Job Discussion Forums

[philipjames]

I've been offered a 'SABIS' teaching job. Before I accept or decline it, I would like to hear from anyone who has worked at one of their schools. All informed information would be greatly appreciated, as I have a major decision to make here.

Thank you kindly,
Jameson

[teflerlifer]

Dear Philip, I think quite a lot has been written about SABIS before. In short be very, very wary. Make sure you can speak to other teachers who are there before you irrevocably sign yourself over.

[philipjames]

Thank you. But it is my understanding that there are many of these schools across the Middle East. I've worked for years in Korea, and every school has been different. I have worked at a great school within the Gepik system, with my next school being an absolute nightmare. The difference between the two was incredible. My third school was somewhere in between. So you never know.

But yes, I will be sure to speak to former employees.

Regards,
Jameson

[Demigod]

I will just type the pros and cons and let you decide for yourself

1. 730 am 300 pm One shift is great
2. furnished apartments across the street from the school
nice, considering that you do not have to travel.
Not so nice because you see your director and teachers everyday.
3. The staff meeting and workshops on your day off are useless and a complete waste of time.
4. It is Lebanonse controlled, so forget fairness and any kind of international environment.
5. Class times are only 55 minutes long, but you will be forced to teach other subjects that are not stated in your contract.
6. You will have heavy marking to complete in 48 hours. You will be force to mark other classes.
7. Peter the program director is useless and his 5 pillar system will only put you at a disadvantage. Remember it is Lebanonese controlled
8. Your English co worker is a b-word and she should not to be trusted.
9. The students are wild and disrespectful. They will threaten and curse in both Arabic and English. They will complain because they know that parents control, who truly works with Sabis or not.
10. You will not be able to use the printer or internet very much. So forget any kind of creativity.
11. You will be force fed the Sabis way of marking and teaching.
12. You will be paid less than the surrounding schools and work much harder.
13. You will not warn you of anything.. You are left alone to learn the rules and regulations.
14. If someone doesnt like you, especially the students...they will complain and lie to the director.
For example..if a student receives a low mark, it will never be because he didnt study. The blame will fall in your lap.
Do not trust anyone ANYONE
They only want Lebanonese teachers and will indirectly treat you very bad. I completed my contract, but the experience taught me to avoid any Sabis schools.
I have been working in Riyadh for four years and I find that teaching on the University level less stressful and more considerate of foreign teachers.
The bottomline is Sabis basically sucks, but if you need the job.. take it.
Just be quiet, get your salary and run far away. If you have other job offers in the Middle East then avoid Sabis

[philipjames]

Wow! May I ask how much money you made a month. Was the money worth all of the nonsense?

[Demigod]

My pay was 9.500 riyals monthly

The Tamini market down the street is westernized so it was more expensive then the Hyperpandas. I do not know why International
school pay so little compared to other places. The general consenus is too never accept any offer below 10000 riyals. This was two years ago, so hopefully they are offering you at least 12000 riyals now... hopefully

If you need the money take the job, but if you can work somewhere else..avoid Sabis because it is a headache and they was stress you out.
You can work at ELS or Wall street nearby and enjoy yourself. Try Bell at King Saud University.

If you are homeless.. need money quickly... large family.. then work at Sabis. If you can anywhere else.. AVOID SABIS
Peter the directer and Sania your English Coordinator/co worker will drive you crazy. This is why they have a high turn over ratio. So expect to be alienated and treat like crap. I would rather work at a warehouse job in snow filled St louis and be left alone, than to return to Sabis..

[Demigod]

Please forgive me for the many posts, but I have seen
westerners come to Sabis and go after one month.

I do not understand why Sabis is such a harsh place too work.
I should not have to take photos of my board work.
I should not have to record my classes everyday.
Adults should not be under the thumb of children.
Sabis should not have more managers than teachers.

Floor one manager
Floor two manager
Floor three manager
Each floor has two or three class managers
Then is the managers, who patrol the school and
enforce the rules. They are not here for the students.
Their job is too watch you. Too many chiefs that hate
foreigners and not enough teachers.




If they do not want foreign English teachers then why spend
the money and bring us here?

Els in Riyadh is a great place too work.
King Saudi is wonderful also.
It is some very nice schools in Saudi Arabia.
It is just ashame that Sabis is not one of them.
Please search for other comments about Sabis and you
see that we all have the same complaints.
Email peter or whoever it is now at King abdulaziz International school
and ask about his 5 pillar system and harsh Lebanese controlled environment. Here is the number +966590052785
but of course he will lie too you.
The iquama manager is slow and has no idea what he is doing.
He will not inform you of anything, so please do your iquama research
before hand

[veiledsentiments]

[tatsuo1]

sounds just like the American system!

[lingua]

[Demigod]

[philipjames]

Wow! Sounds exactly like Korean hagwon hell, and the second public school I worked at in Korea. I am a good teacher, but I have rules that must be followed. Most importantly, no talking while I'm talking. Classroom order is essential, and I don't accept parental complaints being brought to me about every diddly thing. So that's definitely a negative for me....But 12000 Riyal is $3,200 US dollars a month. Tax free. What are the holidays? Someone mentioned that they only work 180 days a year. Are the holidays paid? Can we come and go into/out of the country as we wish?

Thank you for your answers to my inquiries.
Jameson

[trapezius]

Do not take a job with ANY SABIS school.

Search for SABIS on these boards and you will see the unbelievably terrible things written about the various branches.

[Mia Xanthi]

In all my years, I have known maybe half a dozen people who worked for the SABIS system in several countries in the Gulf. I have never heard even one good word about it from a teacher's perspective. Some parents who send their children there seem to like the system, but I have never met a teacher who had anything positive to say about the place.

[veiledsentiments]