Job Discussion Forums

JamaicaBob · Joined: 31 Mar 2013 Posts: 5

Do the heads of English departments at Saudi Universities expect their teachers to run student centered classrooms using modern CELTA and other ESL approaches, and are teachers evaluated on this?

Please be frank. I'm interested in knowing "the real world" of Saudi classrooms, not an idealized one. I'm trying to understand expectations vs. reality.

Thank you.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

abayababy · Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 109

The expectation where I work is that you will run a student-centered class using the communicative language teaching approach. The reality is that these students are not capable even of arranging themselves into a circle.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 1:54 pm Post subject:

Dear abayababy,

Maybe not, but these guys can line dance pretty well.

Perhaps some music would help Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSOCIGEw6KM

Gangnam style, maybe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWgbKQee_h4

Shocked

Regards,
John

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

Thanks for the good laugh John. The tape of the young women reminded me of the many real characters hidden under all those black veils. Laughing

Now... back to the topic...

VS

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I liked that guy front left on the dance line and his gangsta crotch-grab. Doubt that's what he intended Laughing

Oh, sorry. Topic.

Student-centred. I teach 'em outside their natural habitat. We can sorta make them blend in with the rest of the students, who are used to it. Would be very difficult in an all-Saudi classroom.

JamaicaBob · Joined: 31 Mar 2013 Posts: 5

Thanks for your comments. What I hear from guys so far is that teaching Saudi students in modern student centered and communicative ways is not the reality for the classroom in any strong way.

So, frankly speaking, when you are evaluated every so often by the department head or whoever does the observation of you, is this simply a time to be given some encouragement and perhaps a couple ideas to use in the classroom, with no real fears of being fired for not have a solidly run communicative style classroom?

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA