Job Discussion Forums

[EnglishBrian]

In Doha I asked a class of FCE level Qatari girls in their late teens to tell me how the nationalities in the Gulf differed. The consensus?

Bahrainis - very kind
Emiratis - just like Qataris
Kuwaitis - very arrogant (much nodding of agreement among the class here)
Saudis - very rough (!?)
Omanis - I had to press them on this and still just got blank expressions.

Based on this should I be worried that I could be going to Saudi in the near future?

[lionbrian]

In North East Asia, I asked several young & adult English learners to tell me what do they think of native English teachers. The majority of them replied that they consider Western ESL/EFL teachers like "White monkeys"/ "entertainers"/babysitters/ Rejects/ Social welfare professionals AND of course ECONOMIC REFUGEES.

Just sharing my experience! And no offense to anybody!

[moonraven]

Students are always much smarter than most of us give them credit for being....

I hope they are accurate in regard to the people of Bahrain, as I will be going there in a week!

[31]

You are extremely unlikely to meet any Bahrainis. It is becoming a little Dubai. When you go there for the weekend you will see few Bahrainis except for police, customs and taxi drivers.

[moonraven]

Considering I am contracted for a year to start a language institute and training center, I rather suspect I WILL see them.

[Stephen Jones]

Who's contracted you? There are lots of horror stories of people coming to set up new institutes promised the earth in terms of facilities and conditions for the centre and staff, and then finding things very different.

And remember that 'bukra inshallah' in the Gulf takes a lot longer than ma�ana in Mexico.

[moonraven]

A university based in the US. Not that it's any of your business....

As I am inching (pun intended) toward retirement, I am going for a chance to see the Middle East and to write a book about the current significance of Assyrian emperor Asurbanipal (who revived Bahrain/Dilmun as a pivotal trade spot in the 7th century b.c.e.) Given my personal priorities, and my 12 plus years of experience in Latin America, if a decent institute and training center comes out of my stay, I will consider it a plus.

We have the same sense of time and disposition of the deity here, and there is a reason for that: in Spanish "si dios quiere" and "ojal�" (which are the common phrases here--not "ma�ana") both reflect the enormous influence on the language and also on "Spanish" cultures of the Arabic culture in its nearly 800 years of dominance in the Iberian peninsula.

[stillnosheep]

is kinda the Egyptian version of the Mexican's Ma�ana. It translates as 'Tomorrow, in the time of the apricots.' But dig: There isn't any apricot season on the Nile...."

Charlie Perry

[lionbrian]

All English Education is pure Business! Isn't it?

Yes, it is.

[veiledsentiments]

Not completely true here in the Middle East. Most of the best positions are with national universities who have no tuition. There seems to be a direct correlation between student costs and teaching situation. The best pay and conditions tend to be with these unis. (perhaps excluding Saudi... which is a different world from the rest of the Gulf)

So in these cases, it is not 'business.'

VS

[lionbrian]

Dear Veil,

Yes, you are absolutely right! When I posted the message, I meant more about the private sector than the public one especially where English is more needed (North and South East Asia/Gulf/Americas). All right!

Now, even public universities where students don't pay tuitions, who in this case cover their fees? Of course the government! And where does the money come from? Oil/Taxes and so forth. Therefore, it is the public's one. Now, when KFUPM hires foreign English teachers and other academics with a huge budget. Who does pay them? Of course the government and once again, where does the government bring the money? Answer: Oil! And whose oil is it? Saudi citizens of course. Thus, IT'S ALL BUSINESS!

[veiledsentiments]

yes, but the 'business' there is oil extraction and sales - not the collection of tuition from individual families to pay the teachers. Therein lies to the rub...

VS

[lionbrian]

Oil extraction means MONEY and money goes to the government and it spends it on its citizens. Right? Then, if you are a Saudi citizen, the government pays for you & honestly it is a gift, unlike in Asian or latin countries where your parents have to pay because there is no financial source to pay these foreign teachers.Thus, IT IS ALL BUSINESS AGAIN!

P.S: A hint! Why all the best teaching gigs are in the Gulf? Oil extractions is the right answer! The governments cover the business for their citizens unlike other countries where there are no natural resources.

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, but when teachers are paid from government coffers, the management isn't obsessed with draining every ounce of teacher blood to get one penny more of tuition to expand the bottom line... and in particular passing those who ought to be failed out.

There is no actual bottom line in these universities... no one is daily counting how many pennies it takes to get a graduate. Whereas in the tuition paying school, they can tell you down to the baisa or penny or whatever how much each butt in the chair costs. And teachers are expected to help keep the cost down (and bottom line up) by keeping their salary low, their housing crappy, and teaching hours only limited by hours in the day...

Give me schools supported directly by the oil business any day...

VS

[dmb]

What will happen to efl teachers in the ME when the oil dries up?