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lizziebennet
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 355
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 Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: Resouces and availability of resources |
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Now that my visa is through and I have got all my vaccinations and bought a new wardrobe etc. I am ready to pack...
This question involves my books.
Among my resources I have the usual
Practical English Usage - Swan
How English Works - Swan and Walter
and the Intermediate English Grammar in Use -Murphy.
Grammar for English Teachers - Parrot
Don't think I am a grammar expert after reading that list lol I have yet to carefully go through 'How English Works or 'Grammar for English Teachers'. Still learning new things about our amazing language day by day!
I also have two small Phrasal Verbs books and Communication Games Photocopiable Resource books from elementary to advanced - Jill Hadfield
which I always find useful...
I have loads more but they are packed away because they had everything I needed at my last school in Singapore. In fact that had all these books as well as the REWARDS photocopiable resource series which I love. Also like the resources that can be found in the Cutting edge and New Headway teachers books.
I love using eslprintables which has easy to print worksheets when you are in a hurry.
On that note anyone know of any other useful websites, books or resources?
What can I expect as far as resouces go? Will we have internet and a printer?
Should I bother to pack any of these books or will these books (and much more hopefully) be available at the place where we are going to be teaching.
Last edited by lizziebennet on Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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lizziebennet
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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Come on guys, I find it wierd that it is difficult to get any teachers to answer questions about students, curriculum (see previous posts) and resources. I understand that we all work at different institutions but surely someone can let me know if it is normal for the the institutions they have worked at to have the books that I mentioned above.
Perhaps I am asking a question you think is inane? But they did not have many of those resources in Korean academies.
Also, I love finding out about new books or resources so it would be great if some of you share your tips and secrets 
Last edited by lizziebennet on Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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Part of the problem is that while some places have great resources, others do not. I can't recall where you are going, but if it is newish or out in the hinterlands, I would assume the worst. 
My advice is to take as little as possible... while taking what you would miss most if they didn't have it. I traveled the countries of the Gulf with two small boxes... one of materials gathered over the years and one with fav texts.
VS |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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Come on guys, I find it wierd that it is difficult to get any teachers to answer questions about students, curriculum (see previous posts) and reasources. I understand that we all work at different institutions but surely someone can let me know if it is normal for the the institutions they have worked at to have the books that I mentioned above. |
Sorry, lizzie, but you're being just a tad cheeky here.
It's Friday (equivalent to Sunday in KSA), you post a not particularly urgent question here and get indignant when, after a whole 45 minutes, nobody has yet responded to you. Though I do say so myself, I think we 'old timers' have been quite helpful to you 'newbies' over the past few months. But we're not an instant answer service. If you're annoyed over this, you're going to have fun trying to extract important information from admin staff in KSA! |
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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: Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Quote: |
Come on guys, I find it wierd that it is difficult to get any teachers to answer questions about students, curriculum (see previous posts) and reasources. I understand that we all work at different institutions but surely someone can let me know if it is normal for the the institutions they have worked at to have the books that I mentioned above. |
Sorry, lizzie, but you're being just a tad cheeky here.
It's Friday (equivalent to Sunday in KSA), you post a not particularly urgent question here and get indignant when, after a whole 45 minutes, nobody has yet responded to you. Though I do say so myself, I think we 'old timers' have been quite helpful to you 'newbies' over the past few months. But we're not an instant answer service. If you're annoyed over this, you're going to have fun trying to extract important information from admin staff in KSA! |
A 'tad cheeky' might be a bit of an understatement! Wow, words just escape me at the moment! 
I don't know about 'fun,' but I think someone is in for a serious case of culture shock! Make no mistake about it. |
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lizziebennet
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hey there, there were like 14 people who read the topic before I made that post. I wasn't thinking in terms of minutes sorry...
But what I mean to say is that I have asked a number of questions and you have all been helpful. some threads have gone into pages and pages.
(Thanks so much for that, please don't take this as an insult).
But questions I have asked in terms of curriculum and classes (about a month ago I started a thread on that) have gotten few responses if any. So when I say that it is not only with this thread in mind.
I am sorry that I jumped to that conclusion way to quickly (you are right and gosh 15 minutes felt like an hour lol.... I am really really bored sitting at home still waiting lol), and maybe I am just a big nerd but I wish there were more threads dedicated to practical aspects of Esl teaching such as resources or curriculum. Everything I have learnt has been from more experienced teachers. And I consider all of your guys to be a wealth of untapped knowledge in those areas.
