Author Topic: KSA (Saudi Arabia) (Read 4764 times)

jepooteacha · « **on:** May 02, 2011, 10:19:01 AM »

Anyone ever taught in the KSA? I'm heading there for a year in a couple months......

younameit · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2011, 10:44:47 AM »

No, but lived there for about 4 years. Where will you be located. I loved it there BTW.

jepooteacha · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2011, 10:56:51 PM »

I'll be in Riyadh.....

Arsalan · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2011, 01:22:21 AM »

I would like to know more about your experience if you are willing to post that info. :)

I'm planning on moving there down the line, it's part of my 5 year plan. Once there, the idea is to work until I'm old enough to retire, and spend my days there. I'm hoping that will work out. I know however that outsiders can't ever get KSA citizenships.

Merryone · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2011, 10:52:06 PM »

this is a sincere question....why would anyone want to go there and teach? I mean, maybe aside from money.... will someone please explain it to me?

confusedsafferinkorea · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2011, 08:24:08 AM »

Quote from: Merryone on May 07, 2011, 10:52:06 PM

this is a sincere question....why would anyone want to go there and teach? I mean, maybe aside from money.... will someone please explain it to me?

I am also interested in this too. I have been offered jobs there several times but declined as I think it must be quite hard for a Westerner to live there, especially if you are a Christian. I have heard some bad stories too and I also heard something about handing in your passport when you arrive there and not being able to freely leave and re-enter. This may be untrue, that is why I am keen to hear first - hand.

I am married to a non-teacher and I think that may also be hard for her as I have heard that woman's rights are severely curtailed there.

Looking forward to some information.

jepooteacha · « **Reply #6 on:** May 08, 2011, 12:09:03 PM »

@Arsalan

I'll keep you posted!

Cereal · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2011, 01:23:17 PM »

I will be interviewed for a position in the KSA Tuesday, June 14. It is through a company called the Arabian Education and Training Group. It's for a teaching position in Riyadh.

I have read some very negative posts about this agency and will interview with a few hard questions to ask. I would like to go if it appears good.

Does anyone have any information - pos. or neg. - about this company? I'd really like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

Cereal · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2011, 01:30:42 PM »

Apologies,

I posted this yesterday in the Middle Eastern forum but it hasn't been looked at.

I have an interview tonight with the Arabian Education and Training Group for a job in the KSA. I have read some bad stuff online and I want to know if anyone has first hand experience or knows someone who does, in dealing with this group.

Thanks

miriamluv · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2011, 01:04:19 PM »

My husband and I just accepted teaching positions in the KSA, so we will be there starting in September too. Looks pretty good so far, and the teachers at my school have even put up videos and such on facebook. I know it is hard, but I am still excited about it.

southernman · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2011, 01:30:56 PM »

Yeah, I am kind of surprised about people wanting to teach there as well. It's easy enough to find out about all the human rights violations that happen to citizens in that country. Then theres the trouble that tourists/expats have got themselves into as well, sometimes innocently.

Also, the pay isn't that good. I know a female friend who is thinking of going there she just matter of factly said that usually women stay in dormitory like accommodation while men stay in much nicer apartments.

Why a liberated western female would want to put up with the basic sexism that is routine, is beyond me.

There are much higher paying jobs in more western friendly countries in the middle east, why would you choose one of the worst ones.

lindsaydp1 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2011, 01:55:00 PM »

My mom lived in Saudi for a year, in Riyadh to be precise, and she enjoyed it, but only because she had a close group of friends she met through work and they stuck together. She's a physio so she had a decent salary, which I don't think teachers would get, and she still had to live on a compound in a crappy apartment, and she wasn't allowed to drive. In fact, most of her patients were people involved in car accidents, because if a woman needs to go somewhere urgently, her 12 year old son must drive her rather than her driving herself.

My mom also had to wear the traditional clothing (including abaya and head scarf) when outdoors. She found it really difficult in most ways, including the way she was treated by the locals. You can NEVER become a KSA citizen if you're not already born into one of the old families, which is the case in the UAE too. If your great grandparents are from Pakistan, you're Pakistani, end of story. Her contracts were not upheld, she couldn't argue her case about anything and women had to eat in separate areas to men. Even putting chapstick on was not allowed, as it might excite the men!

I could personally never live there, given the lack of personal freedoms and the human rights violations. I'd offend someone on my first day and be fired/deported/arrested, without even knowing what I did wrong. All this being said, my mom's lived in the UAE for five years and enjoys it much more there, and I've been to visit twice and found it wonderful. It's not the Middle East I don't want to live in, just KSA!

It might be different for a man, of course.

