Job Discussion Forums

[geomood]

Can anyone comment on what it would be like working in this program? Also, how bad or good is the housing likely to be? TIA

[manowur]

You can check out this last thread about KSU, although it isn't the most informative:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=76058

Been trying to get info myself, but to no avail (except for a couple negative comments).

Perhaps you will have more luck with responses. We shall see...

[Pikgitina]

I think the lack of responses may be due to the fact that this university and its PYP have been discussed so many times in recent months.

A simple search will bring up loads of information, the gist of which is:

Bell is the recruiter. They interview you and ship you out to the Kingdom.
Obeikan R&D, as far I have gathered, are the ones that pay (often late it seems) your salary.
Accommodation isn't great and is shared. I know "isn't great" sounds vague, but more than that I don't know.
Management has been poor and unsupportive.
The majority of students probably don't want to be there and, therefore, teaching could turn into crowd control.
They (used to?) pay well for people who are not very well qualified in Gulf terms. By that I mean that a BA and a CELTA plus 3 years of teaching experience could get you about SAR12,000 per month.
Transport to and from work is provided.
Transport for shopping is provided on a weekly basis.

Some say that it is possible to stick it out in order to finish a 2nd degree while saving and being able to go on nice, long holidays.

I also like the fact that there seems to be none of the "you're paid less because you're not from an English-speaking country". It seems that non-Saudi Arab teachers get the same as those from the traditionally English-speaking countries.

You didn't say what your experience and qualifications are, so it's hard to be any more helpful. When posting and asking a question such as this one, provide as much information about yourself as possible. This will enable other posters to give you much more accurate and relevant answers.

At the end of the day, no matter where you teach in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, you're going to need a well-developed BS-tolerance threshold. In order to make a gig at KSU work and for you to stay sane, you'll probably have to be quite laidback, highly flexible, patient and tactful. These qualities might help you to function as a teacher in a chaotic, bizarre academic system (whose leaders might have no interest (or authority!) to listen to teachers and implement needed change).

In my experience, professional satisfaction is rare in the field of education in the Gulf. People work here for the cushy deals and long, paid holidays. Know what you sign up for if you do decide to sign up. Then, when you start thinking WTF, remind yourself that you knew what you were signing up for.

I know this is very wordy, but it's been an interesting week.

[veiledsentiments]

Hey Pik... we should make that last part a sticky... and require all new members to read it first thing.

VS

[007]

[otuzbirci]

But look at what the non Saudi Arab teachers do in and out of class. Sickening brown nosing toadiness and totally teacher fronted grammar translation classes-a complete and utter disgrace. Their so called qualifications are from crappy `universities.`

[Cleopatra]

[Railway3]

[Linguist]

[Citizenkane]