Posted Mar 21, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 8 Comments
Read the english bit.
No, I did not edit this picture through the computer to make it look funny, believe it or not but this is how me and another brother came across this sign outside the Prophet’s Masjid.
The arabic makes sense and so does the urdu my friend told me, but the english is incomprohensive to say the least. At first it was just a laugh but the more I thought of it the more sad I became.
As muslims we are supposed to set an example for the rest of mankind, being at the forefront with regards to everything, be it science, maths, even language! But then again this sign inspired me to share with you some good news.
This sign is a reflection on the big need this country (Saudi Arabia) has for people who are fluent in english, not just native speakers of the language.
And the job opportunities here are many, I personally know a couple who came from England both wife and husband found job in Riyadh and their monthly salary combine almost reached fifty thousand riyals, that is about ten thousand pounds a month. And mind you, this is with rent excluded and you are provided with a car and did I mention it is tax-free?
I know what you might be thinking, ok but how do I get this chance? Well it is pretty easy to be honest, all you would need is a basic certificate in teaching english, a so-called TEFL or CELTA, these courses cost a little bit of money, but once a person finishes (within a few months) he or she is pretty much set to go.
The great thing about this is that it opens up the opportunity for you to study Islaam here in Saudi Arabia or maybe even make hijrah here, you get to sit with the scholars and there are evening classes available at universities here for men and once inside the country sisters will find numerous of institutes to learn arabic and the deen in general.
The only reason I am posting this is practising upon the hadith of the Prophet:
None of you has [fully] believed until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.
So look into this option brothers and sisters, it seems to be perfect solution for many people and it’s worth a try.
Asalamu-alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
jazakAllah khair akhi.
If someone is qualified to teach english there , how does one go about the whole procedure?
Any idea?
Wa alaikum assalam warahamtullahi wabaraktuh
if you got the needed certificates then you are set to look for work, a good place to start is http://www.eslcafe.com/
Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.
Yes this is great advice mashaa’Allaah! I would just like to point out that from what I have read and heard about..you will be more advantaged if you have a university degree/diploma. A lot of people get jobs there however, it is best to be safe than sorry. I would like to advise anyone who wants to live in a muslim country whether its Saudi, Egypt or anywhere else, to have a plan B if things don’t work out. I know if I was to make hijra and standards and requirements had been raised, then I would be extremely dissapointed to return back to the kaafir land I left.
May Allaah make it easy for us Ameen!
Wa Alaikum Assalam Warahamtullahi Wabaraktuh
I couldnt have put it better myself sister, BaarakAllah feeki!
Tefl courses:
This page (http://www.eslbase.com/courses/uk/) has many institutes here in the UK which teach one to become a qualified english teacher. The best one I have found so far is this one (http://www.teflengland.co.uk/)
This site (http://ismaeelbeaumont.wordpress.com/) and this site (http://almadinahstudents.wordpress.com/) are two very good sites to help you in the CELTA route. In the first link, the brother has kindly uploaded all his assignments and notes for the CELTA course.
Asalamu-alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh akhi.
If you want to teach english in Saudi, wouldn’t you need to know how to speak fluent Arabic in order to get the message across to the students who’ll only know Arabic? jazakAllah khair
wa alaikum assalam warahamatullahi wabaraktuh
no you do not, there are many english speaking people who do not know any arabic at all that teach there.
SubhanAllah that is so sad!
A friend of mine teaches English at a school in Taif. Overall she is enjoying her experience there but after seeing hilarious but sad posters and signs like the you posted, she has realized the importance of her job in Saudi.