Job Discussion Forums

[wardah_rahman]

Well Iam female from pakistan i want to keep teaching as my profession and iam very much interested in working in saudi arabia. i dun have any prob wid the religious issues over there as iam muslim too... and i dun have any problem wearing abaya but still i dun have the clear picture of how women stay there? work there? if they are alone.... i have been thorugh all the threads in the forum but still didn't get the exact way how single women live there ... coz all iam interested is the secure environment where i can live alone kindly please guide me i'll b thankful

[Cleopatra]

Have you applied for any specifc job? Have you got any specific questions?

In fact, the subject of being a single woman in KSA has been dealt with pretty extensively on this board. It may take a while to find the relevant discussions, but they certainly exist.

[wardah_rahman]

well thats the thing i haven't applied but as i have to pick teaching as my profession so i have to start doing so many courses need to do the job there and before doing those i need to know if its suitable to b there as a single women or not... i have read ur posts on threads on this forum.... i really got alot of help but still there are some doubts in my mind coz being a muslim girl i have to conveince my family that iam going in a secure place i hope u understand

[trapezius]

With a degree and teaching certification from Pakistan (and no experience), the only schools willing to hire you would pay about SR. 2,000 to -- if you are lucky -- SR. 4,000 per month. And that latter amount is highly unlikely, with SR. 3,000 being the probable upper limit. Is that worth the trouble of going to a strange foreign land as a single woman? That's for you to decide.

As for living here as a single woman, it mainly depends on you. Being from Pakistan and having lived with family your whole life, are you 'brave' enough to -- in a segregated society -- walk the streets alone? Go shopping alone? Perhaps tolerate harassment and/or unwanted stares from young (and not so young) men?

Even though the lot of women in Pakistan is far worse than their lot in Saudi, at the same time, society doesn't place as many restrictions on women in Pakistan as it does in Saudi. I don't know how you were raised, but are you ready for those restrictions?

As for security, you would be placed by your school in some apartment near the school. You won't be able to afford (from your salary, at least) to live in a gated secure compound, but it is very safe living in Saudi in most places/cities.

I don't know what else to tell you. I think you should ask more specific questions, as well as tell us about your upbringing and background. (for eg., if you are used to driving in Pakistan and can't live with a car, it will very difficult here, etc.)

[veiledsentiments]

If I understand your post, you are about to start university and have decided to become a teacher. The first thing to do is to finish your education. If possible, get some experience teaching in Pakistan. That should help you to find a job. Teachers are needed in many places, not just Saudi Arabia.

During this time, you should read this board regularly. Over time almost all of your questions will probably be answered. We often have discussions of the situation for women. You will also learn about different schools.

Trapezius has given you some practical advice about thinking about yourself and your family and whether this is a good idea for you.

VS

[wardah_rahman]

thanx alot both of.... yes iam brave enough to stay alone.... iam not used to driving so driving is not a big issue for me.... as iam about to finish my university its not like i dun have experience of teachign at all... i have taught in many summer camps but may b this is not considered to be an experience . RESTRICTIONS are not a big issue like wearing hijab.... not going out is not a big deal for me.... even iam not going there to socialize alot iam not so much out going or love partying so its fine for me living alone there .... now iam going to do some certified courses and definately going to have some experience in good institution.... its nice for me if its a secure place to stay.... i'll happy to b here.... but yes hearing abt salary from you worried me its no that sufficient but then again after having some experience i can expect better can't I ?? what do u say


thanx again for ur advice ... iam about to finish my graduation its just 3 months left so now i have to b focused to my profession ...


other than that can u help me that after graduation what courses would help me to move forward in my career ???

and yes u can plzz give me idea abt any other country other than saudi arbia where i can teach and get good salary but again secure environment is an issue for me

[veiledsentiments]

You may have an opportunity in other schools around the Gulf area, but the reality is that the salary scale that Trapezius mentioned is probably it. Teachers, especially beginning teachers like you, from India or Pakistan are paid very badly.

I assume that you are planning to teach in English? You didn't mention whether you are thinking of teaching elementary or middle school or higher. One piece of advice that I would give you is to spend some time improving your writing skills in English. The higher the level you are teaching, the more important this will be. I'm sure that you are writing these messages quickly and not worrying about spelling and grammar , but if you were thinking of teaching secondary school, employers would want to see standard written English.

VS

[wardah_rahman]

very true sorry.... i'll definately pay attention to it and i work on it for atleast an year or more thanks for your advice and keep guiding me i need it

[007]

Well, Wardah, in case you find a job in the Magic Kingdom, who is going to be your Mahram to travel to the Magic Kingdom?
I am not sure, but have you checked with the Saudi embassy in Pakistan for the requirement of travel for a Muslim Pakistani woman to the Magic Kingdom? And do you need any special permission from the Pakistani government?

[trapezius]

[wardah_rahman]

its ok atleast you are telling me all the facts but this is wrong that we get 5000 rs /= as a teacher in pakistan i worked in not very reputed school of karachi pakistan in summer camps and they were paying me 8000/= just for summer camps wid no experience so if iam getting SR 2000 per month den i have better options in pakistan as well but yes i can think is they are paying me 5000

well iam planning to teach english and i know i have to work alot on it
after completing my graduation iam going to get admission in MA english.

you can guide me further more that which courses should i do in order to work in better schools there

because here in pakistan many insititutions conduct exams for TEFL and other such courses but there are no instituions for the preparations of these courses


you can tell me in order to be a good english teacher in which area i better work on?????
what are those certified courses which can help me to move in my career ?



Iam always open to your suggestions no matter that you are bringer of bad news so keep guiding me

[wardah_rahman]

The other thing you have to look in to is as 007 said, how you will come here as you are single, and how and where you will be housed as a single foreign Muslim woman in Saudi Arabia.




YES IAM WORKING ON IT AND SEARCHING FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING AS A SINGLE MUSLIM IN SAUDI ARABIA
and i have found one let's see what information i get

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[wardah_rahman]

Thank You NCTBA for telling me the areas i have to work on



I want to know that the only course availabale in pakistan with preparations is In-service Certificate in English Language Teaching (ICELT).What is a need of this course working as a teacher? and At what level iam suppose to do this course?

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

As to that, I haven't a clue. Good luck, Warda.

NCTBA