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haqiqah
Joined: 04 Sep 2009
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:07 am Post subject: "University Prep Year" in Saudi |
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Although curricula and skill level vary from place to place, I'm curious what to expect from a Saudi "University Prep Year."
Thanks
-J |
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The Lathe of Heaven
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 162
Location: drifting from dream to dream from future to future
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:10 am Post subject: |
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Basically.......
Expect to have students show up late with no books and pens or pencils. All this while you try to implement the syllabus and not fall behind due to lack of interest on behalf of the Ss. Motivation is key here and if you can get this ball rolling from the first day, well they just might bring their pencils next time.
TLOH |
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lizziebennet
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Expect to have students show up late with no books and pens or pencils. All this while you try to implement the syllabus and not fall behind due to lack of interest on behalf of the Ss. |
Sounds like the Chinese students that I taught in Singapore who had no interest in learning English but were only there because they needed a visa to stay in Singapore.
I have a question involving the sort of curriculum we will follow.
Will it be typical Esl teaching with resources similar to Cutting Edge/Headway/ Reward etc but deemed appropriate for Saudis?
I read somewhere about students who have never learnt English being expected to write 10 page assignments. I wasn't sure how that fitted in with typical Esl methodology. Especially if these students are learning English from starter level.
Would love more information along these lines...
Last edited by lizziebennet on Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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| lizziebennet wrote: |
| I wasn't sure how that fitted in with typical Esl methedology. Especially if these students are learning English from starter level. |
I'm waiting for the spelling and grammar trolls to attack you now. They seem to do a much better job of correcting us than giving out sound advice on these forums. |
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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| The Lathe of Heaven wrote: |
Basically.......
Expect to have students show up late with no books and pens or pencils. All this while you try to implement the syllabus and not fall behind due to lack of interest on behalf of the Ss. Motivation is key here and if you can get this ball rolling from the first day, well they just might bring their pencils next time.
TLOH |
This was your experience! My experience was quite different! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| lizziebennet wrote: |
| I read somewhere about students who have never learnt English being expected to write 10 page assignments. I wasn't sure how that fitted in with typical Esl methodology. Especially if these students are learning English from starter level. |
I've never encountered this one in the Gulf. In most of the lower foundations classes where I taught, you were lucky to get one grammatical sentence in writing. They could talk your arm off though. 
What you may have heard was likely an exaggeration. What I found was that the students start with such extremely low writing skills (a two level difference between speaking/listening skills versus reading/writing skills is nearly the norm... makes level assignments a nightmare) that they end up being pushed into first year content classes before having the skills.
My last years teaching were mostly spent trying to teach the academic essay to "graduates" of the foundation classes that only had 10-15% of them really ready for it. Any teacher that assigned a 10 page report would merely get something printed off the internet. (no Miss... I wrote it... wallahi = I swear) That said, they will end up in content classes having to write long papers that are way beyond their writing skills. But, that won't be your problem.
VS
(lizzie... that avatar is way too big... I expect that you will hear from management.  ) |
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