Job Discussion Forums

titanicman · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 71 Location: Qatar

Who went to TESOL Arabia? I thought it was an excellent conference with many interesting speakers. I accumulated many handouts and interesting ideas. The presentation "Using MS MovieMaker to make video lessons" was particuarly useful.

I hope this sounds appropriate. I'm not starving...just an observation!

During the presentation I gave at the conference, I interacted with the audience a lot. Most of the audience were Arab women. They made comments which I responded to or asked me questions which I answered. I live and work in Saudi Arabia where women will not give men the time of day. This was the first time I've ever interacted with Arab women. I don't know which word to use to describe this except "exciting". Thus, I found this interaction exciting.

Believe it or not, this is one of the things I'll remember from the conference.

Any other interesting stories or moments?

Thanks. Titanicman

JCMach1 · Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 38 Location: US/Dubai/Sharjah

Some of the sessions were rather (read over) crowded.

Other than that, I had a great time.

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:30 pm Post subject:

Well, Saudi women certainly wont "give you the time of day" when in public. I'm not sure that Emirati women would either,if there are a lot of local men around.

However, in more enclosed situations, it's very different. Where I worked - a relatively desegregated environment, for KSA - the Saudi women were surprisingly chatty and open with the non Saudi male staff. In fact, a few local ladies were a little TOO open, as far as the management - and the reputations of the hapless male staff - were concerned...

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hi

"the Saudi women were surprisingly chatty and open with the non Saudi male staff."

Cleo has hit the point exactly. As long as the men are not nationals, they tend to be completely open and often overly flirtatious. In fact, in the Emirates I felt that non-Emirati males were barely considered males at all. (the harem eunuchs?) Laughing

To be fair to all of you cringing male readers, it appeared to me that this was how they treated the non-Western males. Western males were used mainly for practicing flirtation. Often a problem for the rare young single males - in fact leading to some being moved to the Men's colleges.

Sorry we've moved off topic again sort of.

Let's hear from people that interviewed for jobs. Was the job fair worth the cost to fly there?

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well word is that the contingent who went there from Saudi in search of new pastures had a few shocks.

UAE is not desperate to hire 50 year-old males with MA's in irrelevant subjects or past their sell-by-date. Especailly if they have spent the last ten years in Saudi.