TEFL & Coronavirus (Covid-19) Latest Info
Ultra-Modern Metropolises
As the biggest oil producer in the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also the richest.
As the biggest oil producer in the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also the richest. Ultra-modern metropolises sit side by side with ancient religious and historical sites. Each year thousands upon thousands of Muslim pilgrims visit the most important Islamic shrines in Mecca and Medina. The Kingdom also sits surrounded by one of the largest deserts in the world, known as the Empty Quarter, which explains the dry heat of the day and the cool nights often experienced in this country. This does not mean that the landscape is devoid of nature. Saudi Arabia also has green oasis areas. Saudis seem to combine all aspects of the country in their free time and leisure activities. They like nothing more than shopping in plush complexes, eating with friends and family and enjoying barbeques and picnics in the desert.
For anyone thinking of living and working in Saudi Arabia, they need to carefully consider the considerable culture shock that will experience when moving to this country. The country applies strict Sharia law for both Muslims and non-Muslims. This means gender segregation in all public areas. For example, Starbucks will have separate queues for different groups, to keep unrelated men and women apart. For foreign women, there are certain laws that restrict what you can and cannot do. Women are forbidden to drive, which means that they need to move around by taxi. It is important to find a trusted taxi driver to avoid harassment. It is also illegal to leave the house without an Abaya (the black coat that covers your clothes) and your head covered. These laws are enforced by the religious police. Those that do not obey the laws face being imprisoned for inappropriate conduct. This also means that alcohol is prohibited.
Foreigners are able to mix with other expats in the privacy of their own compounds. There are mixed gender parties and even social clubs and networks. It is illegal, however, to invite a Saudi national to join you at these parties or events. This will result in imprisonment or deportation.
For those who are prepared for the culture shock, and can adapt to these rules, working as an EFL teacher can be very lucrative with some of the highest tax-free salaries in the world. These also come with excellent benefit packages, which can include furnished accommodation, health insurance, visa assistance and even international school fees if you are thinking of relocating with children. This also means that employers expect you to have a degree, a 120-hour TEFL certificate and at least 2 years' experience. Job opportunities can be found online or in the Guardian.
Positions are available to teach English to the military, oil companies, universities and in-house for corporations. Contracts usually consist of 20-25 hours of teaching per week. The main centres to find jobs are the capital, Riyadh, as well as Jeddah. The latter is more popular with foreigners, as it has a larger expat community. Any position that you accept must provide you with a work visa that also allows you to apply for an Iqama (ID card). Be aware that companies often take your passport from you, and will only issue you with an exit visa and your passport on successful completion of your contract.
Degree Requirement | Typical Contract Length | Peak Hiring Seasons | Visa Info | Typical Students | Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency | Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency |
---|
BA/BS required | 12 - 24 months | All year round | Work visa in advance | Business professionals, children | 2,600 – 5,300 SAR (423 – 910 GBP) | 8,000 - 15,400 SAR (1,500 – 2,500 GBP) |
Great! You’re in the right place. The TEFL Academy provides the very best in accredited TEFL courses, meaning your qualification is recognized throughout the world . The TEFL Academy is the world's leading TEFL course provider. We can help you acquire the skills needed to teach English as a foreign language, whether it be through our specialist online TEFL course or our combined TEFL course. Unsure which is the best TEFL option for you? See our TEFL courses compared page for an instant breakdown of course specifics.
Eranne hancke
I studied the Level 5 Tefl course, I thoroughly enjoyed the course as it challenged me and often made me think out of the box. The combination of short quizzes and assignments kept things interesting ...
Posted 2 hours ago
Anne Clarisse Olidan Viduya
The Level 5 TEFL Course with TheTEFLAcademy helped me out a lot and answered many questions I had in regards to teaching English, both to adults and kids. They help prepare you for the challenges you ...
Posted 3 hours ago
Rosalind Galbraith
Engaging course. Good, useful content. The assignments required a lot of thought, research, and planning. They are very time consuming. I spent a number of weekends on them. I’m pleased the c...
Posted 13 hours ago
Mikaila Rachel Sher
So incredibly put together and such a lovely team of people to work with!
Posted 14 hours ago
Candice Kapp
Very good course! Taught me everything about English that I needed to know. Gave me lots of helpful information needed for teaching. They give you access to their job board which is great. When you co...
Posted 17 hours ago
David Rink
I have completed my Level 5 TEFL course Feb. 2021! I really enjoyed the content and everything is well laid out. This course is 168 hours + a free 30 hour top up course which far exceeds industry req...
Posted 18 hours ago
Louise Morrison
I highly recommend the TEFL Academy. I have just completed the Level 5 online TEFL course with them. The course was very comprehensive and easy to follow. Learning was kept interesting with lots of di...
Posted 18 hours ago
Nadine Olivia Mcintyre
I have had a passion for teaching within me since a very young age, after a bad experience on my first attempt of teaching I thought it wasn't for me. However, a few years later, I managed to fin...
Posted 18 hours ago
Vincent McGroarty
The Level 5 TEFL course was incredibly informative and the resources very helpful. The response time when I had a query was very quick and would often receive a response within a day or two. I am look...
Posted 18 hours ago
Elgar Botha
The TEFL Academy course was a great way to achieve the TEFL qualification. I feel that a wide variety of topics were covered in the ten units. The assignments also provided practical examples for me t...
Posted 19 hours ago
Celestè Urquhart
Will never regret choosing The TEFL Academy to do my TEFL certificate. I even suggested the course to friends. Did the Level 5 course and even though level 5 wasn't easy, the support I receive...
Posted 19 hours ago
DEIDRE JAYNE RANKIN
The 168 hours, level 5 TEFL course is an excellent course. The course was user-friendly, and instructions clear, easy to follow and complete. The course content was interesting and the short exerci...
Posted 1 day ago
Rahele Taghizade Moghari
The course was awsome and I would recommend to those who want to be a great teacher.
Posted 2 days ago
Victoria Zakharova
This is an amazing course. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to become a TEFL teacher. There are also plenty of resources that you can use in the future. This course gave me the conf...
Posted 3 days ago
Lynette Ferriss
I studied and competed the Level 5 TEFL course as an >50 student. Even though I'm a native english speaker I found the course to be very challenging. My plan is to use this course as a way t...
Posted 4 days ago
Lindie Claassens
Was a challenging course and definitely worth it. You have to work hard. I have learned so much. Wonderful and quick response from support team.
Posted 6 days ago
Lindiwe Grace Dunjwa
If you are looking for an opportunity to awaken the child in you who loves to dream and actually have the support to bring those dreams to life, look no further than pursuing a course with the TEFL Ac...
Posted 6 days ago
Anonymous
I really enjoyed the Tefl level 5 course. It was well structured and I learnt a lot of stuff. I would recommend anyone to do the course since it opens up great teaching opportunities overseas.
Posted 6 days ago
Ashurah Scheepers
I initially enrolled for the Qualifi Level 5 TEFL 168 course as a means of enrichment but having completed the course, I now want to share my knowledge as an online ESL teacher. The online course was ...
Posted 1 week ago
Fathima Irfana Kabeer
Qualifi Level 5 TEFL Course was the perfect course for me, given the fact that I'm working full-time etc. The online lessons are presented in a simple, neat way, easy to understand and learn, tho...
Posted 1 week ago
Carol Ann O
My experience with the Level 5 course with The TEFL Academy was first class. The course material was relevant and covered all the necessary structures with good examples and activities for students to...
Posted 1 week ago
Get social!
Follow us on social networks, join our newsletter mailing - get the latest news and early discounts
Sign up to our
newsletter
Be the first to get exclusive TEFL offers and information