Job Discussion Forums

[FreddyM]

I was just perusing other forums on Dave's site and figured I'd take a stab in the dark. I'm a Mexican national who grew up and was completely educated in the United States. Have a Bachelor's and Master's degree in the social sciences from very good universities there (top 20 in the world), and some Ph.D. work. Got state certification to teach ESL. Have over 5 years teaching experience, primarily in elementary and secondary, but some university work in my degree field.
I'm currently living in Mexico teaching English at the jr. high school level, but got job offers at the high school level as well. Obviously, Mexico doesn't compare to places like Asia or the middle east money-wise.
Just wondered, what opportunities I might have in saudi arabia. The biggest monkey wrench being that I hold a Mexican passport, not U.S.

[scot47]

The passport determines what they will pay you. If you get a job the offer will probably be at a lower rate, comparable to teachers in the Middle East from India/Pakisatn.

Unfair ? Welcome to the Middle East.

[Cleopatra]

I personally know of a few native speakers of Spanish who are employed as English teachers in KSA, so the possibility is there. That said, it would be easier for you if you had an MA in a relevant field, which you unfortunatly don't. It's also unfortunate, as Scot says, that you will very likely be paid considerably less than nationals of the US or EU countries, for example, simply because of the passport you hold.

[scot47]

I knew several native speakers of Spanish teaching English in Jeddah. In some cases I had great difficulty in understanding them. But they had US passports ! So they got the US rate !

[also in saudi]

There are Scotsmen with very heavy Scottish accents that I can't understand working for British Aerospace who claim to teach American English. These also receive top pay.

[lionbrian]

Dear FreddyM,

If I were a potential employer in the Middle East, I would be the first one to shortlist you, interview, check your references, and if you sound a decent teacher, I will be happier to offer you a job! Why?

Based on your description, I�d rather hire you than any other non-native speaker. Just for your information, there are many non-natives speakers who have never lived in the west, got local undergraduate degrees from their home countries and I cite: Bulgaria, Serbia, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria, Philippines, Morocco, India, and the list goes on, and these teachers are teaching in different institutions, for example at: Qatar University, Qatar Petroleum, Kuwait, Oman and other Gulf states.

FreddyM: The fact that you were raised in the west, got American education, use English in your daily life, to me if you have the right qualifications, & experience, I hire you before those REAL NON-NATIVES.

You deserve a teaching job in the Gulf and apply as much as you can! I am pretty sure that you will land one!

WISH YA ALL THE BEST!

[scot47]

also in saudi

Of course the obvious solution is to demand that everyone use RP. If it is good enough for EIIR, then..............................

And let's have an end to this nonsense about 'American English'

Ha ! Colonials !

[veiledsentiments]

Lionbrian is right, but unfortunately he isn't in charge of hiring. You mentioned state certification to teach ESL. Are you referring to the US system or the Mexican system? Do you have certification to teach elementary school or high school in your major?

If you have a complete set of US credentials, I would look into International School Services. They have a website and do jobs fairs around the US. Check out their website. If you could attend one of these fairs and interview, it should improve your chances.

The best international schools are very competitive, but have good pay and benefits. There are many schools in the Middle East... don't just restrict your search to Saudi Arabia.

VS

[FreddyM]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies. I am rather new to the international ESL field. My state teaching certification is from Texas. I had to study for a year and a half AFTER my graduate studies in order to acquire it (it's not as simple to get as a CELTA). I taught in the public school system there for three years, teaching ESL and bilingual education to primarily immigrant students. I lived for about thirty years in the U.S, but was born in Mexico. My English is flawless (American accent), as it needs to be in order to do graduate work at an elite university in the U.S.
My interest in the Middle East is pretty much the same as it is for everyone else....to make money! It seems like the teaching job opportunities there are better than they are even in the U.S. Throw in a little bit of adventure and learning to live in a new culture, and it sounds like an attractive combination. I plan to eventually make Mexico as my home, so any money I could save up working elsewhere would go a long way here.
I'm not planning to do this right now, but was wondering if it would even be possible to do it in the future, or would I face insurmountable obstacles given my passport is not from an English speaking? I've wondered whether I could do this in other Middle East countries as well, or even South Korea. I notice that most advertisements require native speakers only from specific countries.
Also, would an employer look at my specific background in order to determine hiring and what the pay would be, or are these pretty much hard and steadfast rules?

[also in saudi]

scot47

"...nonsense about American English"

Not quite sure what you mean. The ideal situation would be for every native English speaker in the world to use the same accent, dialect, words, idioms, etc. Then everyone would be understood by everyone else. But this is not the case.

People learning English as a foreign or second language detect significant differences in the way Americans, British, Australians, Canadians, etc. speak and use words and find it confusing. Sometimes I need an interpreter when trying to understand someone from the UK, Australia - even Canada.

[scot47]

also in saudi

That is becasue you have come to accept your 'English' as the right one. It ain't. It is one of many !

In my experience the worst offenders at this dialectocentrism are Americans and upper-class Englishmen !

[dmb]

[also in saudi]

scot47:

That is becasue you have come to accept your 'English' as the right one. It ain't. It is one of many !

In my experience the worst offenders at this dialectocentrism are Americans and upper-class Englishmen


I have come to accept my 'English' as "American English" because it originates in the US. I thought I said that the English spoken by Americans is one of many. Indeed, Americans speak differently, depending upon where they are from in the US. "American English" is neither right nor wrong.

There is no need to be defensive. I was just stating facts. You were the one implying that there were no differences.

Believe me, it is difficult to understand some "native English" speakers, regardless of where they are from. You might even find some Americans difficult to understand. I know I do. Perhaps we would not understand each other. Is there something wrong with needing an interpeter?

But, I found it very odd that a person I could not understand (who just happened to be from Scotland) claimed to be teaching "American English"
to Saudis.

[Bebsi]

Well, well, how're ye all doin, are ye doin alright, Bejaysus an' all. Tis meself, Bebsi, just lettin ye know how it is we do be talkin back in the oul' sod of Ireland.

Sure, isn't this the way we does always be talkin there, an' what is it ye be findin' wrong wit it? Them Americans and British types, sure isnt it well know that they don't be havin' a clue how to be talkin' English. Aye, we'll show dem, so we will. An' then, where'll they be, an all, after we have put the shkithers undher them?

Well, actually we don't all go around speaking like that in Ireland, but many seem to think we do, a la Barry Fitzgerald, Darby O'Gill and all the other happy denizens of Boystown.

And I so despise linguistic snobbery; what a waste of time it is for all the Brits, Canucks, Yanks, Ozzies, and Kiwis out there to be going around claiming they each, respectively, speak the best English, when in reality we Paddies do. It's just that we don't brag about it!! Make Irish English the new lingue franca...or should that be lingua hibernia? Insted of TEFL, make it TIFL. It's just the way it should be!

What a load of tiffle!!

[Stephen Jones]