Job Discussion Forums

AustinSutton · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

Hi,

I've just accepted a position teaching English for BAE in Dhahran, and will start in December. Any information about living in Dhahran and/or working for BAE there would be really appreciated. I guess that I'd particularly like to know about life on the compound, Dhahran, and teaching for BAE.

Many thanks in advance,

Austin.

Grendal · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=74250

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

Teaching!

It is more like crowd control.

Good contract, good benefits but the job itself really sucks but most people hang in for the money.

Nice compound and close to Bahrain for a dash across the border to get some sanity.

AustinSutton · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

Hiya Mark 100,

I tried to send you a pm, but it wasn't possible as apparently you need to post 5 messages before you can pm other members.

Anyway, I have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind? Do you work for BAe? And if so, are you still with them? Also, can you tell me a little about compound life? It's really hard for me to imagine. Good social life? Decent food? ...

And, you mentioned that the teaching was like crowd control. I take it that means there's student behaviour issues? And, is the teaching actually hard work? I was told that teachers are expected to teach 7 classes per day. are you totally wiped out after it?

Cheers in advance,

A.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

I didn't work for BAE but a lot of my friends did and some still do.

Teaching is a bit of a chore but as i said most people survive for the money and benefits.

Go in with low expectations that way it might be easier to manage.

THe compound is good. Also the hours are pretty good as you start very early in summer like 6 but you finished by lunchtime.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Austin,

I worked at TSI from 2005 to 2007.

BAE pay well, the compound is fine, it is easy to get to Bahrain. These are all plus factors.

So far as teaching is concerned, the Royal Saudi Air Force expect you to teach six or seven PPP lessons a day, and to work with RSAF Cadets who are below anything on Maslow's hierarchy of needs because they are constantly deprived of sleep.

Some of the cadets are excellent. Others are driven down by the system, and some of them takle out their frustration on the nearest person, who is usually the teacher.

There are a lot of horror stories, but believe only about 10% of them, and NEVER pay any attention to some of the people who post on these threads; people who have never worked for BAE Systems, and who never could.

AustinSutton · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks a lot Mark100 and Neil. Could you also tell me a bit about life on a compound? What is there to do? What's the social life like? Is the food ok? etc

Cheers,

Austin.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

The Aziziyah compund where I lived had a pool, a gymnasium, a common room with a TV and billiards/snooker, a library, a shop and a football pitch.

Social life was what you made of it - the compound was home to the teachers at TSI (English teachers AND technical instructors) who worked slightly different hours and it also housed the BAE technicians who serrviced and maintained the RSAF aircraft, and they were on a shift systemm.

There was a free bus to downtown Al Khobar every night, but one Saudi driver got VERY grumpy if he thought you were using it too much - i.e. more than once a week. The bus didn't give you a lot of time - roughly two hours - but to be honest, there wasn't a lot to do in Al Khobar anyway, unless you like poking around in back-street shops to see what you can find. Most people just weent to the Rashid Mall - which was HUGE.

A lot of people went to Bahrain on a fairly regular basis. Obviously it was easiest to go in a car, but if you wanted to do things independently, there was a very regular bus service from Al Khobar to the Lulu Shopping Centre in Manama - 5 BD each way. The buses had their own lane at passport/customs on the King Fahad causeway, and on Friday evenings that meant that passengers were not help up by the uncontrolled traffic jams.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/regulation/2010-02-05-bae-systems_N.htm?csp=34

007 · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:14 pm Post subject:

Well, Uncle Scott, I knew that it will be a guilty verdict on BAE, America, Britain, and Uncle Bandar of the Magic Kingdom! Laughing

But, do you think that Uncle Bandar has escaped to pay the penalty?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I know nothing. Captain McBeath is watching.

PeterBar · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 145 Location: La France profonde

This is a more detailed report, as well as the extra links on the right side of the page.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8500535.stm

rollercoaster · Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

Hello Austin

This is mainly for Austin. I take it you are now setteld in Dhahran. Just wondering how you find it as a place to meet other Westerners?
I'm considering a job in Dhahran and would like to know what it is like. If someone wasn't in a compound (I assume you are) how do you think it is in terms of having some sort of life after work.
Would appreciate a reply please.

Best

Cam

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:50 pm Post subject:

Dear AustinSutton;

Pay no attention to Asda.

Oh, by the way, do you think you could get me in there? It's true that I'm 67 years old, but it's a very YOUNG 67. Very Happy

Regards,
Baby John