Job Discussion Forums

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Facts.

1.) Visas.
They employ you on a business visa so no bank account and no money transfers. You have to leave the KSA every 30 days.

2.) Compound.
4 big villas around a pool. A portacabin with some free weights and about 100 books. Sat tv in every villa. Furniture extremely old. Security, none. 3 people to each floor of each villa.

3.) The Job.
6 contact hours a day teaching classes of about 20-25 students who are mostly low level and really not interested. All paperwork is done in triplicate. Keeping the admin ok for SABIC (the client) is what matters. The centre manager is out of his depth and thinks it's ok to use books like Work Place and Put English to Work with Saudi industrial trainees. (Both books are designed for people who want to live in the States and use English as a second language). Reports get brightened up on the database and Saudi Kayam recently withheld payment because teachers were giving students answers to tests. Since failing a student can get a teacher into trouble there and the ethos from the top was one of 'don't fail 'em'....the job is professionally pointless.

4.) The Staff.
Most of the good guys left in December. With the exception of one or two great blokes, it's a compound full of the pink mafia, winos and weird people.

5.) False Advertising.
If you do a 3 month contract and return to the UK you may well have to pay tax.

6.) The Salary.
Works out at 12, 000 SR a month. Watch the value of the Riyal....it's tied to the Dollar.

7.) Leave.
The meanest leave cycle in the Gulf...you can't even take it when you want it. 1 year contract = 21 days leave. Many teachers lost 5 days' leave during Eid Al Adha as the official holiday was 4 days but all the clients extended their employees' leave. Although all lessons were cancelled for nearly 2 weeks, the Academy only gave people 4 days and took the enforced holiday from everyone's leave quota.

8.) Promises.
Internet on the compound....not on your nelly.
New sports equipment.......not on your nelly.
New furniture...never happen.

9.) It's Future.
Very bleak.

Griff-James · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

"...it's a compound full of the pink mafia, winos and weird people. "

Very Happy

Pink mafia!

johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject:

Dear biffinbridge,
Well, it's good to know that, going by your listing, those members of the "pink mafia" are not also "winos" nor "weird people."

Seriously though, great posting, chock full of useful information.

I give it ***** (Five stars - top of the chart.)

Regards,
John

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Johnslat...he lives:))) good to hear from you again...been a long time and I hope life has treated you kindly.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The pink mafia is just one of these things that you learn to live with. In some places there is a green mafia (the ones with green iqamas).

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Some people in the past have pm-ed about some of my terminology; I'm not pc, I don't agree with being pc and I never will be pc.... just look where it's got the UK.

Essential reading-'Londonistan'.

tannhauser · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Middle East

Finally a refreshing take with all pros and cons listed. Informative and very useful. Idea

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I think Cleo is being kind when she describes Mrs Rozenberg aka Melanie Phillips as a 'tablod hack'. I would not be so gentle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Phillips

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

johnslat · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: When being right is really wrong

Dear scot47,
Mama mia - this lady seems to be England's answer to Ann Coulter (not that we ever asked the question.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Coulter

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Definitely a Coulter clone. Does she have an adam's apple like Ann? Cool

Who would believe that there could be two of such mental deficiency given a platform by the media.

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

Sad thing is, Ms. Phillips was employed by the Observer not so long ago. This fact (combined with their endorsement of all recent US and Israelis wars) is, I think, symbolic of the sad decline of that once excellent newspaper.

SCHUBERT · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 71

to get back to Biffinbridge's Opener - We had covered this ground over 1 year ago re LANGUAGE SOLUTIONS from their shambolic interview process in London to the chaos they finally deliver you into in Saudi Arabia. What was true 18 months back still holds true. It's all very simple - anything LANGUAGE SOLUTIONS pen their name to - Just say NO. They are the Pimps of the EFL world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Why go and work for Language Solutions when there are much better employers in the region - mine for example.