Job Discussion Forums

resurgance2001 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 1

Have been travelling around a bit and funds have started to run low, so I need a top up. Which country is the best for earning a high income and being able to save?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If you get the right employer - Saudi Arabia. Having said that some people do not find this an easy place to live and work in. A lot depends on your attitude, and finding a good employer. How much do YOU consider to be a lot ?

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Yeah,Scot is right.For the money,it is Saudi,He is also right about finding the right employer.If you do NOT get the right employer,it can truly be hell.Also,Saudi Arabia is obviously not the place for people who like to party a lot...a gross understatemet.But you can save the bucks there.

Do not expect it to be like teaching in Asia...you have to get an exit visa just to leave Saudi.Your employer will undoubtedly take your passport and "hold" it for you...and you will be issued an "iqama" to carry around in lieu of a passport.

Also,teaching jobs in Saudi Arabia tend to require higher qualifications than many jobs in Asia,where you can often get a job no matter what kind of a degree you have.

Good luck.Some people like Saudi.Some don't.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

And Saudi is NOT the place to come to if you have a drinking problem. There is some very serious drinking here - behind closed doors.

reality · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 105

Salaries are good in saudi arabia, but not great. You can earn more in an International school in Indonesia. Many less travelled Countries, offer good Teaching opportunities, so stay away from Countries that are Tourist oriantated.

Iraq could be a very good place to work in the future, considering the amount of rebuilding and US/British investment after the war ends.

So, keep an open mind, avoid touristic places like Thailand and Spain,
then you could earn a great salary.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

I have taught in Saudi,but not Indonesia.I rather doubt the previous poster's statement that you can make more money in Indonesia(teaching English) than in Saudi,but I could be mistaken.At least most of the ads I have seen for Indonesia pay peanuts(well,rupiahs,same thing)...and a lot of ads for Indonesia have "competitive salary" listed(translation:they do not want to scare away potential recruits by listing the meager salary)

Of course, there may be positions teaching English in Indonesia of which I am unaware,but I have my doubts if most of them,anyway,pay on a par with Saudi.If they did,a lot of people would probably be teaching in Indonesia, rather than in Saudi.

As for teaching in Iraq,well,I would definitely give that one a while.True,once all of that is finished,whenever that is,there will be a great need for rebuilding the country....but there will probably not be a crying demand for TESOL teachers....at least initially. Rolling Eyes

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 4:36 am Post subject: Trade-offs

Having taught in both countries - Saudi Arabia ( at persent ) and Indonesia, I can confidently state that you cannot make more money - in straight salary - in Indonesia than in the Kingdom. The salaries in Indonesia average about half ( or less ) than what you can make here.
Even if you're out on some oil-rig in the South China Sea, you won't make what you can in Saudi. However, you can help close that gap in Indonesia by doing a lot of " outside work ", usually legally. Of course, you can do the same here, in the Kingdom, but here it's almost always " illegal " to do so. No one goes to Indonesia for the money. It's the same old story: the places where living is fun offer poor salaries and the places where is isn't offer better ones. That's the universal trade-off.
Regards

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"in an International School". Right - if you teach in the American School in Jakarta or something like it you will have a good salary, but most people posting here are not into that kind of job. International ie British or American) schools anywhere are usually well-paid, but they demand real tecahers with experience and certification.

EFL jobs in Saudi pay about the same or a bit more. For a reasonable job in Saudi you should be getting about $3,000 a month plus free accommodation, with no utility bills and no taxes. Are there EFL jobs in Indonesia that pay that ? I doubt it very much.

Having said that I have just seen an ad for teachers for Hafr Al Batin in Saudi - starting at $1,600 a month. Not good !!!!!

D.O.S.

Mr. Scot47, How does it
feel to keep praising the high salaries
in the Kingdom and bringing in more
and more applicants and lowering wages.
You ought'a be awarded a medal! Word
spreads quick and you are an owners dream.

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:54 am Post subject: Little danger of an oversupply

Dear D.O.S.
I rather doubt we're going to be swamped by new teachers here in the Kingdom. Our IPA recruiting team just got back from the annual T.E.S.O.L. convention, where they interviewed a grand total of eight applicants. Compare that to an " average year ", when the number of applicants interviewed averages around thirty. They also reported that a number of employers who usually send recruting teams to the convention didn't even bother to this year. Considering the current situation here, and the probable future, I can't say I'm very surprised - except, perhaps, by the fact that as many as eight applicant actually applied.
Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well I do not teach in the private sector ! In the private sector here, as anywhere, this is a zero-sum game. If the school owner pays you more, he gets less. In the public sector where I work it is not like that !

Also it is clear to me that people outside the ME have a totally distorted picture of what life is like here. If you have a reasonable employer life is okay. If, on the other hand, you have chosen to work for some dubious franchise otr other private school you DESERVE to be shafted !

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Word spreads quick ?

And word spreads that people who cannot distinguish adverb from adjective might be better driving taxis rather than teaching English !!!

Boogie · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 5

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

I am sure Scot 47 and others can also give you some examples.I have taught in both places....if you went to Saudi,you would be going from the frying pan into the fire.In the first place,you almost undoubtedly would only be able to teach women....no mixed classes...they do not go for that in Saudi.

I can give you one good example from my experience in Saudi.A wife of one of my colleagues ventured outside.She had just recently arrived in Saudi and at the place where we were working.Several of us had to qucikly hustle her back inside because several Saudis had started heaving stones at her.Her"crime"?,,,,she had worn Bermuda shorts outside and her knees were not covered....offending several Saudis who happened to see her.Granted,this may seem a "dumb" thing to do for people who are acquainted with Saudi...but some people do NOT know...at first...anyway.

Anyway,it gives you a good idea.If you think you have problems where you are at right now,I would not suggest Saudi as an option to better your situation. You might want to look at more liberal Middle East states if you are really interested in teaching in the Middle East.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If you even want to THINK about wearing Bermuda shorts in public do not come to Saudi Arabia - or elsewhere in the Gulf. Salaries for women are generally lower than for men. Men teach men. Women teach women.

Complaints should be directed not to me but to the leadership. of this country. They would probably refer you to the Pharisees who dictate what is acceptable.