Job Discussion Forums

gungediana · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82

Just noticed an online job offer for a post at KSU.

Under the heading 'essential', it reads University degree, CELTA, teaching experience.

Then under the heading 'The following would be an advantage' it reads (amongst other things DELTA and Masters in TESOL.

So, if for example I had just paid �10,000 and worked my ass off for a year to get a Masters degree and I applied for this job. If I didn't have a 1 month CELTA certification I wouldn't get the job, wouldn't even be interviewed for it?
Does KSU have a policy of no CELTA you can't work here?
And if so do many employers in the KSA have this policy?

Cheers (from a rather worried prospective M.A TESOL student with no CELTA to his name).

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

Even if a particular employer might have this rule, the majority have it as an either/or - or they just require the MA.

VS

egyptfan · Joined: 29 Nov 2004 Posts: 105 Location: Middle East

Yes, looking for a CELTA might sound strange when you (will) have an MA. However, it's probably to avoid candidates who have academic qualifications but have no teaching qualification of any type. Looking through quite a few CVs over the last year or two, it's amazing the number of applicants who have neither tefl training nor teacher training of any kind. They assume that they are well-qualified if they have a few years experience in China or Thailand and they are native speakers.
Obviously, this is not the case with you, but I can understand where they are coming from.
Good luck with your application.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

If you've got a Masters in TESOL they won't ask for a CELTA. The CELTA will be the minimum training requirement in TEFL.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

Word on the streets of this town is that KSU will basically take anyone who breathes. OK, that may be a slight exaggeration, but remember that they need to recruit 400 teachers by autumn. Even bearing in mind the fact that what they are offering is a pretty good package by international EFL standards, it's unlikely that they can afford to be too choosy about who they take on. I very much doubt that your lack of a CELTA would rule you out.

roy_101 · Joined: 09 May 2009 Posts: 29 Location: UK

This message is to Cleopatra,

About KSU, what kind of package can one expect? You say it will not be too low, but for a relatively inexperienced teacher, what are the salary terms?

By relatively inexperienced, I mean 3 years of teaching ESL in the UK.

Further, what is the best and easiest way to initiate contact with the University to apply for a role?

Much appreciated
Roy

gungediana · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82

Thank you very much for the advice guys and gals.

Looks like KSU might be an option when I hopefully graduate next year then. Just hope I don't run into difficulties re the visa Smile

.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 5:52 am Post subject:

From what I've heard, KSU teachers get between 12000 and 1400SR a month. If you don't have an MA or DELTA, and only have limited experience, you will be closer to the lower end. They also give free housing but from what I've heard many teachers are required to share. Also, one important thing to bear in mind is that KSU only pay you for 11 months of the year, so you need to factor that into the package. That said, it's possible that they may not succeed in recruiting enough teachers for the next academic year, so there may be opportunities for some lucrative overtime.

You have to apply via Bell in Cambridge. Send your CV to [url][email protected][/url]

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 5:54 am Post subject:

From what I've heard, KSU teachers get between 12000 and 1400SR a month. If you don't have an MA or DELTA, and only have limited experience, you will be closer to the lower end. They also give free housing but from what I've heard many teachers are required to share. Also, one important thing to bear in mind is that KSU only pay you for 11 months of the year, so you need to factor that into the package. That said, it's possible that they may not succeed in recruiting enough teachers for the next academic year, so there may be opportunities for some lucrative overtime.

You have to apply via Bell in Cambridge. Send your CV to [url][email protected][/url]

rigel · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 308

tefl2010 · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 19 Location: USA

A warning to all my TEFL colleagues!!!
I was offered a job at KSU by Bell recruiters and now with all changes there�they have just told me that they offer is not valid anymore. Take care!! I have left a good job in order to join this project and finally was treated with this lack of consideration.

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It is fashionable now in many places to insist on a CELTA - even from those with what seem to me to be better qualifications.

I can think of cases of people with years of experience in learning and teaching languages, MA's and Doctorates - but those in power insisted that they go and do this 4-week CELTA course which seems to be designed for monoglot novices at teaching foreign languages.

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

I have never heard of that in the rest of the Gulf, but I would say 'buh-bye' and move on to one of the higher pay places that don't have such a silly rule if I had a related MA.

Now I know a few PhDs in every discipline that could have used some good classroom training. You can get to that level and have never taken any methodology courses (think BA lit... to MA theoretical linguistics... to PhD in linguistics) or taught a class.

VS