By Jon Duckett
Experienced TEFL teacher and director at TEFL Jobs World
By omar_chatriwala (Never still) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
If you want to earn lots of money as a TEFL teacher then you may want to consider teaching English in Saudi Arabia.
There are many opportunities, mainly in colleges, universities and the training institutions of multi-national organisations. Salaries range from $30,000-$100,000+ tax free per year. However only the most qualified teachers will be considered. The minimum requirements are usually an English degree, independently accredited TEFL certificate plus at least three years teaching experience. Usually though employers are looking for teachers with an MA in Linguistics or TESOL plus at least 10 years experience, particularly for the positions commanding a salary of over $50,000 per annum.
Working conditions are generally good from a material perspective. Teachers are provided with flights, paid vacations and good quality accommodation on staff compounds. Culturally life can be a lot more challenging. There is little or no access to alcohol, there are few western entertainments in the cities and it is hard to make friends with the locals. A trip to the bowling alley or billiard hall is often the highlight of a teachers week. Almost all of the teaching opportunities are for men only and all the classrooms are single sex. Men can only teach male students and vice versa.
The classroom atmosphere can be quite dry particularly as teachers are not allowed to discuss politics, religion, sex, western ways of life or anything else that could challenge authority. The students themselves are often not motivated and are unlikely to strike up a bond with the teacher. However that’s not always the case and it’s not uncommon for western teachers to be invited into Saudi homes for dinner.
If you are well qualified, like the quiet life and want to save a lot of money, teaching English in Saudi Arabia may be just for you.