslim country.
Do you or anyone else have any other suggestions where I can make lots of money and experience Muslim culture? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:56 am Post subject: |
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How do you define lots of money? Do you care at all about lifestyle? Is alcohol important to you? How much interaction do you want with the culture? Or do you want to sit in front of your computer evenings and just worry about savings?
Salaries are talked about endlessly on this board. I don't know how you could miss it - on every country's threads. Teaching loads at university level with MAs range from 15-20 hours per week. Different universities require differing amounts of time spent in office. Most places I worked I was in the office before 8:00 and home before 3:00 at the latest. Some had 7:00 classes and home before 2:00. Some places have split shifts and you may have to teach a couple of evenings a week.
VS |
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Michael In Tainan
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:50 am Post subject: |
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Of course I would like to interact with the culture. Money is my main motivation, but not my only one. I can do with out drinking. I am pretty much a home body. Lots of money......... i would like to be able to save 2 grand us a month if possible.
I have searched through the postings, but i guess i have missed any specifics on salaries.
As a teacher in the university level, do you create your own syllabus or does the school? Do they use books? Is it lecture based or activity based.
I appreciate your insight! |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Of course I would like to interact with the culture. |
If this is a priority for you, know that Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf countries in general, are far from ideal in this regard. Although male teachers have more possibilities to make friends with locals of the same gender than people in other professions, be prepared for the fact that you may see very little of your students outside the classroom, and that your opportunites to interact with other Saudis will be very limited. This is an extremely private society where most people socialise within the extended family circle, and, because friendships tend to be lifelong affairs, people tend to be reluctant to get close to people who will probably move on in a year or so. Also, since most of the country's "culture" is experienced behind the high-walls of family villas, you may not get much opportunity to experience it.
Instead, what you may find yourself "experiencing" is your apartment, place of work and bland air-conditioned shopping centres. Of course, for those prepared to make the effort to adapt to local ways and learn a little Arabic, it is possible to make local friendships which can be both fascinating and enriching. But you will have to make an effort - nobody is going to seek you out, so to speak.
| Quote: |
| As a teacher in the university level, do you create your own syllabus or does the school? Do they use books? Is it lecture based or activity based. |
This is a "how long is a piece of string" question. There are many 3rd level institutions in KSA, and they all have different rules and procedures.
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i would like to be able to save 2 grand us a month if possible.
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Possible, depending on your salary. However, in most cases, you'd be living a fairly frugal existence if you insist on saving this much. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael In Tainan wrote: |
| Of course I would like to interact with the culture. |
Cleo has covered this topic. Just let me add that in the Gulf, you live in an 'expat' culture for the most part. The vast majority of your contact with the locals is in your classroom.
| Michael In Tainan wrote: |
| i would like to be able to save 2 grand us a month if possible. |
Considering that you will have a newly minted MA and zero related experience, that may be a stretch. A more realistic goal would be $1500. Perhaps you could reach that amount in your second contract.
| Michael In Tainan wrote: |
| As a teacher in the university level, do you create your own syllabus or does the school? Do they use books? Is it lecture based or activity based. |
How much input you have into the courses depends very much on your employer. I have worked at places that merely had particular language targets or an exam to pass, and we all approached it in our own style. Other places you plod lockstep through a textbook. I normally taught academic writing and rarely had a text as none of them match the needs of most Arabic speaking learners.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by lecture based versus activity based. I'm not sure how one teaches English by lecture.  (I think lecture course and I think of my Intro to Business classes) But, since most teachers with MAs in the Gulf are teaching university level - much of the teaching is reading and writing - activity based, but very different from what you did teaching general English to kids.
VS |
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Albulbul
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Posts: 364
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| Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Save $2000 a month ? Dream on ! |
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Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject: Saving 2K a month is easy!! |
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Saving USD 2,000 a month is easy. Just follow our simple steps here:
NB. These tips assume you are MAKING this amount of money per month.
| Quote: |
-Items like toilet paper are very expensive, and can be easily acquired free in the workplace or other peoples' houses. Not only are they free this way, but you can make some money when finally leaving KSA by selling accumulated stocks at the Massalamah sale.
-Similarly, bottled water is a way of saving money. Bring a load of plastic water bottles wherever you go, and fill up from those fountains. Some may be inconvenienced by having to wait in the queue behind you, but forget about them, they are just waiting to get a tiny drink. It helps to tell them to go away. You save them a lot of time this way, as by the time you fill all your bottles, there won't be enough water left for them anyway. There are fountains elsewhere, let them go there instead.
-Holidays are a serious expense. Why go on them? If you are living in KSA and you have X number of weeks' vacation, use them to stay in the Kingdom. If for example you live in an out-of-the-way place and feel you need a vacation, you could be wrong! You could explore the desert, find your own favourite spot and return there again and again. Not too far tho, as you might have to spend money on sundries like transport.
-Speaking of transport, it appears that many expats purchase vehicles, and others rent. They are costly, as is taking taxis. Forget about running a car or taking expensive cabs; walk to the supermarket and to work. By not having a vehicle, you will find that you are tempted to venture out a lot less. Ditto with taxis: by following an anti-taxi policy, your desire to remain at home will increase.