I really didn't mean to offend you, in fact I wish I could meet you all at some sort of Middle East ESL conference. I do put my foot in it often but really didn't mean to offend you guys! |
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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: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| lizziebennet wrote: |
| I have asked in terms of curriculum and classes (about a month ago I started a thread on that) have gotten few responses if any. So when I say that it is not only with this thread in mind. |
Why didn't you find that thread and add a response to it asking again (but politely) instead of making a whole new one on the same topic with a long rant to follow right after your OP? Quite frankly, I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of questions you are asking as well as being shocked by the kinds of questions here. I hate to sound rude to you, but how long have you been teaching ESL? It's like you are asking for a crash course on teaching, and a free one at that! |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| lizziebennet wrote: |
| ...but really didn't mean to offend you guys! |
Actually, some of us are gals, too... 
NCTBA (the Drama Queen) |
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lizziebennet
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Quite frankly, I'm a little overwhelmed by the number of questions you are asking as well as being shocked by the kinds of questions here.
It's like you are asking for a crash course on teaching, and a free one at that!
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I am sorry but would you like to add some proof to this statement and go and find the questions that have shocked you. I have been teaching for 6 years. Not as long as many people here but long enough to collect a large amount of resources and books.
I have limited space (20kgs) which means that I can't take many books. I would like to know if I should bother to take any at all. In Singapore I took books which I never used and I don't want to make that same mistake. What in that question makes you assume I want a free crash course in teaching?
I like any good teacher am always looking for good tried and tested resources to add to my collection. Does this mean that I want a free crash course? No. As a teacher you have to improve and continue learning for the rest of your life. So that is what I am doing.
As far as curriculum goes, I don't know what to expect of a prep year in Saudi. I wanted to know if it would be similar to the normal Esl environment I have been used to or we would be teaching other things which I could possibly prep for.
Questions I have asked in this forum have been about
Saudi academic expectations (yes that actually differs from country to country)
Saudi Customs experiences (lost of countries have different things you shouldnt take in for example I took pepper spray into Korea, South Africa, Malaysia and Thailand but Singapore would not allow it as they consider it a weapon)
Questions about the iqama vs a 90 day work/business visa
| Quote: |
| Things that I should avoid doing so as not to offend Saudi Culture |
Culturally appropriate workwear and availability of sizes (In Korea they did not have my size and you cannot wear sandals to work for instance whereas in Saudi you can).
Birth Control for a married couple(as the Saudi Culture Shock guide advised us not to bring it into the country and I was wondering if that advise was out of date).
Travel Vaccinations needed and if everyone actually got them. For example if I am not on Hajj do I still need to get the meningitis vaccination.
Information on Najran, Madinah and Al Ula which were cities/towns I was told I would be working in (they changed the location three times).
Visa processing info from people who have been through it before. Also end of Eid holiday dates because it seemed the Saudis were on holiday longer than my countries' Muslims and it had to do with visa processing.
A question about whether my husband and I will need to carry a marriage document should we need to stay in a hotel together etc as we will be on two separate visas.
Are these shocking questions? What is shocking about them? Please let me know.
Last edited by lizziebennet on Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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lizziebennet
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Why didn't you find that thread and add a response to it asking again (but politely) |
Because I wasn't asking the same question again!
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| but I think someone is in for a serious case of culture shock! Make no mistake about it. |
I think everyone moving to Saudi Arabia would be in for a serious case of culture shock! The best way you can prepare for that is read as much as you can about the culture before hand. And ask questions, loads of questions! Which are for some wierd reason shocking to you! Loads of people have pm'd me saying that they wanted to ask the questions I did but were too shy too.
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| They seem to do a much better job of correcting us than giving out sound advice on these forums. |
A recent statement made by you. Not sure where you get off as far as attacking me goes. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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Why did you change your avatar? The previous one was not harram!
Do you have any question? |
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polly1
Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject: resources |
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lizziebennet
I'm afraid that I think your question does sound like it's coming from someone who's never taught.
If you've been teaching for 6 years you should know what to bring. You should know what works and you should know good websites. (although you should never rely on website for your lessons) You should also know that you should be prepared for anything and bring the resources with you that work in any situation.
My best resource is my experience. If you've been seriously teaching for 6 years, that should be yours too. So stop sounding like a princess and get packing! |
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dareva
Joined: 25 Aug 2009
Posts: 74
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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Don't wory about the resources lizzie - you got your visa and you're going. Some of us are still waiting for our visas. 
I'll swap you all my resources for your visa!
enjoy your trip! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Lizzie... goodness me... the newbies with attitude problems have all shown up to pile on. Members for a month or a week and they think they get to set the rules. Feel free to ignore them and ask any questions you want.
Now Cleo... she at least had a point about your minimal patience.
As to the avatar changeback... give me this 'haram' one any day!!  The mutawa don't set the rules here either.
VS |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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You're asking us what books should you bring. The short answer is 'How the hell should we know?"
We don't know who your students are, what level they will be at, what course you will be teaching, or what resources are already available at your place of employment, as well as being obviously clueless about your personal preferences.
You will be able to access the internet, and you can buy a printer, but we have no idea about internet access, printers or photocopiers at your place of employment. |
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