working in Buraydah

In my opinion you should ask them to increase your salary, a 3k usd is reasonable if not even more than that.

Did they told you about the housing type i.e separate apartment in a female only building or in a compound?
Also Ruby did you considered the comparison between your current situation and this expected job?

Best luck

My first response is salary is too low to live with the restriction placed on you. The school and it's management would be a factor too. Private language schools are often dodgy. The compound all Westerns were forced to live in was called La Palma and it was very nice. I enjoy sports and swimming so the soccer field, pools( three) and basketball court( as used as a tennis court) made life good.

Background- Have you ever live in KSA before? If no, I would suggest you try for a position in the Eastern Providence( Jubail).

Another thing- I lived in Qassim and La Palma compound. I would advise you to think twice or three times before I accepted the position for that salary. My driver made more than you. Being an American you should receive a higher salary. That's a game here. A Filipino and an American doing the same job are often paid differently. I trained with a gentleman and he held a PhD and I with only a MBA made 50% more than him. I was told it was because I was an Western male. It's the system they have. Not sure it this holds true for all folks but it did in Qassim and me.

40 hours? Most teachers teach between 12 and 20 hours Ruby for 3 times what you are being offered. Is this a Private Language school? Most teachers I knew while in Qassim taught 18 hours with some additional office hours each week. Food is cheap in the are unless you demand USA food items.

The primary criterion for determining salary in this country is unfortunately citizenship.  If you have been offered $1,000 a month for a job for which Westerners get paid $3,000 to $4,000, you must not be a Western citizen.  Even then, $1,000 is too low.  Indian and Pakistani secretaries in most companies earn between $700 and $1,500.  Non-Western English instructors usually get between $1,500 and $2,000 in universities and colleges.  A bit less in language schools.  And about $1,000 to $1,500 in primary/secondary school. (double or more for Western citizens)

You haven't told us what type of institution this job is in.  But, you can compare with the numbers I have given.

Since housing and everything else is paid for, you can end up saving most of that $1,000, so from that point of view it is good, but as a salary, $1,000 is too low, even for non-Western teachers, unless you will be teaching at primary school, which I doubt.

It's a private language school, and it's a split shift, I'd work in the morning until noon, and then return in the afternoon into the evening.Thank you for your response.

I would be in a shared apartment with another female teacher. It's a split shift, so I would work in the morning, break in the afternoon, and go back in the late afternoon and work into the evening. I just received my Master's in TESOL, but I have no teaching experience yet. I'm sue that's why the offer is so low. I think I need to look for a job in China. Thank you so much for your response.

You should ask for 2k so that they might give you 1.5k.

1k really is too low as a salary in a language school.  Expat teachers in language schools typically get between 4k and 7k, depending on experience and nationality.  Are you a fresh graduate?  Where are you from, if you don't mind sharing?  Or you can send me a private message.  And you are currently living in the US?

Have you registered on www.eslcafe.com ?

That's a must read and register site for any ESL teacher anywhere in the world.  They have job postings there as well, but the best part is the international job forums.  Post what you have posted here over there on the Saudi job board, and see what the seasoned ESL teachers in Saudi say about the offer.  Very helpful site with insight by regular users into the best jobs, companies and places to avoid, tips on living in Saudi, etc.

I just received my Master's in TESOL. But I have no teaching experience, I'm sure that was a factor in the low salary. I am from Arkansas, but I don't have a hint of a southern accent, my pronunciation is very standard. After reading everyone's comments, I realize the hours are too long, and the salary is too low. Thank you so much for your response.

I'm on Dave's site a lot, but just looking at jobs, not stepping into forums. But I will change that now. Thanks again.

Rowdy, It's a private language school. Considering what I've read here, the salary is too low for an American with a Master degree in TESOL. I'm so thankful for everyone's responses to my post!

Lion, I'm fresh out of grad school, with no teaching experience. Thank you so much for your response. I should have trusted my gut on the low-ball nature of this offer, but I wasn't sure. It's my first international job offer.

Please tell me it wasn't a school that starts with and HI and rhymes with Hindi. There was a guy from Australia that work for them and he had a nervous breakdown. China is much better. Try seriousteachers.com for a good job site.

So you are a US citizen then?  As I said, Indian drivers and secretaries get between $600 and $1,500.  What they have offered you is the lowest offer for ESL I have ever seen in this country, western or otherwise.  And considering that western instructors get at the very least $2,500, and usually between 3k and 4k, are they out of their mind?  You sure there is no typo or printing mistake in the offer letter?  Because 1,000 is just bonkers.

Post your offer on Dave's and see the firestorm that it will whip up (and i can even guess who will be the most vocal responders!), in your favor of course, warning you to not even consider touching that offer with a thousand yard pole, and everybody collectively scratching their heads at how low the offer is, especially considering you are 'Murrcan!

Accent is only an issue if you allow it. I had a Scottish fellow teach English to my students in KSA. I couldn't understand him but I am sure he spoke English. He had been with this military company for years training cadets to speak English. His accent was so thick. I was lucky, I taught only  technical skills. I have trained people  in Korea, Japan, China, KSA, Kuwait and Alabama. My accent is a source of pride for me. Now your race is a different story in the ME and China. Also your gender.

Hi there
Find out maybe u will find another institution in another city like Jeddah or Riyadh and u will get more salary

Good lock

Trapezius, I am an American citizen. Here is the first sentence of my offer, "It is my pleasure to offer you a 1,000$ as a monthly salary." I'm so glad that I found this blog, everyone has been so helpful. I'm going to check out some of the websites that have been suggested, and get to work on crafting a stronger CV.

What website did you find this great job? 

RowdyRoo wrote:

What website did you find this great job? 

Rowdy, The school is owned by a classmate of mine. So I thought since I knew him, and had studied with him for two years he would be fair with me. Guess I was wrong ...

Family and friends both make good business partners IMHO. I wish I could say this has never happened to me. Live and learn.

Some people are fair only to their pocket.
Shame.