Job Discussion Forums

[Queen of Sheba]

I have met a few former military personnel who have turned to ESL later in life. I wonder why that is because they don�t turn out to be very culturally sensitive people; in fact they seem to demand preferential treatment when they come to Saudi Arabia, even though most people don�t appreciate Western military or Western religions in the country or in the classroom. Why do they come here, and how do they expect to ever fit in, or be comfortable here? Everyone faces cultural issues when they come to Saudi, isn�t it worse for people who have been in the military - of any nation? It seems to be very hard for them to assimilate or to feel comfortable here, so does any one have any idea why they come, other than the cash, of course?

[sheikh radlinrol]

[Robski]

Tell you what - let's get this string locked up before we start.

Where could this go with all the sensitivity there is on this forum?

Cultural issues and cultural sensitivity, the Western military, religion in SA, preferential treatment for those who see themselves as the elite (militarily or religiously), feeling comfortable in SA and fitting in etc. And there's that sweeping statement at the beginning of your posting. Queen of Sheba - Are you having a go at a particular someone you know?

[scot47]

Can't say that I would sıngle out ex-mılıtary types. There are a LOT who clearly wıll never fıt ınto the classroom here. Some of the worst are Englısh Football Supporters.

[sheikh radlinrol]

Many of the teaching posts in the Gulf involve teaching military personnel in military schools. The ex-military man may have ample experience of training such people and working in such an environment. He may even have been posted to the Gulf during his army or air force days. Why shouldn't he (or she) make an effective teacher? It's absurd to make the kind of generalisations that the OP has made.

[Cleopatra]

Are former (or even "former") military types the only ones who have difficulty adjusting to life here? No. Are all such people unsuitable as teachers? Probably not - though I have to say that the ones I've met have definitely been bad news in the classroom. Admittedly, I'm basing this on a pretty small sample, but I have found that US military types tend to have a very particular worldview, one which is often at odds with that held by most Saudis. And that's fine if they can keep their opinions out of the classroom, but many, it seems cannot. Of course, you could say that many - probably most - expats have worldviews which are very different from those of their students, but military types seem to feel their "background" gives them a unique right to impose their way of thinking on the grunts.

[Queen of Sheba]

[Queen of Sheba]