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Lord T
Joined: 07 Jul 2015
Posts: 285
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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 4:10 am Post subject: |
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I think the over fifties are often culled, or have their application thrown in the bin because it is thought they lack/may lack sufficient computer skills to deal with classroom technology and online management systems.
I am making a concerted effort to improve my skills in this area because I am useless at 'networking'. |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| Lord T wrote: |
| I think the over fifties are often culled, or have their application thrown in the bin because it is thought they lack/may lack sufficient computer skills to deal with classroom technology and online management systems. |
Agreed.
Displaying interest in (or better yet) having some practical knowledge with specific programs is essential in today's job market.
Word, Excel & Powerpoint are standards and teachers should have something beyond a basic grasp of the functions available. (I personally still struggle with creating on Excel) 
Managing a lesson using a SMART board will continue to rise in favor among employers.
Having intimate knowledge of at least one piece of Educational software is impressive as is declaring a type of specialty.
Traditionally specialties have been purely oriented towards scholastics (Ie; Academic Writing) but nowadays they've tended to start leaning more to (you guessed it) the Tech field.
If you're feeling left out or otherwise behind (as Lord T described in his above post) maybe you can find something you enjoy within the technology field, adapt it to fit into your learning atmosphere and implement it.
A lot of DOSs (not all of them, I realize) are starving for new ideas or updated twists to their existing program(s)...and let's face it - the Al Sauds eat up new projects faster than baklava chased with a cup of cardamom.
- Video your students doing a speaking exercise in class and play it back for critiques.
- Install a typing program in the PC lab and create a competition of sorts.
- Organize a quiet area for audio recordings and accept voice submissions related to the lesson, tongue twisters, poetry, translations, etc.
- Put students in groups (PC lab) to create something in English using specific software (like comic strips, for one example). They'll pick up on and understand the software faster than you can!
* http://www.toondo.com
* http://www.plasq.com
- Pick a program and lobby to get it installed in the PC lab. THEN review its worth and possibly change it up every month or so.
http://www.esl.net/software_schools.html
If budget is an issue, google: "free esl software for students"
I believe if you attempt something with an aim towards making EDU tech more available to your students, you'll have increased your own personal worth at your workplace while simultaneously padding your resume in a useful way AND you'll (hopefully) have brought something new and stimulating onboard for your students.  |
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FrenchConnexion
Joined: 22 Jan 2015
Posts: 48
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for your post cnthaiksarok, really good ideas! sometimes we get bored with our own teaching, particularly as the years are passing by, and we've been teaching the same course books year in and year out. |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 6:31 am Post subject: |
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| FrenchConnexion wrote: |
| Thanks for your post cnthaiksarok, really good ideas! sometimes we get bored with our own teaching, particularly as the years are passing by, and we've been teaching the same course books year in and year out. |
You're very welcome FrenchConnexion. I'm glad you enjoyed reading them. After typing all of that (above), I'm with you and am also guilty of getting slumped into the old, tired curriculum sometimes.
It certainly takes a degree of effort to climb out of the heap, look around a bit and brainstorm some new ideas. Well..., it seems like we all have some pretty good ideas, but actually planning them and attempting to get them implemented is the REAL effort.
And they don't always work....Hey, who knows till you try, right?
Salut |
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AmericanAmina
Joined: 15 Dec 2015
Posts: 104
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| cnthaiksarok wrote: |
If you're feeling left out or otherwise behind (as Lord T described in his above post) maybe you can find something you enjoy within the technology field, adapt it to fit into your learning atmosphere and implement it.
A lot of DOSs (not all of them, I realize) are starving for new ideas or updated twists to their existing program(s)...and let's face it - the Al Sauds eat up new projects faster than baklava chased with a cup of cardamom.
- Video your students doing a speaking exercise in class and play it back for critiques.
- Install a typing program in the PC lab and create a competition of sorts.
- Organize a quiet area for audio recordings and accept voice submissions related to the lesson, tongue twisters, poetry, translations, etc.
- Put students in groups (PC lab) to create something in English using specific software (like comic strips, for one example). They'll pick up on and understand the software faster than you can!
* http://www.toondo.com
* http://www.plasq.com
- Pick a program and lobby to get it installed in the PC lab. THEN review its worth and possibly change it up every month or so.
http://www.esl.net/software_schools.html
If budget is an issue, google: "free esl software for students"
I believe if you attempt something with an aim towards making EDU tech more available to your students, you'll have increased your own personal worth at your workplace while simultaneously padding your resume in a useful way AND you'll (hopefully) have brought something new and stimulating onboard for your students. |
I love all of these suggestions! Thanks for throwing those out there. I agree that we all get bored with ourselves sometimes. It's always nice to get some fresh ideas. |
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Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
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| Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: job market in saudi arabia |
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| leggeymountbatten wrote: |
I have a friend who only has a BA degree in anthropology from Oxford-Brooks University in the UK. He is teaching at the moment in a CoE college in Saudi, but believes he will be terminated at least within the next year.
He has a TESOL Certificate of course and is in his 50's. The job market is Saudi has become increasingly difficult. He has been in his present post for some years but fears for his future prospects once he is asked to leave.
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I hear through the grapevine the Oxford Brookes Anthropology feller is feeling the heat now and on the back foot. Rumours abound that he lives by himself in a large, well placed, multiple bedroomed villa, and that this has caught the attention of his betters e.g. the management.
I hear it has not gone down well at all among his colleagues either. He may end up having to move if the bosses feel he is not offering value for money to the company. Or even follow a few others out of the company?
BAM! Like Heidi Klum says in Project Runway! "One day you're in...and one day you're out!"
Still, if it happens, no doubt he's had a good run eh?
Watch this space as they say.
B |
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siologen
Joined: 25 Oct 2016
Posts: 336
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:10 am Post subject: re: anthropology..... |
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Amazed he has managed to "fly under the radar" especially with all the recent reductions in salaries and so on  Or does Saudi Arabia not care what ones BA degree is in, I am going with the latter. As I was told in Oman, all that matters is that your degree is genuine and from a N.E.S country, there are still jobs, as long as one applies themself and applies to the jobs.    |
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Lord T
Joined: 07 Jul 2015
Posts: 285
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:42 am Post subject: Re: re: anthropology..... |
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[quote="siologen"]Amazed he has managed to "fly under the radar" especially with all the recent reductions in salaries and so on.
A middle-class, Home Counties' sense of entitlement is the driving force in this instance. |
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bigdurian
Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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| plumpy nut wrote: |
| Balzac wrote: |
Culling will come your way eventually if you don't invest in upgrading your own skills.
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There's a high chance of being culled in Saudi Arabia and it has nothing to do with real teaching skills. It has more to do with the stupidity, dishonesty and haughtiness of the Saudis. |
Normally find plumpy quite negative, but this is actually spot on. I would also add personal vendettas to the list.
I've just survived a cull. |
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