Job Discussion Forums

Iamherebecause · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:41 am Post subject: Article in ELGazette

There's an article in February's ELGazette Digital called 'All you need to know' by a person calling himself Frank Wright who doesn't (dare?) say where he works.
Anyone else read it- any comments?

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

Where is the article? What's it about? Can you provide a link?

Iamherebecause · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:28 am Post subject: EL Gazette Digital

I think if you just Google EL Gazette digital you will get to the page where you subscribe (for free). I can't really work out how to send the link: I'm not very techie! And as i already subscribe my computer skips the registration page for me.

The article is in the Prospects section.

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

Copy and paste the link from the top of your page when you are reading the article.

I have looked at the site and can find no "free" subscription... only one that want pounds sterling. I could find no link called "prospects" and I tried doing a search of the site for Frank Wright and they said it didn't exist.

I think we need more information.

VS

crocus · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 79

The article is on page 9 of the mag.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

http://mag.digitalpc.co.uk/Daily/skins/ELGAZETTE/navigator.asp?Skin=ELGAZETTE&Daily=ELGAPD&AW=1233908558906

is the front page of the free mag but you do have to register (I believe) at http://www.elgazettedigital.com/ before you can access it.

hope this helps

IMHO it gives a pretty good description of the state of EFL education at the "big 3" in UAE

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

Someone PMed me the link and there is more than one article on the UAE. They all seemed pretty accurate to me.

VS

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

I only read the page 9 article but found it a very accurate description of reality in the uae. I wonder when the Emirati will start to take responsibility for themselves or is it too late to expect that?

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:27 am Post subject:

...or is it too early?

NCTBA

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

NCTBA you made me think for a while! Is it a case of being too late or too early? Well, before all the money came into their hands, they used to be responsible for themselves, didn't they?

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:40 am Post subject:

Not in their opinion...isn't Allah responsible for everything, Inshal'lah???

NCTBA

Iamherebecause · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:05 pm Post subject:

The bit I disagreed with most was the bit at the end...
" 'local patterns of behaviour' - typically hiring unqualified faculty"

Not aware of HCT, UAEU or ZU being guilty of that - in fact if anything they tend to be overzealous in requiring bits of paper: see this Forum, any thread about what qualifications are required to get a decent job.

Also Frank Wright seems not to have noticed that there are ongoing reforms including curriculum exam reforms - it'll take a while for them to impact the tertiary sector, granted, but appeals to review results for the recent Grade 12 exams have not been listened to by those at the top.

Not so sure about the the bit about 'edutainment' and 'many teachers become obsessed with patronising their students rather than educating them.' It was certainly an issue when I arrived here but I think this is a lot less common than it used to be. Or is it a fact of life in the 'vocational and semi-academic programmes' where Mr Wright works - presumably at HCT then?

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject:

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

I find they're bright when they choose to be and dumb when it suits them! And I don't mean Faculty or Frank Wright.

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