Comments on: The European Center Saudi Arabia http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html Independent Information on TEFL Life, Opportunities and Schools Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:45:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: DaVe http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-141072 DaVe Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:56:07 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-141072 The teaching load is supplemented with their films, tactile activities and word quizzes. The young manager guy (not Aiden) there got people to co-write his placement test. He was kind of nuts but a good person. The teaching load is supplemented with their films, tactile activities and word quizzes. The young manager guy (not Aiden) there got people to co-write his placement test. He was kind of nuts but a good person.

]]> By: Martin http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-137757 Martin Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:04:29 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-137757 The students are great: speak Arabic and they will treat you as a brother!! The problems I had were mostly with Tim Duncan; one of Aidan Arthur Chalk's henchmen. Tim is a short, ugly, officious little prat who desperately needs a dentist and a plastic surgeon and three years of congeniality lessons or just a good beating on how to be a "people" person; vague and jealous due to his lack of looks, people skills... He'll shake you hand with one hand and at the same time he will take out the sabre and let you have it right in the knackers. What appalled me about the European Center and made me realize that it is nothing more than a money factory, was the method of testing and how students are not punished for talking or passing notes and text messages between them. I mentioned this to Aidan Arthur Chalk and Tim Duncan but they flubbed me off saying it's part of Saudi culture to do this. Hmmmm! The students are great: speak Arabic and they will treat you as a brother!! The problems I had were mostly with Tim Duncan; one of Aidan Arthur Chalk’s henchmen. Tim is a short, ugly, officious little prat who desperately needs a dentist and a plastic surgeon and three years of congeniality lessons or just a good beating on how to be a “people” person; vague and jealous due to his lack of looks, people skills… He’ll shake you hand with one hand and at the same time he will take out the sabre and let you have it right in the knackers. What appalled me about the European Center and made me realize that it is nothing more than a money factory, was the method of testing and how students are not punished for talking or passing notes and text messages between them. I mentioned this to Aidan Arthur Chalk and Tim Duncan but they flubbed me off saying it’s part of Saudi culture to do this. Hmmmm!

]]> By: Ian http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-137598 Ian Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:18:25 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-137598 I worked at the EC 4 times i think, last time in 2004. Aiden Chalk was a good guy really and I liked him, considering his position in the scheme of things. Many of the long-term contract teachers are mentally challenged, but you really need to be to work there on anything longer than a short term contract. In general, I'm inclined to agree withj Chronos. Good money, hot weather, reasonable food and the hours are doable. As with all interpersonal work like teaching it depends on what kind of students you get - and believe me, so Saudi's are harder work than others. Be ready to face a challenge. I'd go back there. I worked at the EC 4 times i think, last time in 2004. Aiden Chalk was a good guy really and I liked him, considering his position in the scheme of things. Many of the long-term contract teachers are mentally challenged, but you really need to be to work there on anything longer than a short term contract. In general, I’m inclined to agree withj Chronos. Good money, hot weather, reasonable food and the hours are doable. As with all interpersonal work like teaching it depends on what kind of students you get – and believe me, so Saudi’s are harder work than others. Be ready to face a challenge. I’d go back there.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-133403 Patrick Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:01:06 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-133403 The European Centre is a 2-bit, money grabbing bunch of palookas. It is all smoke and mirrors. Lies, lies and more lies. I have never seen a happy person who works for this company. If you are a rich sadist who enjoys pain and suffering but doesn't need money - then go ahead - take my pay. The European Centre is a 2-bit, money grabbing bunch of palookas. It is all smoke and mirrors. Lies, lies and more lies. I have never seen a happy person who works for this company. If you are a rich sadist who enjoys pain and suffering but doesn’t need money – then go ahead – take my pay.

