Job Discussion Forums

[kuberkat]

Though I have near five years' experience in ESL, it has been to younger learners in Asia, where the Enlgish scene is highly interactive and participatory. Headed for Oman, I'm not only looking at a new environment but also a whole new student demographic- young adults (gulp). Doing my homework on the new location, both online and in text, a question has come up to which old ME hands may have an answer.

Even adult ESL experts seem to agree on the importance of supporting materials, such as realia, art, music and audiovisuals. In the past they've been indispensable to me, though naturally the materials need to be adjusted to the students' ability, age and interests. However, I have come across some very extreme cautions against "graven images" and the like in more conservative Islamic contexts. Are there any supporting materials that should be avoided in ESL to adults in the Middle East, particularly Oman?

Thank you for your informed opinions. Off-topic tangents are also quite welcome in this case.

[grahamb]

Photographs of scantily-clad men and women should be avoided. That includes works of art such as the Venus de Milo! Using flashcards or idioms with porcine themes is not a good idea.
I haven't used music in the classroom yet, but I dare say there are Islamic songs in English which would be acceptable.
Some people avoid any mention of Islam in the classroom, which is a shame in view of its importance in everyday life. Muslims are proud of their religion and in my experience they'll happily talk about it. It's just a matter of common sense. Stay away from topics such as the Sunni/Shia/Ibadi debate, for example.
Omanis are incredibly hospitable people with a pronounced, often mischievous sense of humour, so make the most of any chances you get to socialise with them; you'll find the experience very rewarding.

[kuberkat]

grahamb

Thank you for the pointers. It is strange to deal with people who have such a different underlying paradigm that can't really be discussed explicitly, though being sensitive to it is always an ideal. Fortunately, being an ecstatic pantheist, I don't have too many religious prejudices of my own, though I do find structured religions intriguing. Suppose I'll keep my forays into Sufism extracurricular, then? The deeper I dig, the more wonderful things are said about the Omanis and I am really looking forward to the whole new life, if with a shred of trepidation.

Thanks again!

[veiledsentiments]

Will you be teaching university level? If so, it would intensive academic English and thus very different from teaching general English to children.

Most university level teaching has set texts (though writing texts are hard to find), so one often has to deal with the fact that these are mostly western produced and often have culturally unacceptable themes. But, I usually glossed over it with humor. They know it is a bottle of booze or a mug of beer in the picture... and laughed if I declared it to be tea or Pepsi. They know it is a pig even though I insisted that it is a very ugly fat donkey. Seriously, Omanis are very accepting.

But, I would keep my pantheistic tendencies private. Be sure to put Christian on your forms... no one will ever quiz you on it. I ran into a few other Western teachers who were into Sufism... in particular some of the converts. I wouldn't get into the topic with the students.

VS

[scot47]

Do not talk about religion and forget about using music in the classroom.

[grahamb]

I've had no problems talking about religion thus far, compadre. I assume it's off the menu in the KSA.

[dmb]

[31]

Of course the girlf cost 30 dinars an hour or 60 for the night.

[yumyumkorea]

Kuberkat, you sound like a real bunch of laughs, I bet your lessons will go down a hoot. Get ready to deal with the 'underlying paradigms' of 'how do I get to sh*g Western women' 'How much can I drink before I fall over' I think you can cut the technical lingo, if you've done the MA you've 'seen it, done it, bought the T-shirt'.

[scot47]

Even THINKING about Sufism in KSA is enough to get you locked up. Maybe Oman is different !

[mci]

Omani students are by and large easy going and accepting even if you stray into an 'off-color' topic. The blank expressions and silence will be enough to tell you if you've crossed any lines - although that might also describe some classes in general regardless of content

YumYum, have you not had your summer vacation or are you really as bitter and hostile as that post sounds? Take it easy - maybe the big words are confusing you - remember that the 'g' is silent in paradigm...

mci

[yumyumkorea]

Thanks for the advice,

MOD EDIT

[Hector_Lector]

unt alert

[scot47]

Who are Sienna and Jude Miller ?

It is one of the conevntions in writing that you are supposed to refer to people we have heard about ! A sign of the poorly educated is that they continually refer to people of whom the audience have never heard. Maybe the concept of audience is a new one to you.

[kuberkat]

Ah, the pearls are not cast before the piglets (nor the very fat donkeys, for that matter.) Thank you for your insights.

The students will be newcomers to college, and it seems the level will be basic. Nice to start out with other newbies: being a new teacher to old hands has never been my idea of fun.

And lo: fret not. My brand of pantheism is certainly not evangelical: I doubt anyone knows of it, in fact, so my tongue is firmly in my virtual cheek, where it will remain. Sela. I have little intention of initiating discussion of even philosphical matters- not to mention religion. Conversion? Only if it involves software upgrades.

As YumYumKorea notes, I may have underestimated the ability of users on a Middle East forum (in an industry where an MA is almost essential) to understand plain English (or even, like, colloquial English, dig?) The Big Clever Words are really just to make sure we're on the same page, dude.

(Tempted as I am to note that Western Women with their fine-tuned schmuck detectors tend to pose a greater dilemma for Western men....)