Job Discussion Forums

[desert_traveller]

western teachers complaining about saudi students and even though less obvious in this forum saudi students complaining about western teachers western teachers complaining about saudi administration saudi administration complaining about western teachers (western teacher here: a teacher who applies teaching methods developed accepted and widely used in the west, be the teacher himself from anywhere)

should western teachers teach saudi students at all? does this work? often endless frustration for all parties involved - what is it good for? wouldnt they be better off being taught by saudi teachers or at least other teachers from the same educational background?

[cmp45]

Ye$ we$tern teacher$ $hould teach $audi $tudent$

[posh]

As long as Saudis employ us, westerners will be here.

I had a Jordanian neighbour who arrived to teach in a Saudi elementary school. He was a fit and healthy looking, affable guy in his mid-30s. After his 3 months probation his wife and kids came over and so he moved house and I didn't see him for a year.

Next time I bumped into him his hair and beard were grey, he was gaunt and grumpy with a glazed look in his eyes. "I'm leaving at the end of this contract," he told me.

So, you might think westerners have a bad time of it, but I'd say we are the lucky ones and I earn about 3 times what he was getting and work about 80% less.

[spiral78]

I was once assigned to run a project course to train Saudi teachers (GOTEVOT) in Western teaching methodologies. The purpose statement included a line stating that the Saudi powers-that-be reasoned that western style teaching helped to promote economic/technical development.

To be really clear, these teachers were sent to Canada by their government to learn Western teaching methods (and to improve their English, which they were suposed to use with their students).

I can't say the project was wildly successful, though student involvement indicated at least moderate appreciation (probably very temporary) on the part of the teacher/students involved (about 60 adult male practicing teachers).

Anyway, IF the Saudis think that Western teaching promotes economic and technological development, and the Saudi teachers themselves aren't....well, quite ready to adopt such methods, it leads forward that Western teachers would have some face value in the Saudi system.

[scot47]

A variant of the question.

Should New Yorkers with Thai wives come to Saudi Arabia ?

[veiledsentiments]

Or Scotsmen with __________ wives?

Personally I expect that the Asian wives have some of the worst experiences in KSA... especially as so many of them have never been away from their own families and culture.

VS

[scot47]

You do not go into someone else's house and tell them how to rearrange the furniture. Teachers coming to KSA are HIRED HELP.

If you don't like the way things are DO NOT COME. If you are in KSA and you do not like it LEAVE !

Simple !

[ultraman111]

[johnslat]

Dear ultraman111,

It's good to see you're maintaining your sense of humor - an absolutely essential quality when one works in the Kingdom .

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

Ah but Scot... you have the advantage of age and experience. Most of our posters with the biggest problems in Saudi are much younger and have never been there... and/or the money blinds them to the fact that they won't be able to cope.

VS

[scot47]

I wonder what the pious ones in thobes make of ultraman111 or of PeterParvo.

[posh]

They've probably got them down as a lot more sane than the likes of you.

[johnslat]

Dear posh,

I don't know - scot47 left - they're still there .

Regards,
John

[scot47]

I can assure you that I am sane although I may have a sense of humour that most 'Gringos' cannot understand.

[Grendal]