Job Discussion Forums

[redeyes]

Do you think it's true that UAE colleges generally prefer to hire Brits and Aussies etc over Americans/Canadians? If that is a true assumption to make, why do you think it is the case?

Do you think Brits and Americans work well together in colleges in UAE? After all, some of the teaching methods are quite different , esp if the Brit has followed the CELTA /DIP and UK MA route, all of which seem to me to emphasise quite different praxis/methodology from the US teaching Cert and MA systems. I'd say the most obvious proof of that is to put US course books side by side with UK text books, and compare them -- much of the approach,focus and even the EFL terminology used is often so very very different.

Personally, I like the diversity and find it enriches the teaching environment, rather than cause problems,but on a more serious note, I think the two countries' very different approaches to teaching, esp regarding writing skills, usually enlighten and interest me rather than annoy me. However, I find such different teaching methods can , at times, cause problems amongst staff when discussing course directions/aims, and can confuse students if teachers share a class.

Thoughts anyone?

[007]

[Sheikh N Bake]

As a non-native speaker and mathematician (or so you claim), why don't you leave the English-usage discussion to those who know something about it.

[veiledsentiments]

Amazing how 007 considers himself able to speak of things of which he obviously knows little or nothing.

HCT had already overcome any of the remaining "Canadian-ness" of the original contract with the Ministry by the time I arrived in the very early 90s. The only thing American at AUD appears to be the name. ZU has never actually been "American-based" at all. Like HCT it is the usual combination of the various nationalities who temporarily had a little power in management.

VS

[like2answer]

I love these silly posts that make everyone snarky.

When the Canadian and British men hired me, the Brit said, "Blimey, we need ourselves a Yank." Then the Canadian asked me the capital of Canada and gave me a Molson Canadian and said, "Have one on me because you won't be finding this in the UAE, eh".

When I finally arrived in the UAE, the nice Australians, who get along with everyone, were always inviting me to a barbie, and I was wondering why they liked dolls so much.

I only spend time with Americans so we can bash Bush, make fun of Sarah Palin, thank god that the UAE dirham is pegged to the always strong US dollar, and talk about that we rule the world.

I hate everyone I work with unless they are Americans because all Americans are the SAME and I live overseas because I like my own culture best! By the way, we all teach the same too.

[redeyes]

Thanks for the replies -- contrary to appearance, and contrary to an increasingly common trend on the board -- I was not trying to "troll" in my original post, or start a "who is the best" type of post -- I was simply trying to see if there are differences of method in colleges in UAE such as HCT or ZU,and if there is management policy to follow one method/trend over another. It's a valid question, and worth being informed about IMHO.

In some Colleges/Unis I have worked in my 20 years in the classroom -- US and UK teachers often looked at each other with blank incomprehension in College meetings -- because the EFL terminology/focus/methodology they used was ( as it seemed to me) often so very different, even though the end aim might well have been identical.

I speak specifically about the use of very British books like Headway, with its so very obvious CELTA/DELTA approach to language acquisition, and often very "Eurocentric" world view, as compared with texts for an American market, which often don't have the same approach to teaching grammar at all, and sometimes don't use the same terminology.

Frankly, I learn from both approaches, and ( whilst I have preferences, as anyone would) don't see one as inherently superior to the other.

I repeat -- I am not trying to initiate a tiresome "those Brits know best" or "Americans are superior teachers vs those old fashioned Brits" nonsense debate.

Being honest -- if I want to vent inter cultural feelings of rage or resentment -- I'd far rather go elsewhere to fight, such as a political or religious discussion board.

[veiledsentiments]

Lots of luck with the thread not going down the toilet as this is a rather touchy subject to many.

It is actually not easy to answer because there is no written policy on hiring teachers of X nationality. It varies by nationality of upper and/or branch management which turns over every few years too. HCT has often seemed to have a preference for Brits while when ZU started, its top management was American and seemed to hire more Americans. But when I was at HCT, the largest nationality was Irish. Then the new VC was Australian, so you know what happened. But that was then and this is now - many VCs of varying nationalities later. HCT has enough need for teachers that I doubt nationality is the top of the list and I hear that ZU is just as mixed.

As to materials, hopefully someone from ZU and HCT will come on and tell us what they are using these days.

VS

[redeyes]

Thanks for the measured response VS -- From our previous debates/PM exchange, I knew that you would understand I have no interest in initiating childish flame wars.

I consider these valid questions, particularly in regards to materials and methodology. Some management certainly do have a preference for one country's method/coursebooks over another. I'd say that's essential to know about.

Now, to those of you who want to have a war about which culture is superior, and which country speaks and teaches "real English" -- perhaps you could go and fight it out elsewhere.

( I truly hope those banal , poisonous debates and divisons don't dominate HCT and ZU staffrooms.)

[veiledsentiments]

I can say that it did NOT when I was there, and I suspect that it doesn't now either. (It was a bigger issue at SQU when I was there, but it no longer is a problem there either.) I suspect that the faculty at HCT is mostly just as professional now as they were when I was there.

Teach writing... there are no decent texts beyond beginner levels, so you can use whatever materials you wish to reach course objectives.

VS

[redeyes]

Thanks VS -- Agreed with you about the quality of writing texts too --

Painting in very broad brush strokes now, I find the British texts to be really grammar bound ( EG Locked into a very strict progression through the tense system , from Present Simple to the Conditionals and Future Perfect etc, as in CELTA/DELTA approach, but with significant lack of thoroughness regarding style) whilst the US texts tend to veer towards style more than the British do ( EG Focus on narrative progression, clause structures, punctuation, gradually building topic, argument and debate etc, but, imho, with gaping holes in the lack of elucidation of tense structures needed by our students ).

Of course, the above analysis is speaking in vast generalisations now, but I believe both approaches have their good and bad points -- so in the end, I scour the reliable, trustworthy UK and US texts I have collected over the years,"make hybrids" of both approaches -- and compile my own "mini texts" to give the students when Semester starts.

I imagine you do the same VS, judging from previous discussions we have had on the topic?

[007]

Well, the other day, an American English teacher asked me about the location of the rest room! Initially, I thought he meant the common staff room (a room where staff can meet and have a rest). But, to my surprise, I realised that he meant the toilet!

So, my question to ESL/EFLers is:
Is it possible to teach a �universal� English where students will not be confused with differences between British and American English?

Thanks God that we do not have this problem in mathematics!

[redeyes]

[veiledsentiments]

[herenow]

Currently the ZU English language program(me) is dominated by those holding North American passports, followed by British passports, and then there is a small mix of other nationalities. The textbooks are created in house and spelling and punctuation in the books follows North American English standards.

[Iamherebecause]

There may be problems in terms of methodological discussion but I think we all know how to teach.... The biggest difference seems to be that SOME (I don't say all) US TESOLers make no distinction between ESL and EFL and then try and use materials more appropriate to an ESL context in an EFL context. But I've come across that as more of a problem in other countries than the UAE.

As for teaching writing - again there seem to be too many people who think the sort of textbooks used in US college courses can be easily transferred here. But they usually realise their mistake quite quickly.

Now, does anyone know of a really good textbook for advanced level academic writing - US, UK, Aussie - I don't care......