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[Nuslim]

Nizwa University Kindergarten

To call this place a "university" is a gross misuse of the word and should be punishable. A more suitable term is "kindergarten" because it is by far a more precise definition of what it really is.

The Intensive English Language Program consists of 7 levels and over 15 sections, to be taught over 32 weeks, or two terms. The summer program is 8 weeks shorter! Its purpose is to prepare students for the academic degree programs in English, and to pass the sub-standard in house TOEFL Test, with a minimum score of 400. This dual focus results in a fractured program that fails miserably to achieve either objective.

Students don't have the very essential fundamental English language, or the study skills, to succeed in such a challenging and demanding compressed program, and they frankly don't care whether they learn any English at all. All they want to do is pass the TOEFL Test so they can enter the academic program. You will never stop hearing their constant refrain: "Teacher, TOEFL today!" And the TOEFL Test has nothing to do with learning English, but it has everything to do with making money.

In conclusion, the IELP is as appropriate for these students as singing is to a donkey. They just don't have what is needed to succeed. Even after two terms of immersion, and four years of remedial English, the majority cannot compose a coherent sentence, or express a complete thought in English. A donkey will never learn to sing!

More details follow in point form:

STUDENTS

� who don't know their ABCs enrol
� blind, deaf, learning, mentally and physically disabled students enrol, but get absolutely no support. They have to take the local TOEFL test administered by English instructors (be on the lookout for a visit from the new Quality Audit Department!)
� come to class without any supplies
� complain about carrying books
� tell qualified and seasoned teachers how to teach, but never do any homework
� student/support staff cultural/moral spies watch, monitor and report activities to administration
� whine and complain endlessly in the class
� cheat on every test and copy every exercise
� completely lack any original, imaginative or creative thinking
� are immature and childish
� blame teachers for all their shortcomings
� are never separated from their mobile phones
� are mark sharks who endlessly complain about their grades
� don't know why they can't score 400 on the in house watered down version of the toefl test
� routinely cancel classes for the flimsiest reasons
� steal books and important papers left unattended by teachers
� are habitual liars who never tell the truth about anything
� have to live in crowded and deplorable conditions in the on campus hostel. Is it any wonder they leave en masse on the weekends to go home?
� Beware of scholarship=hardship students. They are kept in packs like hyenas, and at the slightest hint of being failed, they will not hesitate to rip the teacher to shreds


ADMINISTRATION

� could care less about the teachers
� won't raise a finger to help teachers who discipline students
� have no student behaviour guidelines or discipline policy (much needed sadly at this institution)
� believe every lie they hear from the students (how gullible can they be?)
� blame teachers for the students' underachievement
� make teachers attend demoralizing and humiliating meetings, in which they are told how worthless and useless they are
� inept, indolent, inefficient and unconcerned support staff
� most speak little or no English, especially when asked for help
� routinely lose important documents to process visas for teachers and their family members causing endless grief
� punish teachers for being sick by withholding pay
� don't acknowledge or compensate teachers for doing committee work
� make summary decisions when teachers can take holidays
� let one student take the toefl test 13 times over 2 terms, but didn't stop her. At 25 rials a pop, money comes first, and is all that matters to them
� photocopy and recycle toefl tests without regard to copyright infringement or intellectual property rights
� force teachers to do shift work to maximize student numbers
� you'll be lucky to get picked up at the airport
� expect a visit from the "small man" himself, the chancellor, if you fail too many students
� the HoD, who thinks insulting and humiliating teachers, is a good way to motivate them, and who doesn't hesitate to appropriate teachers' work for his own. In one of his last assignments he would black out "offensive" material. (Shades of Saudi)
� In the next assignment, his proposal for an English program was rejected by the Ministry of Education
� this fellow is the Grim Reaper incarnate!
� newly installed Omani IELP Coordinator is already complaining of heavy workload for overlooking or missing critical events
� rampant and widespread abuse of TOEFL, Longman and other teaching materials' copyright, property and procedural rights
� healthy debates, discussions and opinions are discouraged, and will result in non-renewal of contracts. This creates a stifling, suffocating and crippling atmosphere
� the rancid, putrefying and rotten stench of corruption, like the decomposing carcasses of slaughtered animals, fills this entire place like deadly poison
� the sole purpose of the HR department is to make your life confusing, wretched and downright miserable


FACILITIES:

� still no paper, soap or toilet seats in the Lou a year after the new head arrived. Often, there's no water
� on a good day, you might be able to copy or print something on the solitary copier and printer that are down and out most of the time
� 2 teachers share one desk and 4 teachers crowd into one small office
� restrict internet access to many websites
� food can cause serious stomach problems
� dirty, filthy and cockroach infested dangerous toilets on campus
� sewers routinely overflow, the overbearing stench making teaching impossible
� construction is cheap and flimsy. Catastrophic structural failure is eminent in a major event
� many classrooms are small, dirty and ill equipped. Electrical failures in the summer in the soaring heat are regular
� medical coverage is very limited, and medical facilities and services poor. The cure can often be much worse than the cause
� the photo of the campus on their website is an absolute fake. It's been over 5 years since construction was supposed to start on the new site, but to this day it remains nothing more than empty land with a wall surrounding it. Just like this university, it is filled with nothing but empty promises
� there are absolutely no suitable recreation facilities on campus. There is an outdoor concrete football pitch, a concrete basketball court, and an asphalt track. They are all absolutely useless in this weather for most of the year.


TRANSPORTATION:

� always overcrowded and seldom reliable
� driver never gets off his mobile phone
� loud chanting daily on the speakers for the one hour or more trip in the early morning
� never know which bus to take for the return trip because drivers keep switching
� taxi drivers will overcharge at every opportunity
� nearest airport is in Muscat almost 200 kilometres away


HOUSING:

� be prepared to spend some time in a dirty, dusty, fleabag hotel with a Chinese style massage parlour when you arrive
� flats are in high traffic, very noisy and very dirty and dusty commercial areas
� usually horribly furnished and terribly maintained
� cockroaches, ants, bedbugs and other insects abound


ENTERTAINMENT:

� no library, book shop, theatre or recreation center
� only two pubs where liquor prices are exorbitant with Russian and Indian entertainers
� three fast food outlets
� women are often subjected to jeering, leering and teasing in public
� thank goodness for the satellite system even though it breaks down frequently
� beware of the IELP Social Club! It's run by two U.S. retro hippy she cocks and their clique, that tries to run everyone and everything here, and will try to run you as well!
� nearest airport is an hour and a half drive away in Muscat


CONCLUSION:

If this sounds like you have heard it all before, it probably is. The administration's idea of a management model harkens back to the time of the slave trade here, which is one of the few things they were ever any good at. All you have to do is look at the plight of the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers, to name a few. We are only glorified nannies with better wages.

After a while, even the best intentioned and most highly motivated teachers become horribly demoralized, and begin to think of themselves as utterly useless. Those who don't leave, then do as they are told, and give up their last shreds of dignity, self respect and morality. They become nothing more than sheep who are willingly led to the slaughter.

Quite recently, a British teacher here for over 4 years died in a fatal car crash. He had been having severe problems with the administration over his vacation time once again, and like we continue to have every summer. They refused to give him his rightful entitlement. Don't let this happen to you or another again.

Come here for the money, and leave when you've got enough. It's the only reason why most of us are here and continue to hang on anyway.

This is definitely not a university. It's not even a kindergarten. It's a JOKE!

PS: And now they are recruiting teachers at "serious teachers"!

[Duffy]

Nuslim,
Judging from your four previous posts, your just not gonna be happy anywhere are you???

[Nuslim]

MOD edit