Job Discussion Forums

[riyadhteacher]

Here�s what you can expect should you decide to work at Saudi Interlink:

A director and curriculum director who are either lazy or incompetent. Don�t expect support from either of them in your teaching. In fact, on the rare occasions that either one of them would get off their backside and do something, it will be against the interests of their teachers not in support of them. If there is any way possible that a teacher could be screwed out of pay, housing allowance, etc., you can expect that as well.

�Instructional coordinators� who think it is appropriate to yell at teachers in public areas.

A pseudo curriculum that allegedly is inductive and in students� own interests. However, there are no well-articulated goals, objectives or any kind of statistically valid assessment to measure students� progress. Not giving teachers any tools to do their job is indicative of fraud and stupidity on the part of management.

In short, avoid Saudi Interlink if at all possible.

[Citizenkane]

[scot47]

Private sector schools and universities are bad news for teachers (and for students !)

[riyadhteacher]

Is there any English program in Saudi that is doing it right?

[scot47]

Some of us are trying ! Chances are that more succesful programmes will be in the State Sector, but as we all know, throwing money at a problem does not always work !

[7atetan]

[lazycomputerkids]

[johnslat]

Dear LCK,

"I think everyone one of those characters is a regular poster to this forum."

OK - you got me:

"A gentleman who could hardly string a proper sentence together, with a squeaky voice and a lax attitude toward duties and professional standards. He was more interested in having fun, being fun and being funny than in doing his job. He got into a pickle when he had accepted favors and generosity from students who then expected to get a pass from him and were, well, put out when they were failed instead. He was middle-aged, by the way, not a rookie. Oh, and a dopehead. Literally."

Now, which one are you?

Regards,
Dopehead John

[lazycomputerkids]

[Citizenkane]

7atetan,

I also worked at Al Yam until not so long ago, and would like to make a few comments on your points.

Firstly, regarding the purge. I am familiar with some of the men you allude to (though I must admit I'm not so well informed as you on the sexual proclivities of the female teachers).

The issue is not that some (not all) of these teachers deserved to be fired - many of them should never have been hired - but the fact that these individuals behaved in the same inappropriate way for YEARS without having once been reprimanded. I know for a fact that the activities of the first person you mention were specifically brought to the attention of management on more than one occasion, yet the utterly spineless management refused even to confront him about it. Then, 2 years later - suddenly he's told how terrible he is, in the rudest way possible, and without his contract being respected. The same thing happened for a few other of the men too, I should add. One of the 'purged' teachers was repeatedly praised for his work and encouraged by 'management' to apply for senior positions. No wonder he was shocked.

The obvious suspicion is that orders came from head office in Colorado to get rid of certain people, probably because low student numbers made it necessary. And the toadies who make up Al Yam 'management' did what they do best - run to fulfil their masters' commands without question.

There's also the question of what the 'management' chose - and still choose - to ignore. I don't want to go into detail because some of these teachers are decent blokes, but I saw all sorts of inappropriate behaviour from teachers, many of whom are still there. This included illegal activities involving students, teachers who in class repeatedly voiced political views which were very offensive to their students, one teacher who openly threathened his colleagues with violence on school premises, and teachers who showed open contempt for their students and their culture. Some of these men, as I say, are still at Al Yam. So it's not as though they are too concerned about the standard of the people they hire, even putting aside the recent trend to take on cheap trainees from SIT - many of whom, if what I've heard is correct, cause a huge amount of trouble at the uni and have been in trouble with the law. Again, not a finger lifted in response by the al Yam 'management team'.

Regarding the 'curriculum', yes, I agree that there are some positive points to student-centered learning. But it is hampered by the complete lack of oversight and interest, again, but the 'management team.' when I was there at least, teachers basically did what they wanted in class - which often amounted to nothing at all. The manager of the male sectin has absolutely no background in student centered ESL programme management - his highest qualification is a British secondary school teaching diploma - and combined with his utter inability to take action unless ordered to do so by Colorado, meant that the programme, however much potential it may have had, was a complete and utter mess. One teacher would give his class all As, others would take pleasure in failing 90% of them.

And Al Yam wonders where all their students have gone.....

[scot47]

7atetan forgot to mention

'the "European" who despised his students and openly took pleasure in failing and humiliating them. The same guy who stood at the top of a room in front of all his colleagues and said that the only acceptable word for Palestine was "Israel" and that he insisted all his students use only that term - in the name of objectivity, of course.... '

[7atetan]

[7atetan]

[Citizenkane]