]]> By: Chronos http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-131014 Chronos Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:40:50 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-131014 The European Centre is a weird place to work. The main hall is like an art museum and there is lots of wires, pipes and chairs jammed into cupboards. Some of the teachers go on forums to rant and rave about how bad their experiences were but these are people who are never satisfied anywhere. There is no totally enjoyable experience at European Centre because it is a minimalist educational church. It is entertaining to work there and is a window into the human soul. Lighthearted and relaxed personalities will enjoy some of the bizarre situations that occur in the classroom and the office. TEFL bitches should avoid it. As should other spiteful nancies, queens and persons dependent on alcohol. Think quasi-Lutheran church with a selfless adherence to the faith as expounded by a black pope in Riyadh. The coastline of Jubail is scenic and the nearby restaurants serve nice food. Jubail town has a tatty kind of charm and offers nice shops with a few compounds scattered around that have western refreshments. Sharing houseing is a hit or miss thing as you may be required to live alongside with some of the longer term monks of the European Centre. The tales are colourful to say the least. One if a pasty-faced Norman Bates neo-conservative and another is a two-bit Italian fraudster. Both ply their trade in a factory as a teacher and a management guru respectively. Other members of staff are generally more grounded but the kink and quirk factors rise according to the lunar cycles. There are more freaks at European Centre during the months of April, May and October. Note that Ramadan schedules often involve doing a night shift which also attracts various glo-bugs and pederasts from the student body. Salaries are not bad and there are opportunities for overtime. It is not hell on Earth by any means. Set your mind to zone-out, ignore the stupid people and collect your cash. Leave quietly and be thankful you didn't land the job at International House. The European Centre is a weird place to work. The main hall is like an art museum and there is lots of wires, pipes and chairs jammed into cupboards. Some of the teachers go on forums to rant and rave about how bad their experiences were but these are people who are never satisfied anywhere.

There is no totally enjoyable experience at European Centre because it is a minimalist educational church. It is entertaining to work there and is a window into the human soul. Lighthearted and relaxed personalities will enjoy some of the bizarre situations that occur in the classroom and the office. TEFL bitches should avoid it. As should other spiteful nancies, queens and persons dependent on alcohol. Think quasi-Lutheran church with a selfless adherence to the faith as expounded by a black pope in Riyadh.

The coastline of Jubail is scenic and the nearby restaurants serve nice food. Jubail town has a tatty kind of charm and offers nice shops with a few compounds scattered around that have western refreshments.

Sharing houseing is a hit or miss thing as you may be required to live alongside with some of the longer term monks of the European Centre. The tales are colourful to say the least. One if a pasty-faced Norman Bates neo-conservative and another is a two-bit Italian fraudster. Both ply their trade in a factory as a teacher and a management guru respectively. Other members of staff are generally more grounded but the kink and quirk factors rise according to the lunar cycles. There are more freaks at European Centre during the months of April, May and October. Note that Ramadan schedules often involve doing a night shift which also attracts various glo-bugs and pederasts from the student body.

Salaries are not bad and there are opportunities for overtime. It is not hell on Earth by any means. Set your mind to zone-out, ignore the stupid people and collect your cash. Leave quietly and be thankful you didn’t land the job at International House.

]]> By: Dave Smith http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-130437 Dave Smith Sat, 19 Mar 2011 06:12:03 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-130437 I worked at EC twice, once on a long contract and once on a short one. As far as working there long term I would not recomend it. Abdullah Al-Dosary is an absolute cheating cowboy. I do not trust his manager, Aidan Chalk, there either. The EC's big plus is its short-term contract. They flew me from the UK to Saudi I worked for 6 weeks then flew out to Thailand on completion and arrived in Thailand with about $2,500. It was very convenient (they still skanked me on a small part of my holiday pay though). If it fits in with your timetable etc do a short term contract otherwise forget it. I worked at EC twice, once on a long contract and once on a short one.

As far as working there long term I would not recomend it. Abdullah Al-Dosary is an absolute cheating cowboy. I do not trust his manager, Aidan Chalk, there either.

The EC’s big plus is its short-term contract. They flew me from the UK to Saudi I worked for 6 weeks then flew out to Thailand on completion and arrived in Thailand with about $2,500. It was very convenient (they still skanked me on a small part of my holiday pay though). If it fits in with your timetable etc do a short term contract otherwise forget it.

