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tsunami42080
Joined: 06 Apr 2018
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:51 pm Post subject: Safety in KSA? |
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| Specifically regarding the recent missile's sent to Riyadh. Anyone have any insight into whether this is something to be concerned about or not a big deal for a teaching family in KSA? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:04 am Post subject: |
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No one has that type of insight. You'll have to determine your own comfort level. But definitely avoid taking a job near the Saudi-Yemeni border. Also check with your embassy's consular services to see if they provide security alerts.
BTW, many will argue that navigating city traffic is presently the biggest safety hazard. That may change (hopefully for the better) when women officially start to drive in the next couple of months. |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:08 am Post subject: |
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This subject has previously been discussed extensively on this board. Here's one example from just a few months ago:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=116994&highlight=danger+missles+riyadh
One is left wondering, of course, why one would risk exposing his family to the dangers present in this most unstable region in the world. It's not like this instability is something new....it's been the case for decades....or for centuries depending on your point of view. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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one missile
two missiles
Why the apostrophe ? |
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tsunami42080
Joined: 06 Apr 2018
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
one missile
two missiles
Why the apostrophe ? |
Missiles plural...grammar/punctuation were never my strong suit. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| tsunami42080 wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
one missile
two missiles
Why the apostrophe ? |
Missiles plural...grammar/punctuation were never my strong suit. |
But you want a well-paid job teaching the language? Keep in mind that most adult non-native speakers studying English do so because they want to make a professional impression in a global environment....punctuation and grammar matter considerably in this context. |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:26 am Post subject: going to |
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| tsunami42080 wrote: |
| Missiles plural...grammar/punctuation were never my strong suit. |
You should also keep in mind that KSA students are masters and little demons at ferreting out incompetent teachers……and promptly reporting them and complaining about them to “administration”. And once that happens……
A language teacher, openly admitting that grammar/punctuation “were” never [his] strong "suit" (sic), is like a brain surgeon admitting that he feels squeamish and ill at ease when he’s handling a scalpel.
I don’t know your background but perhaps you feel more at ease with “conversation” courses.
Many “ESL” “teachers” (especially Americans) who work or have worked in the “Orient” have been doing this type of oral work exclusively. I’ve met many (in KSA) who can’t tell the difference between a noun and a pronoun….or at least have a hard time “explaining” the difference to a student. They have an incredibly difficult time adjusting to what is required of them in the Gulf/KSA. Many can’t make it.
If this is you, you should quickly familiarize yourself with the kind of courses you’d be teaching in the Gulf/KSA. Very, very few of them are going to be predominantly "conversation" courses. If you have a degree and recognize that “grammar” is not your strong point, seems to me you’re going to have to go back to the very beginning by taking a summer or internet crash course on your weak points.
Saudi students, and your employer, will expect you – at a minimum - to be a “master” at the grammar of your mother tongue. (So will your fellow colleagues).
Seems to me the least of your worries in contemplating an ESL job in Riyadh is the “falling missiles” you might encounter. You're going to have many more contentious issues closer to home to deal with on a daily basis than "missiles".
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Last edited by hash on Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:20 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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psychedelicacy
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Saudi students, and your employer, will expect you – at a minimum - to be a “master” at the grammar of your mother tongue. (So will your fellow colleagues). |
I agree that someone who doesn't understand when and when not to use an apostrophe shouldn't teach English, but you are grossly overstating standards in Saudi Arabia. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I agree that someone who doesn't understand when and when not to use an apostrophe shouldn't teach English, but you are grossly overstating standards in Saudi Arabia. |
My Saudi students would have easily recognized those errors.
To the OP: Regardless of where you go abroad to teach, always have an emergency fund available. |
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Blistering Zanazilz
Joined: 06 Jan 2018
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| It's a minor point but those missiles weren't "sent" to Riyadh. They were aimed or fired at the place. They're only sent if they're being delivered in a box to the user. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| environment....punctuation and grammar matter considerably in this context. |
a four period ellipsis??? 
tsk tsk |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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Elicit
Joined: 12 May 2010
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, depends on who did the firing/sending and most importantly who did the reporting of the event. |
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