Some may balk at the thought of walking distances in extreme heat. However, do not let this deter you. Discomfort will be experienced at first, but then you will get used to it. In any event, you're not in Saudi for comfort, you are here TO SAVE MONEY!! Remember your goal.
If you DO wish to go somewhere some distance away, you can always seek a favour. Some will frown on this and refer to it as "bumming rides", but that's their opinion. Most people, even if they are not excessively keen on carrying you in their car, will acquiesce out of politeness and a desire to not cause acrimony, perhaps. . A few of them, of a materialistic bent, may insist on "petrol money". Refuse to pay, turn their materialism back on them, make them feel guilty. If they still insist, and refuse to provide travel in their vehicle, forget about them. Such people are of very little practical use anyway, so you don't need them!
-For entertainment, I would suggest finding another group of like-minded westpats. They will help you to while away, at no cost, many happy hours discussing the misery of life in Saudi, and generally criticising everything possible about the Saudis. Like you, they will not have wasted time roaming about exploring the country, wasting money on nebulous concepts such as "fun", "enjoyment' or "happiness". Many of them indeed, will have been in the Kingdom for over twenty years, and will have lots of stories to tell about life behind closed compound doors, and indeed, lots of advice on how to save money. These are people who understand the really important things in life.
-If you have the choice, sharing accommodation can be a really useful pay to avoid spending money. If you are lucky enough to find yourself with generous individuals, who do not mind sharing their food with you, count your blessings. They will also not mind taking responsibility for boring, mundane chores, such as providing the house/apartment with cleaning materials, and common-kitchen staples such as tea, coffee, milk etc.
While some object to taking these responsilities seriously, and through their parsimoniousness, expect YOU to pay out also, just dismiss them. The technique of shaking your head in a combination of surprise and resigned sadness, will make them feel guilty and realise their fault. You can also get revenge...and save some money too...by helping yourself to their fridge stores. Biscuits, cheese, drinks...just help yourself. Those petty-minded whiners deserve it. |
I had posted the above rules some time ago, many of our readers are by now following Bebsi's advice and living rewardingly miserable lives in KSA or elsewhere. Many new posters, however, are wantonly wasting money in KSA on trivial matters such as living and "enjoying themselves", and it is now hoped that these tips will help them to enrich their lives...at least in the financial sense, and let's face it, no other sense matters.
Something I ommitted last time was the issue of how to deal with one's accumulated wealth on one's demise, in the event of not having surviving heirs or of, alternatively, not wishing to leave anything to one's surviving heirs. If we are to achieve our goals of not spending any money in life, it logically follows that we will shuffle off this mortal coil in an enriched and cash-abundant state.
If you are old and your demise is imminent, a trip to the bank to withdraw all your funds would be a good idea, along with a proviso in your will (careful as they can cost money, but you can get a free draft/format for a legal Will online) to the effect that your notes and coins be buried or cremated with you. Alternatively, to take into account a sudden and premature demise, a will can be made authorising your executors to make the necessary withdrawals on your death and to inter your wordly assets with you. The same should be done with real estate. All assets can be disposed-of and the proceeds set to accompany you on your final journey.
This approach has one inherent difficulty: disposing of assets and cashing-in of bank accounts, by executors, can take some time as probate must be otained, thus requiring a delay in interment/alternative disposal. This process can, in turn, cost money, so a demise in early winter would be advantageous and infinitely cheaper, assuming probate formalities being completed by early spring. Indeed, you might even consider hastening your demise to accommodate this factor and also, it would result in further savings.
There are other considerations: while the accumulated water from years of fountain-using can be easily enough arranged to accompany the deceased, hundreds of rolls of old toilet paper may be somewhat more problematic. Unlike ming vases and other expensive assets, it is more difficult to realise the value of such goods. Enlargement of coffins to accommodate these rolls, may prove not to be cost-effective.
Finally, you must be careful at point of burial. The executors and other personnel involved may not be entirely scrupulous regarding interment of assets, and human temptations may present themselves, justified in the minds of the perpetrators that such use of asets is useless and not as economically viable as some might envisage. In other words, mercenary people who might not share your views concerning the importance of "taking your money with you". |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Bebsi... instead of duplicating this long post... why not just refer them to the other thread... |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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Oh VS, don't be a spoilsport. It was a funny post that deserved to be duplicated. I am surprised that you don't duplicate some of your posts.(can you tell I'm sucking up?)
Hmm, I hope 'suck up' doesn't have some alternative meaning in North American English. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:01 am Post subject: |
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that's me... spoilsport...
I fear it has lots of alternate meanings and you will just have to wait for the novel to see which one I choose and whether your ploy worked... 
VS |
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Michael In Tainan
Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| I would assume that teaching at Universities, one would be required to dress professionally. What about dreadlocks? I am not talking about long hippy style dreads, more like shoulder length and well kept? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:46 am Post subject: |
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Your hairstyle might not be acceptable. Depends on the university !
Are you sure you want to come and work here ? If you look on the idea of a "dress code" with horror as an interfeerence with your personal freedom, how will you react to all the other restrictions here ? Will you look on the rules about not eating in public in Ramadan as an intereference with your personal liberties ? |
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