]]> By: Tannhauser http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-105043 Tannhauser Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:48:43 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-105043 I work there and robustly defend the place because for all the poor attitude of the fat controllers at Riyadh HQ, the man on the front line Mr. A, is a decent chap and does the best job with little support and no thanks at all. Often, the business is personalized and Mr. A takes a lot of flack from people. Alot of that is all over the internet. What often doesn't make the front pages however, are the stories of liars and cheats who take advantage of his good faith and generosity and do runners owing him and others loads of money. The EC is small and quirky. It is not a branded outfit. It runs on a small budget and moves along thanks to the mostly good guys and the man driving forward the Panzerfaust. You can live a spartan existence in Jubail and if you're man enough you can survive the Saudi students who in spite of their gregarious nature are for the most part stroppy tossers. The money is OK and you get paid more for time served or your qualifications. The housing is good in some places and pretty awful in others. The bad parts are often habited by rugged backpacker types and the nice places are where you meet the prissy hoity-toity types. There's something for everyone! :P Go on - give it a go... if you think you're hard enough. 4 / 5 I work there and robustly defend the place because for all the poor attitude of the fat controllers at Riyadh HQ, the man on the front line Mr. A, is a decent chap and does the best job with little support and no thanks at all.

Often, the business is personalized and Mr. A takes a lot of flack from people. Alot of that is all over the internet.

What often doesn’t make the front pages however, are the stories of liars and cheats who take advantage of his good faith and generosity and do runners owing him and others loads of money.

The EC is small and quirky. It is not a branded outfit. It runs on a small budget and moves along thanks to the mostly good guys and the man driving forward the Panzerfaust.

You can live a spartan existence in Jubail and if you’re man enough you can survive the Saudi students who in spite of their gregarious nature are for the most part stroppy tossers.

The money is OK and you get paid more for time served or your qualifications. The housing is good in some places and pretty awful in others. The bad parts are often habited by rugged backpacker types and the nice places are where you meet the prissy hoity-toity types. There’s something for everyone! :P

Go on – give it a go… if you think you’re hard enough.

4 / 5

]]> By: Leicester Ice Cream Seller http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-88322 Leicester Ice Cream Seller Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:38:31 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-88322 Yes, it is true. If you do have the misfortune to go, calculate how much money is disappearing. Unpaid bonuses, outrageously high electricity bills, various unclear deductions for this and that. The Lord of The Manner does have sole access to the company accounts, which explains a lot. How much can you siphon off into your own personal treasury? The interviews may be a at prestigious hotels in London. Staff accommodation in Saudi Arabia is in 4th class hostels for immigrant workers, or the cockroach occupied houses in Jubail. Yes, it is true. If you do have the misfortune to go, calculate how much money is disappearing. Unpaid bonuses, outrageously high electricity bills, various unclear deductions for this and that. The Lord of The Manner does have sole access to the company accounts, which explains a lot. How much can you siphon off into your own personal treasury?
The interviews may be a at prestigious hotels in London. Staff accommodation in Saudi Arabia is in 4th class hostels for immigrant workers, or the cockroach occupied houses in Jubail.

]]> By: desertfox http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-63790 desertfox Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:28:42 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-63790 why the defence? at the ec, teacher is used by chalk and not board marker. what is good faciliti.. he he he he sorry for the speling and gramar.. :) why the defence? at the ec, teacher is used by chalk and not board marker. what is good faciliti.. he he he he sorry for the speling and gramar.. :)

]]> By: anthill http://www.teflschoolreviews.com/the-european-center-saudi-arabia-2007336.html/comment-page-1#comment-57859 anthill Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:53:15 +0000 http://www.teflwatch.org/336/the-european-center-saudi-arabia/#comment-57859 I still don't get it guys, what is this stuff about the Thai wife and JIA? What am I missing here and what's it got to do with the European Center? Sorry,but I am totally confused. I still don’t get it guys, what is this stuff about the Thai wife and JIA? What am I missing here and what’s it got to do with the European Center? Sorry,but I am totally confused.

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