Job Discussion Forums

[Tazz]

Oh dear-'akoo' is off again! Must have a whole herd of camels and close ties to various beduin tribes by now...

[veiledsentiments]

[plumpy nut]

[johnslat]

Dear plumpy nut,

"Here is Saudi Culture"

No, here is a very silly remark.

Regards,
John

[scot47]

I did see quite a few totally unsuitable teachers show up in KSA. However I also saw many show up with no previous experience of teaching in the ME who then made the necessary adjustments. Living and teaching in KSA is not like living and teaching in Europe or the Far East.

Maybe a special "skill-set" is required ? It is certainly important to get on with your students. If you cannot do that, you will not make it as an effective teacher.

[akoo]

There are significant number of undesirable teachers, people who really wouldn't be hired anywhere else. The vibe here often leads to blaming the Saudis for 90% of the issues affecting teachers in KSA, however i think that's a very narrow minded outlook.

It doesn't take into account that teachers in KSA are mainly unsatisfied, period. It wouldn't matter where they'd end up, they will find something to complain about. It's just the nature of the whiner.

The fact they're not Muslim is irrelevant and is often used as justification for not fitting in. This is utter nonsense.

I'm always impressed by the 5% of teachers that actually bother to learn the Arabic alphabeth for example. It says a lot about their minset right off the bat. Ignorant and narrow minded teachers are often the most unhappy people here. One has to embrace the Arab culture and not hide away from it, blaming people. If they can't hack it, just go. But, to come here and scare away people with mostly false information (like how this place keeps your passport, when it doesn't) or some other (Mod edit) talk about cities and places they barely know or understand.

I personally think many teachers are miserable coming in, become more miserable as a result of their misery and leave just as miserable as they came in, if not more.

Blaming the Saudis for teacher misery is again, utter nonsense.

Nobody is out to screw teachers. Teachers get screwed around for many reasons, many of which are a result of their own energies and actions. And not by some force called the Magic kingdom or whatever other scapegoat they have conjured up.

If they studied Saudi business culture, they'd have a better run at it.

But again that requires effort and care toward the locals. Often, that's just not how the teachers here like to roll. It's more about running away at first chance. Really, if they spent half as much energy driving to Bahrain as they did exploring the backstreets of their own neighbourhoods, they'd have a better experience in KSA.

Often teachers don't bother to get to know the locals. Once they have bad students, that's just about enough of the locals as they can take.

And out the window goes their limited cultural interaction.

To those interested in coming to Saudi, don't listen to the negative people. Focus on cross cultural communication, making nice with the Saudis (especially the youth), talking to them as friends and you'll transcend the negativite people and become a true benefit to your students.

(MOD Edit for language)

[sicklyman]

[plumpy nut]

[johnslat]

Huh? What's wrong with that?

"It wouldn't matter where they'd end up,"


(Though admittedly there's a comma splice).

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

[scot47]

I feel that "akoo" is a breath of fresh air after the waspish comments from Wasps on here !

I name no names but some posters can be a bit heavy-duty on the negative vibes !

[Chiselpoint]

Scot 47, you're just clearly not a native writer of English, that's for sure!

[scot47]

No, but I am sure the Mothership will be back for me soon.

[sicklyman]

[cnthaiksarok]