Teacher’s Requirements

Although the demand for the English teachers in Saudi Arabia is always high nowadays, the requirements for the potential teachers are quite strict:
• EFL teacher should be a male. Female teachers are very unlikely to be hired. The only exception is when a woman is half of the teaching couple. When accompanying her husband in his working destination, a female teacher may also be given a job position.
• Qualifications of the teacher must be very high. Usually MA in English teaching or language related spheres are expected.
• Several years of teaching experience are also much appreciated if not required.

Where to Teach

There are different institutions and organizations that provide English classes. Among them there are such as:
1) Private Schools. Such schools are numerous and they usually serve the need of the expatriate population. The classes are for the most part held in English. Some schools are French, but they also have English classes.
2) Language Schools. These institutions teach the locals as well as the foreigners who want to improve their English skills (not English-speaking people). The peculiarities of working in such schools include long or irregular working hours, since most of the students attend school after their working day. Moreover, such schools may require the teacher to take their training course in order to teach him their specific methodology.
3) Private English Classes. Private tutoring is popular in Saudi Arabia, and it gives a nice opportunity to improve income of the teacher. The demand for the private teachers is somewhat greater before the examination period and after the results of the exams are known (for those who have failed them and need to improve their grades). It is possible to find private positions being advertised in the local newspapers or notice boards. You can as well post an advertisement yourself.
4) British Council. British Council hires English teachers to be placed in its centres. The requirements include RSA diploma or PGCE in TEFL, and at least two years of teaching experience. For some positions the qualifications required are even higher.
5) Translating or Interpreting. The last opportunity for those who is fluent in Arabic apart from knowing English, is to work as an interpreter or a translator, who are always needed in the political and economical spheres. Such professional may also be invited to the seminars and workshops to help interpret. Most job concerning translation and interpretation are part-time or short-term.

So, if you are looking to a financially rewarding position, which will enable you to save sufficient money resources for your future or present needs, if you are capable of dealing with the striking differences of another culture and are not afraid to give up some of your habits for a while, teaching experience in Saudi Arabia may be very instructive and benefitial.