Job Discussion Forums

[007]

[kuberkat]

Denise, I am very sorry to hear that you have had this unsettling experience. Events like these can shake the very foundations of our belief in why we do what we do, and I hope you will make it past that with your euphoria intact.

Many of the previous posters have made very valid points here. It is true that we should have more formal orientation and ongoing support, especially in places where we may be very isolated from the local culture in many ways.

To my mind, the finger-snapping gesture seems universally rude. As to its being directed at lower castes only, well, egalitarian societies don't believe in castes in the first place, do we?

I can understand that this must have been infuriating, and the pencil-throwing even more so. Perhpas at this point mediation by an Arabic speaker, preferably Omani, would be helpful. Students with low language levels could easily misunderstand your righteous anger and think you are picking on them. You need someone the student can trust to make it clear that you reacted to a culturally offensive behaviour, and that this does not affect the fact that the student's education is your first interest. In fact, the student's education requires that he learn htis is unacceptable behaviour!

As to long-term solutions, I agree with Cleopatra that it is up to us to assert our authority and guide students towards the relationship we wish to have with them. This means a frank but calm explanation of cultural differences such as the one you encountered. It can be so rewarding to see how students benefit from this. Our reason for being here is not limited to English, after all: it extends to developing international standards.

[Cleopatra]

[Bindair Dundat]

[bje]

[cmp45]

Let's try to look at it objectively with out all the cultural baggage. The kid snapped his fingers, Yes I would say that it is irritating, but in the grand scheme of life in the classroom, it is a minor offense. Yes, there are better ways to communicate than snapping ones fingers to get someone's attention. It has more to do with the student's lack of patience; waiting his/ her turn, than out right intent to be rude. It is learned behavior. therefore a logical thing would be to have a class discussion about it and get it out in the open, rather than confronting the offender; address the whole class and set the guidelines for conduct .

Besides teaching English I do believe that teachers also need to instill a sense of appropriate behavior in the classroom which falls under the term class room management. Some students need guidance in this area and it is the teacher's responsibility to set the guide lines for the way students behave in the classroom. It's all in one's approach; respect is a 2 way street. I have been teaching adult Saudi men for almost 7 years and have never had any of them snap their fingers at me. Isn't this mostly a problem with younger elementary/ secondary students? I think most adult students know better than to snap their fingers at the teacher.

[Cleopatra]

[eha]

"I do think it's simply unrealistic to expect to permanently alter your students' behaviour or way of thinking. "

But are we talking about 'permanently altering' our students' behaviour? Aren't we just talking about being treated with normal respect? I think the question of 'status' is crucial: would they snap their fingers at, or make that other irritating 'wait-a-minute' gesture, at the Dean of the Faculty / the President of the College / the Head of the Department-- if the latter are locals? Especially if they belong to a prominent family?

[007]

[cmp45]

Personally, I could care less how they behave out side my class. I like to think that some of them do change "some of their less desirable behaviors" outside the class due to my guidance in the class. I will never know for sure. It would be rather persumptuous of me to think that a student would alter his behavior based on what happened in my class. The bottom line is... It really doesn't matter. What counts is how they behave in my class.

I am fairly flexible with regards to class conduct after all every group/ class is different. I learnt a great deal about classroom management from teaching extremely obnoxious rude teenagers in the UAE technical highschool system for 3 years. I am much more tolerant of lesser infractions now as I know what a "truly unruly" class is like.

I find most of the students I have taught in KSA to be quite well mannered and respectful, if not out right docile or maybe shy is a better word?

My general experience in KSA has been that the students are polite and rarely display rude behavior. But I have to say again though I have only taught adults at college level in KSA, so it may be different story at elementry and secondary levels...as I am certain it would be.

I also think a student's behavior can also be a reflection of the way a teacher treats the students. I think students can tell if a teacher is genuine / sincere or not.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[cmp45]

Maybe, just maybe...if one looked at the incident without attaching so much cultural meaning to it; coloring ones perception,. The teacher may just may react differently to the situation as oposed to getting all riled up about it. I think it would save a lot of grief for the teacher, if he or she wasn't taking it personally.

Of course it was a bold statement to suggest that most student's don't have intent towards rudness...perhaps I tend to view students in a more positive light than you. I am sure there are some that do...as I only have to recall my own highschool years to understand that there are some students that purposely intend to be rude.

It is still learned behavior therefore it can be altered or changed given the right methods.

[Cleopatra]

[Bindair Dundat]

[Bindair Dundat]