Job Discussion Forums

seriousgirl · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 20

Hi fellow teacher creatures,

This is my first time posting in KSA.

I am looking for updates on the current state of Hail University/College, more specifically the Prep English section on the women's side. I met these people at the TESOL Arabia conference in Dubai last year, and they seemed pleasant and harmless enough. There was a nice older British lady in charge. We had a frank discussion about the conditions there, and it seemed worth a try.

However, due to strange interferences with the direct hiring process by an agency called Tulbah, who seemed rather vague, and a cutoff in communications to the people I would actually be working with on an everyday basis, I decided not to go. I have read the previous threads about Hail. I wonder if it is worth trying for a semester at least.

I am concerned about being paid in full on time, the quality of the teaching life in the women's section in this particular department...i.e. class size, good and mutually respectful relations among the instructors and supervisor(s), the attitude of the students,etc. Any updated information or contacts there, please feel free to pm or post.

If anybody has any other suggestions about truly decent places to work in KSA (or indeed elsewhere in the gulf) please let me know. I cannot handle moderate to highly dysfunctional workplaces very well, nastiness, etc. Not into it.Too sensitive, and life's too short.

I am currently in Riyadh with a BA, CELTA and ten years of experience at impressive-seeming places, mostly in Europe. I am making just over 12000 here.

Thanks for your input.

Rapidly losing sense of humor in Riyadh,

too serious

Shocked

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Try PMU in Khobar.

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

The British Council is recruiting for a female Senior Teacher for Riyadh. OK, I know it's Riyadh but they are offering a salary of upto SR16,000 a month, pension, generous baggage allowance and own villa on a compound. And once you're with the BC and you successfully complete your stint your next move could be somewhere more interesting like Sri Lanka, Far East etc.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

A contract with the British Counsil is just that - it does not mean that you can go on working for them when that contract is over. Under the wise leadership of their Director General, Neil Kinnock, they continue to downsize in true Thatcherite stytle.

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

Neil Kinnock is the Chairman and doesn't have a great role in policy making. The Director-General is Martin Davidson and he's worked for the BC for 20 + years.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I stand corrected.

The fact remains that the Thatcherite policies implemented from the 1980's onward continue. Well, the State has to finance all these military adventures in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. Whywaste money on things like libarraies and educational programmes when our brave boys need tanks.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Counsil, Tonsil .........................bah humbug to all of them !

seriousgirl · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 20

A good suggestion, gentlemen, but politics aside...
I need to be a British citizen in order for the British Council to get me a visa for Saudi. I checked this out a few weeks ago.
Not possible. Crying or Very sad

I taught at the BC here part time and loved it.

seriously...

brasscat · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:36 pm Post subject: Big Hiring Cycle At PMU

A major hiring effort is currently underway for females at PMU. Most of them are needed for the Feb. 2008 term.

Send your resume to: PMU, Mr. Jim Horn, HR Dept.

PMU is a private school located near Al-Khobar, KSA.
brasscat

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"School" in the American sense. It is a university. At least in name.

brasscat · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject: True, tis new

At present time PMU is in its formative stage. By western standards, it is small growing towards a future medium size.

With so much growth going on, position advancement is good.
brasscat

umzakaria · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 58

Hi there,
Hail university appear to be hiring directly:

The University seeks to appoint male and female native and near-native speakers of English language to teach across a range of courses offered by the English Language Center. The applicant(s) should have a bachelor degree in English (MA is preferable) with 2 years EFL/ESL teaching experience at tertiary/adult/university level (overseas experience is highly desirable).
� A competitive monthly tax-free salary with performance-based annual increments.
� Furnished accommodation.
� Annual air tickets for the teacher, spouse and up to two children under 18 yrs of age.
� End-of-service gratuity.
� Free medical care in gov. hospitals
� Paid annual leave of 60 days.
� Tuition subsidies for children�s compulsory schooling (age 6 through 1 Cool

Note: If your spouse qualifies for the job you can apply as a couple. To apply send a cover letter summarizing your teaching experience, a detailed resume.

this package is different from those previously offered by recruiters (tublah,falak) do you think this means they will not use business visas? I am interested as previously they have only offered visas for spouse and up to 2 kids which is no good for me! any thoughts/insights?

brasscat · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject: The Other Side Of Hail

Yes, Hail does offer a standard contract package, as do most Saudi Universities.

There are other factors to consider.
1. Very high student to teacher classroom ratios (40+ to 1)

2. Schools for children are very limited and not up to standards.

3. Old shortcut of a Biz Visa has many traps attached to it. Many renewals and trips to Bahrain, just to mention the obvious.

4. No Iqama means: no bank account, no car, no money transfers, and a constant id issue.

5. Mishar Compound is isolated and far away from town.

6. Hail Province is a very conservative religious area. Females have a rough time.

7. Academic leadership leaves much to be desired.

brasscat

umzakaria · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 58

Brasscat,
do you know if they are still only offering business visas?this is a stumbling point for me as I have 6 kids and we would all have to come at the same time. I am aware of the other issues,thanks for your help:)