Job Discussion Forums

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

Definitely get the Masters, and then tack on a CELTA before coming here. You could probably bring your parents, if not permanently as least as long-term visitors. It may involve sending them off to somewhere else for part of the year, I'm not sure of the details.
Having an American passport is much more important than how you look when it comes time to sign a contract. In two or three years, with an MA, CELTA and a few years teaching at an official high school I would fancy your chances at picking up a decent English teaching job at a university here.

Al-Mansoor · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 76 Location: Here

Defo complete your Masters and get the CELTA as well as some experience in teaching English, even if it's only a few hours a week.

You can never stay in Saudi unconditionally so it's always wise to have a back-up plan, just in case.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

I don't know why people always assume they have to spend $14,000 to get an MA in TESOL. Mine was free, through the department's required assistantship program for all MA students. Those things still exist.

trapezius · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:55 pm Post subject:

Finish your M.Ed., do the CELTA, and then come teach here. Doing the MA in TESOL would be overkill (and costly as you note).

As for your parents coming here, they could come here as your dependents, I think. Certainly if your employer wants to help you in that regard, they can bring them under your sponsorship. However, they might say no, as dependents usually means spouse and children.

Buying a house here? Yeah, that's not happening. Foreigners can't really buy property here. You would have to make good friends with a Saudi (a Saudi woman, perhaps, who could become your wife!) and have the house under his/her name, but that's just not advisable at all. If there is any falling out between you and him/her, s/he could kick you out and take over the house, as on paper it would be his/hers anyway. If that happens, nobody in the world can help you, not Obama and his reps here, not the King here, no one. (because legally the house would be your Saudi 'friend's')

Selling your house in your homeland to buy one in an Arab country is just a terrible idea. If you only have one house in the US, STICK to it. When you move here, rent it out so you can get some extra income to rent a place here until you save enough to buy one.

UAE and Qatar definitely allow foreigners to own property. I am not so sure about Bahrain and Kuwait in that regard. I think Kuwait perhaps has some freehold properties.

If you and/or your parents are thinking about staying long-term in the Middle East, I would definitely recommend any of the 4 small countries I just mentioned over Saudi Arabia, for your and your parents' mental and emotional well-being, and I can't overemphasize that.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject:

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Plan to bring parents to Saudi Arabia and buy a house here are TOTALLY impractical.

Sorry to be be blunt, frank and realistic. Saudi Arabia does NOT encourage settlement.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject:

ex500 · Joined: 27 Nov 2010 Posts: 44

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

If the government is paying for your current MA studies, don't you have to teach for X number of years? I know different states have different programs.

Best to try Saudi by yourself for a few years. You may find that you will be more than happy to leave ... and it is good to have a home to go back to... and soon your parents may need you closer if they are growing older.

There are always jobs back in the US teaching science. Good to have options.

VS

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours