Job Discussion Forums

megbeth · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

Like many others I have interviews this week with Bell and Kaplan. I have been through all the posts, know the negatives and the positives about working in the KSA, but have only seen a few first hand experiences from those working at Bell�s female campus. The major appeal to me is the money.

I understand there are better paying positions and have applied to several yet have only had responses from Bell, Kaplan and Saxoncourt.

That being said, I would like any first hand female experiences � Do you regret the decision to work in the KSA, primarily with Bell? Any advice for specifics that I should look for in the contract? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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.
A woman�s life in Saudi Arabia is very limited and controlled.

megbeth · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

I understand that life is controlled - I've traveled extensively, having lived in 8 countries so I accept that life will be different. I am more interested in hearing first hand experiences and your many identical posts are not very detailed. Do you have a degree(s), experience, did you go through the medical and visa process, how long after you accepted the contract was your offer rescinded? More info would be fantastic.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:53 am Post subject:

You're really asking two different questions here: About life in KSA as a woman, and about Bell as an employer. Both topics have been discussed in some detail in many threads. I suggest you do a search and consult these threads first. Then, if you have more specific questions, start another thread.

bollidarling · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 27 Location: UK

I am a teacher at the KSU campus.

There is no doubt there are big issues here. Issues that appear to be being addressed. 2008/09 was the first year of the womens campus. It was a big project with big probems.

I have experienced, first hand, religious & racial discrimination, humiliation and a lack of respect for teachers.. and I am returning. A large percentage of teachers who have been offered jobs are returning.

Why?

Money is the biggie of course. We are here primarily for the money.

However we can see positive changes in that Management structures are (slowly) changing in both Bell and Obeikan, female Senior Management are now taking a very active interest in the programme and teachers who are not qualified to teach have been let go. Why were they hired in the first place? Many of those let go were locally hired muslim converts, and mostly American.

The culture in Saudi is different to elsewhere in the world. If you read any posts on female campus's in Saudi you will a similar number of negative posts. The biggie for us is accommodation and that isn't going to change. Allegedly it's illegal for single women live outside provided accommodation and Bell/Obeikan WILL NOT pay for a compound. There is no doubt that's a financial decision so call them whatever you will... it isn't going to change.

So why are so many women coming back in September? Our life in Riyadh is generally fun. There is a shortage of women here and we are always being invited to make up numbers, we spend most of our free time at various compound and Embassy parties enjoying all that in involves. Those who want to party can be out every night of the week. There is a good comraderie between the western teachers despite sharing two to an apartment. Agreed it doesn't work for some but for most of us it does and we actually like the company - there's always the option of changing room mates if it isn't working.

On the flipside... previous management haven't been professional, have lacked management skills and have resorted to bullying and humiliation. Obeikan seem to be of the opinion that women should be seen and not heard so information gets as far as the mens campus and stops; lack of information has fuelled malicious gossip which has been a huge problem, especially as it has been proven that Obeikan can't be trusted.

I don't know if these issues will change, I sincerely hope so. Some things have improved and others show signs of improving.

I am prepared to risk another 12 months. Possibly I am delusional but then so are 80 other teachers. Doesn't that speak for itself?

12 Monkeys · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82 Location: paradise lost

Dear bollidarling,

Since you were there last year I have a question. What is this Bell sponsored DELTA degree about? Is it any good? Do you know any teachers who have completed it and have prospered from it?

The reason I'm asking is because my wife will be going there this year and will she be able to improve herself professionally if she applies herself to this DELTA programme.

Cornelius of the Chimpanzee

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

I have a Bachelor�s degree in English Language and Literature, a TEFL certificate, a Tesol credential and more than 10 years of experience, actually 5 of them in Saudi Arabia, so I know what is to be a working woman in Saudi Arabia. I also know other three female teachers who had the same bad experience with Bell/ORD/KSU. Just be careful!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:41 am Post subject:

It's not illegal but it can be hard to find a landlord who will rent to a single woman.

12 Monkeys · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 82 Location: paradise lost

Dear Anybody, (AKA to whom it may concern)

What is this Bell sponsored DELTA degree about? Is it any good? Do you know any teachers who have completed it and have prospered from it?

The reason I'm asking is because my wife will be going there this year and will she be able to improve herself professionally if she applies herself to this DELTA programme.

Cornelius of the Chimpanzee

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It's actually quite hard to find a landlord who will rent to a single person, since buildings are often unofficially zoned as for families or for single men (single women would have to go into a family building).

When I was in Riyadh everbody in the block was a family except for me and a female Syrian doctor who lived above with her eight-year-old boy.

One year we had a Saudi family, and the head of the Saudi family complained to the estate agent that there should not be single men in the building and I would have to leave. When the other families heard of this they went to the estate agent, threatened to leave en masse if this was carried out, and the estate agent agreed that he would ask the Saudi to go at the end of his contract and refuse to rent to Saudis in future.