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matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Well well. It seems I've made it this far just have to cross that long bridge into Saudi sometime in the next couple of days. It's a holiday (holy day) that has grinded everything to a stop all over the ME.

Soon to be in the majik kindom. I'll have to change my location on my profile then. Anyhoo. The reason why I'm writing this thread is to get some info about Saudi. Here in Bahrain I see very little native Arabs. The majority of the population, it seems, is an immigrant workforce. Is this generally the case for Saudi too?

I am just curious because most of the workforce hardly knows any English. They are all speaking in their native tongues which are not Arabic. I will be at a government university in Saudi and will be helping Saudi nationals acquire English. My dilemma is this; what use will this be for them other than understanding their studies which is all conducted in English (EAP)?

Any insights are greatly appreciated.

Matt Question

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Yes

But I do seem to be taller than them. Most of them.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject:

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

Never Ceased To Be Amazed

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Oh joy! An OP with more English errors than you see in a freshman composition! Do you think relevant discussion has now "grinded" to a halt? "Is" our studies conducted in English?

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

I shuda stucted to biology

Matt

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

Dear matthew156,

"I shuda stucted to biology."

Well, your response shows that you do possess two of the most absolutely essential qualities for lasting any length of time in the Kingdom:
1. a sense of humor (especially about oneself). 2. patience

And Sheikh, having taught freshman composition, I'd have to say, based on my experiences, that matthew156's OP would have delighted me had it been handed in as an assignment. But then, perhaps my freshman comp students weren't as adavanced as yours.
Also, don't be TOO discouraged by what you've read so far. I taught Saudis at the IPA for nineteen years, and I found that the breakdown (at least in my classes) was about the same as everywhere else that I've taught:

10%= very good to excellent
10% = hopeless
the other 80% falling in between

But then, perhaps I was just lucky for nineteen years,
Regards,
John

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

Dear NCTBA,
Can you feel the love?
Regards,
John

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

It hain't "love"...it's infatuation with a new poster! Laughing

NCTBA

johnslat · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject:

Dear NCTBA,
Ah, but a new poster with a self-deprecating sense of humor and patience with us old f*rts.
Now those are rare qualities.
Regards,
John

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

I thank you all and I welcome all the snyde, abrasive, degrading and utterly humiliating remarks offered. I will cherish them and hold them close to me, as I do all my enemies.

But seriously I really am grateful and any other tidbit of information is terribly valued by me.

Regards.

Matt