Job Discussion Forums

[SUZUKI]

How motivated to learn English is the "typical student" at a private language institute in Oman (ELS, for example)? I figured that because learners are attending classes because they want to, motivation -and therefore attention, interest and progress - would be good. But maybe I'm wrong. Who says they're there because they want to be? If they're "sponsored students", sent by their employer, perhaps they're NOT well-motivated.

I wondered if a language school is the place for a teacher who wants to help serious, motivated students acquire/learn EL skills, or whether what goes on there tends to resemble what "education" can mean for significant numbers of students within parts, at least, of the rest of the Omani system: "Give me a passing grade, give me the bit of paper, which I want by hook or by crook; whether I actually learn is not a big thing for me".

Rose-colored spectacles off, please. What's it really like?

[kaw]

Fom my experience the students at private language schools tend to be mainly sponsored so motivation is probabaly the same as in pretty much every other country. Realistically - how strong would your motivation be if you were told you had to attend a course in your free time.
Saying that though - I had the experience of working at an institute as well as a Uni and students on the whole were pretty motivated. The same also applies to where I am now in Bahrain. As long as you can adapt your lessons to suit the learners styles of the class you chouldn't have too many problems.
I say motivated but getting them to get homework completed can be a bit of a challeng but it does happen.

As for the passing grade point you mentioned - think it's a Middle East thing rather than just Omani - yes students all want to pass and you'll find that this quite often is common with sponsored students as there may be penalties for not passing. Several companies here tell students that if thy don't pass then they have to pay back the money spent on the course.
For some - despite trying really hard they just can't do it. Not everybody has an aptitude for languages.

I think that the whole 'give me a pass' thing can be traced back to the schools where they are expected to do well and scores of 98% (and above) in exams are common......once they're in this system....