Job Discussion Forums

italihurr · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

Having taught EFL in Japan, Chile, Italy and Thailand, I came to Oman last September. End of first year coming up, but I'm reluctant to continue.

Though my Omani students (late teens, twenty-plus years old) are in some ways pleasant and charming, they are also generally lazy, wanting to put in as little work and effort as they can get away with; seem not to be in class to learn (indeed, are disproportionately interested in their grades, rather than what they're learning); will lie and cheat without compunction, and seem unable to accept responsibility for themselves (any excuse for their shortcomings). On top of that, though I listen and try to help, they often don't listen, just repeating what they said earlier. I don't enjoy teaching them, and for me this is a "first time".

Is there any teaching institution in Oman where these conditions don't appertain? I'd like to help students who want to be helped.

stabnkill · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 62 Location: the land of dreams

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I found my Omani students to be pretty much the same as all of the Gulf, I'd say... and come to think of it... about the same in the US except the students can be much less pleasant here. Of all the students that I taught, I found the Omanis to be the most enjoyable to teach.

YMMV... and if you hate it, the students know and respond accordingly. It may be that you have encountered students for which your style of teaching doesn't click.

The best Omani students academically are at SQU.

VS

stabnkill · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 62 Location: the land of dreams

". . .if you hate it, the students know and respond accordingly."

Yes. If they think you don't like them or don't like teaching them, you won't get anything out of them. The more your body language, actions, or words imply that you think they are horrible students, the more their actions will confirm that.

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

I taught in the ME for several years - colleges, institutes, oil companies, hotels etc.

I can sympathise with italihurr - you may just have been unlucky with where you teach just now.

I can generally cajole students into working quite well but the last ME institute I worked in was rotten from the top - the GM was pushed around by the students and a very spoilt family member who worked there. Both desperately wanted to be popular and italihurr's post brought back memories of how things operated and how I felt while I was working there. I almost gave up teaching because of it.

It's easy to point the finger at the teacher but time and distance has made me realise that the problem wasn't with me.

So, italihurr - maybe you were just unlucky. If you are still thinking about Oman - read the posts and visit before you commit to employment.

Don't give up and don't blame yourself for the situation - just get out and you will immediately start to gain some perspective.

italihurr · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks for these constructive posts. Very interesting were the comments about �body language� etc. I fear that the cap fits.

Veiledsentiments, I found your post slightly confusing (contradictory):

I found my Omani students to be pretty much the same as all of the Gulf, I'd say... and come to think of it... about the same in the US except the students can be much less pleasant here. Of all the students that I taught, I found the Omanis to be the most enjoyable to teach.

The SS can be much less pleasant here than in the US, but you�ve found the Omanis the most enjoyable to teach??

Of all the SS I�ve taught, frankly speaking I�ve liked the Omanis least (though have lots and lots of time for those (20%?) who show some degree of interest & seriousness about what�s going on).

There are numerous reasons for this: some were mentioned in my OP; top may be lack of seriousness and readiness to cheat and lie.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

I taught classes in the UAE that included a wide variety of Arab nationalities. I must admit that the Omani students were the sweetest and most respectful. The best students in terms of academics? No. They were en par w/ the Emiratis in terms of skill while the Egyptians had a tendency to be better w/ language learning. That's comparing all the nationalities w/in the same classroom.