|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
 Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 4:55 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Dear grayskies,
I'm sorry (and I'm really not being snide here) that you had such a lousy time teaching in Saudi. I guess a lot of people do. I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did if I hadn't enjoyed my work there because the money, by itself, wouldn't have been enough inducement.
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
grayskies
Joined: 03 Dec 2013
Posts: 67
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| John, some were lousy, and some were good. However, I believe the point that Sent...33 was making, it is better to have a low profile, than to create unnecessary attention to yourself. You remember the age ole saying, "when in Rome." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SENTINEL33
Joined: 19 Jan 2014
Posts: 112
Location: Bahrain
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| johnslat wrote: |
I've noticed that people who are intrinsically motivated find satisfaction in doing the best possible job they can under any circumstances.
|
I, on the other hand, have found that “people who are intrinsically motivated” are toxic to my well-being and that of others.
This is because they are the most widely recognized cause of “problems” within an academic department. What that phrase usually means is that the "motivated" person has something like the following scenario in mind: “I’ll think of the ideas for this project and the rest of you do the actual work while I sit around and watch you do it.” or some such version.
These projects are also usually hoisted on the backs of teachers without warning or “discussion”. “Drop everything and do this now.” So and so – who is intrinsically motivated - just had this brilliant idea and we are all going to……..”
How many times have "new books" been ordered for a program by some dodo bird with a "TESL" certificate from "Southeast Asia" simply because he was "motivated" but didn't really know what he was talking about? Dozens of times.
In ESL, especially in the Gulf, "motivated" really means narcissistic, self-centered with a huge personality disorder of some kind - an embittered misfit in his own country traipsing around the world spreading his misery and loathing like a deadly virus.
This little scenario is endemic not only in KSA but throughout the Gulf, the Middle East and most of Latin America. Probably a lot of other places too.
Motivated Person: Stay away - Do Not Disturb. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
grayskies
Joined: 03 Dec 2013
Posts: 67
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Like I said, the most informative and accurate I've seen on Daves.
lol  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Dear SENTINEL 33.
Jeepers, touched a nerve there, did I? Hey, as I said, if being a slacker is your method, well, fine - whatever works for you:
"As everyone knows, the key to survival in the Kingdom is to drag your feet as much as possible, do as little as you can at the job (never volunteer, never say you're an "expert" at anything and so forth), never attempt to "stand out", and always look miserable."
Personally, I like to do the best job I can. and a large part of that is because if I don't, I feel I'm letting myself down
I really don't care what anyone else does or doesn't do, and I certainly don't make up projects for others. I mind my own business and go home, knowing that I did as good a job as I'm capable of doing.
That works for me - but if dragging your feet works for you, fine.
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mikepsyc
Joined: 09 Jan 2012
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
"3. In the highly unlkely circumstance that you "know" Arabic, this should never be mentioned or even hinted at. It's like a death blow to your application. I wouldn't even mention that you're "studying" the language if that's the case."
Sentinel33: I fit that highly unlikely scenario, since I'm a native speaker of English who has become fluent in Arabic (think long, drawn out technical discussions about industrial worksites in Arabic or explaining in Arabic the difference between a dependent clause and independent clause) and I mention it.
Where have you heard that indicating that you know Arabic is the kiss-of-death for applicants? Inquiring minds would urgently like to know. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SENTINEL33
Joined: 19 Jan 2014
Posts: 112
Location: Bahrain
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| mikepsyc wrote: |
Where have you heard that indicating that you know Arabic is the kiss-of-death for applicants? Inquiring minds would urgently like to know. |
I'd have to know a lot more about your linguistic and particularly your Arabic backgroud and abilities to mold an answer that fits your situation. But understand that I was speaking in "general terms" - doesn't mean what I said has to apply to everyone.
For example (and I don't expect you to answer this here. In fact, I'd prefer that you don't), I'd have to know if you are of Arab "extraction" or are you a totally homegrown US citizen who "came" to Arabic late in life as a result of your work? Did you study the langauge in college? Did you just "pick it up" by living in the Middle East? Do you "know" both fusHa and 3amiyya ? Which 3amiyya? Does or did you current ME job require that you know Arabic?
But briefly let me say this: a western "teacher" looking for an ESL job in the M.E, particularly in the general Gulf area and who proclaims that he "knows" Arabic, is immediately suspect.
Suspect of what? Suspect of everything - what is his connetction to Arabic? (After all, it's not like you might innocently mention that you know French or Spanish)....who taught you? Who do you "know" in the Middle East? Why are you learning Arabic? (Actually, what they mean is: How dare you learn Arabic?).
In an employer's eyes, knowing Arabic - or claiming to know it - makes you suddenly "radioactive".
The last thing an ESL employer wants in the Gulf is a lowly English teacher running around "understanding" and "reading" everything that is said and written around him. It's a terrifying prospect for most of them to handle and they'll likely find some reason not to hire you.
(Let's not forget that at least one US Ambassador to a certain M.E. country was replaced at the request of his host country ultimately because he was a native-level Arabic speaker. "Transparency" like "sustainability" in the M.E. are totally alien concepts.
If your experience was totally different from the jaundiced scenario I portrayed above, mabrook to you.
Last edited by SENTINEL33 on Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:13 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| < | |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