Arsalan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 05, 2012, 02:00:52 PM »

You all bring up some really good points. I have a friend who's originally from Iraq, so he can speak Arabic, but while visiting the UAE and KSA he had a terrible time. There seems to be a fair amount of sexism, and racism that they tout as "nationalism". He was treated very poorly simply because of his Canadian passport and Iraqi decent. His advise to me as to avoid it, or rather just visit for a month so I get a real idea of what I'd be getting myself into.

Truth is I probably idealize Saudi because it's the resting place of our prophet (pbuh). As a muslim, I'm compelled to think that I should retire there, but I should probably think carefully before making a major commitment. There are Islamic ideals which really appeal to me, and then there's the politics of the region that seem to completely twist and distort all of that, such as the things you've all mentioned. They don't allow women to do much at all, they treat foreigners working there as second rate or worse, lots of corruption, and it's hot as heck.

I still have a sneaking suspicion however that I would do well in an academic career, at a university. Teaching CompSci or the like. I'm working on my MSc. and hoping to get accepted into a PhD program. That's part of the 5 year plan on my horizon, or so I hope.

ryuku · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2012, 07:46:47 PM »

I've been teaching in Riyadh for 3 months now and it's cool. You get a LOT of haters out here who have a problem with every little thing, but just let it go. The best advice I've been given is that KSA is a third-world country with first world money, and as long as you accept that (the lack of professional standards, never having enough teaching supplies) it's all good. The students are nice, the people really friendly, the drivers absolutely insane. I've taught in Japan, Spain, and the UK and while KSA can't compare to how amazing Japan is, it's a good place to teach English.

flasyb · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2012, 08:34:03 PM »

Quote from: confusedsafferinkorea on May 08, 2011, 08:24:08 AM

Quote from: Merryone on May 07, 2011, 10:52:06 PM
this is a sincere question....why would anyone want to go there and teach? I mean, maybe aside from money.... will someone please explain it to me?

I am also interested in this too. I have been offered jobs there several times but declined as I think it must be quite hard for a Westerner to live there, especially if you are a Christian. I have heard some bad stories too and I also heard something about handing in your passport when you arrive there and not being able to freely leave and re-enter. This may be untrue, that is why I am keen to hear first - hand.

I've heard it's not so bad if you're a Christian. The worst is if you're an atheist. My atheist friend, who has travelled to a lot of Muslim countries, used to pretend to be a Christian so that he would get treated better.

ryuku · « **Reply #15 on:** March 19, 2012, 07:20:59 PM »

You just DO NOT talk about religion, especially if you're an atheist. You can talk about Islam (some people will try to engage you about it, though I've never been pushed), but don't get into any discussions about the relative merits of any other belief, it's not worth it and you'll upset people. From what I can tell, most people here simply don't conceive of other religions, except somewhat for Christianity and Judaism as they're of "the book." Even the more liberal ones (yes, there are liberals) take for granted that Allah exists and Mohammed was his messenger etc. The only people who have tried to convert me have been the Western converts - they seem to be rather more pushy than actual Saudis, in my short time here. But not really.

threefold · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2012, 02:00:03 PM »

I know someone who is currently lecturing and recruiting for a Saudi Arabian University. If anyone wants his contact details, please PM me.

Brown in Busan · « **Reply #17 on:** April 18, 2012, 07:59:56 PM »

Hello everyone

I tried to post on the UAE forum but no one hasn't replied in over a year now. My question is, I have a 2nd interview with SABIS International Charter
School in Dubai/Doha and was wondering if anyone is still working there? Im very nervous about this interview this evening...Then probably by mid-May I would know something about working in Riyadh at one of their universities. If everything goes well I will be working either in KSA or UAE by August (or heading back to America to work :-\). I appreciate reading about anyone's experience living and working there. :)

Middle school teacher · « **Reply #18 on:** April 20, 2012, 12:31:44 PM »

I have several friends that made the successful transition from Korea to Saudi Arabia. They are based in Riyadh and Jeddah and Hail and they have always been treated with the utmost respect. The Arabs are extremely hospitable and take them on desert trips and constantly invite them out. They are very interested in people from the West and they are eager to learn English. The students are paid by the Saudi government to study so they are eager and motivated to learn English.

livzy · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2012, 01:36:10 AM »

I have many, many tales to tell of the Saudi peninsula; most are pretty bad, some are awful and a few are hilarious.

Basically, you go there to save money, that is all. There are no bars, no nightclubs, no cinemas, no art galleries of note (what country doesn't have art galleries???), it's illegal for you to talk with someone of the opposite sex unless they're your husband/wife or a close relative, women can't drive, it's illegal to play chess, it's illegal to worship anything other than Islam, and the racism amongst Saudi men - towards those from Pakistan, India, the Philippines, China etc - would make your blood boil in about 3 seconds.

It takes a 'special' type to stay long term - why do you think they're always advertising for staff when the pay there is $3k/month tax free?

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Author Topic: KSA (Saudi Arabia) (Read 4764 times)

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