Job Discussion Forums

[doctorzee]

Hi,

I�ve just joined this forum and I have a few questions. I�m a South African with a BA (Hon), PGCE, CELTA and I�m in my first year of my M.Ed (Applied Linguistics). I have 8 years TEFL experience, most of it in business and Cambridge exam prep in Poland, Germany and Portugal.

I am now DOS at a language unit attached to a state university in Lisbon, but we are really starting to feel the effects of the crisis here. I have a wife and one year old daughter.

Does anyone know:

a) if I could be hired before my M.Ed is complete (it is scheduled to be completed in 2014, but I am looking at leaving here in August 2013)

b) how much freedom my wife would have if we lived on campus in the allocated housing. Would she be required to wear the Abaya at all times? Would she be able to socialise with other women and basically have a moderately interesting time? She grew up in Saudi and the Emirates on compounds so she knows the score generally. She is asking about the campus vibe for women.

Thanks

Dz

[nomad soul]

[doctorzee]

Qualifications:
A first degree with an MA in TEFL/TESOL or Applied Linguistics or a one-year, full-time postgraduate diploma in TEFL/TESL from an accredited university is preferred. More basic postgraduate qualifications in TESOL (e.g. RSA/UCLES DELTA or Dip TEFLA) can also be considered for candidates with appropriate experience. A minimum of a bachelor degree and CELTA+2years overseas experience is also acceptable. Must be a native English speaker.

Experience:
At least two years� full-time teaching of EFL/ESL/EAP is highly preferred.

[doctorzee]

Thanks for your response. I�ve just posted the relevant section from the most recent job advert.

I don�t see anything there about not including South Africans, although it may be implicit.

http://www.tefl.com/jobs/job.html?jo_id=47185

Maybe their policy has changed recently. Here�s an old advert

http://www.esljobs.com/saudi-arabia/university-english-teacher-dhahran-saudi-arabia/

The OEP currently employs a total faculty of about 70 native (born) speakers of English (USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) and the ELD has 21 lecturers.

[nomad soul]

The info I viewed is from the employment link on KFUPM's PYP page (http://www1.kfupm.edu.sa/pyp/index.html), whereas, the ad you're referring to is for Dammam Community College, an affiliate of KFUPM. They appear to be two different job opportunities.

[scot47]

Abayas are not required on campus though many women wear them. There is quite a busy social life for wives of teaching staff. There are South Africans currently teaching on PYP there.

[PeterParvo]

I have to agree and disagree with my friend Mr. Scott. Yes, we have at least one teacher from S. Africa. No, abayas are required on campus depending on who you ask. My wife just got yelled at tonight for not wearing her abaya properly on campus. Last time a local told her to sit in the corner of the Mishwar (a local fast food joint on campus) where she was eating. Before that, another local called security on her at the campus supermarket for not having an abaya.

Generally a woman can have a pretty good time here, but there will be moments when the locals will make her feel like a dog. My wife doesn't seem too bothered, but it can wear one down over time. We have a good time here, but that only has to do with the wonderful people we've met while living on the KFUPM campus.

Come and do your job, work lots of overtime, save money, and then get the hell out of this lunatic asylum.

[doctorzee]

I appreciate your honesty guys. Thanks for telling it like it is. What is the nationality breakdown? Lots of Brits and Ozzies?

[scot47]

Nationality is mixed. Most English teachers are UK, US, Oz or NZ. Other departments have predominantly Arab and Asian faculty. In the early days of KFUPM most teachers wre from US. Even in my time PE was taught predominantly by those from the so-called FIRST WORLD. No longer. Now only EFL is a Honky Fortress.

[doctorzee]

Interesting. Thanks again.

[scot47]

You can if you wish spend your life on the campus.No need to leave ! Many teachers only leave to go to the airport ! (names supplied on request)