ESL Jobs Forum

[aardvark]

About 1 year ago, I interviewed for IPA in Riyadh. I got tired of snot-nosed Saudis coming in late and asking to be marked present.
I had a phone interview with an American teacher there in Jan. and I got the job right over the phone.
Fast forward 9 or 10 months and I arrived in Riyadh to thank the teacher who hired me. It turns out, he left along with 10-20 other teachers. This was very odd for direct hire teachers to bail out. Then I worked with the administration and I found out why all those teachers left. IPA subcontracts teaching with 2 other companies. If a student complains about anything (usually it's not being marked present) the teacher is gone tout suite.
In the last 2 months, this dump has released about 10-12 teachers. Mind you, contract teachers don't make as much as direct hires (about 2000-3000 SAR less per month) and they teach more class hours. For the contract teachers, it's a matter of economics: they don't make that much to put up with abuse. For the direct hires, it's a balancing act. Which will fill up faster? the bucket of s**t or the bucket of cash.

[St. George]

Hi there

Glad to hear everything is going fine and that you are still enjoying life. I can recommend Cyprus for some R & R, if ever you feel the need. However, it is a 2 hour flight. I flew from Saudi to Larnaca, hired a car and drove down to Limassol and stayed at the Atlantica Miramare (Mermaid) Hotel on the beach. Lots to do at the hotel and plenty bars and cafes within walking distance. Drove around the island but not much to see, so better staying around the hotel. Nice rooms with terraced balcony. There is always Bahrain but it is full of Arabs!!!! Try to get into the expat clubs and you will feel that you are back home. I can recommend the Brit Club and the Dilmun Club.

Take it easy!

[aardvark]

Hi St. George. I'll look into Cyprus. This place thinks of teachers as so much labor to be abused but with all the attrition, I've got some job security. It reminds me of AC Kuwait in that respect. I came here wth the intention of lasting 5 or 6 years, but time will tell.
War might even break out and ruin my plans. There was a missile intercepted close to S. Riyadh and I heard the explosion. But that's normal for this part of the world, isnt' it?