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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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 Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| So, why do those who dislike it so much sometimes seem to feel the need to deride and even insult those who don't share their antipathy? |
I often ask myself the same question. It's particuarly odd, because even those such as myself who are (more or less) happy here, have no illusions about the place. We are always careful to point out that KSA can be alright (not 'awesome') if you have the right job and if you are the right sort of person.
Personally, I have not the remotest desire to take up residence in, say, Oman, Korea or the UAE. However, I appreciate that others have worked in these countries and have liked it. That's fine. I don't have to share their views, but nor do they have to share mine.
teflerlifer
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| I also had no problems with my Chinese students about politics |
Great. I'm sure plenty of people living in the country with the world's tightest internet censorship regime might have had different experiences. I've only visited China, not worked there, but it was abundantly clear that certain topics are off-limits, just as they are in KSA, only perhaps more so.
h-train
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| I also feel neither topic has a place in the classroom, just as I would not bring either of these topics up in my high school classroom in Florida. I don't teach conversation classes or popular culture. |
What amazes me is that so many people who have no particular interest in (let alone knowledge of) interntaional politics, and would never dream of bringing them up with a group of students in their home country, somehow feel the need to use their Saudi classroom as a platform for their 'beliefs'. And then they feel sorry for themselves when the students complain....
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| What I was saying is that I was prodded a lot in Korea. They would bring up these topics, not me. In my time here this has not happened. That is all. |
I've had the same experience. Saudis tend to dislike confrontation and 'awkward' situations, and are thus very careful not to bring up potentially controversial subjects in social/professional settings. They almost expect Westerners to have radically different views on all sorts of things, and are usually much more comfortable if such perceived differences remain under the surface. I don't think ti's too much to ask that we extend the same courtesy to them. We're there to teach English, not to debate political issues. |
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kazazt
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| for dislike read scared |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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Dear kazazt,
"for dislike read scared"
OK - as in "So, why do those who dislike it (i.e. Saudi) so much . . . ." perhaps? |
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kazazt
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| You know full well why they dislike it so much. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Dear kazazt,
I certainly do, and I respect their right to dislike it. Gee, wouldn't it be nice if they could do the same for others who don't share that dislike (or worse.)
Regards,
John |
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h-train
Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 100
Location: 26 miles from Bahrain
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| kazazt wrote: |
A class or Aramco trainees is not awesome.  |
| kazazt wrote: |
| Not at all. I have never worked for Aramco or any subcontractor and have never taught Aramco trainees. |
Nuff said.
Funny how you've been registered on this board for just over a month yet you have so much experience and so many tales to tell. Hmmmm...... |
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kazazt
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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And 8 years working in Saudi.  |
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h-train
Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 100
Location: 26 miles from Bahrain
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Cleopatra"]
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I also had no problems with my Chinese students about politics
Great. I'm sure plenty of people living in the country with the world's tightest internet censorship regime might have had different experiences. I've only visited China, not worked there, but it was abundantly clear that certain topics are off-limits, just as they are in KSA, only perhaps more so.
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Cleo hit the nail on the head. At my university in China I was asked to not approach the three Ts-Tiananmen, Taiwan, or Tibet. Believe it or not, these topics never came up when I taught reading comprehension or grammar.  |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Dear kazazt,
Yikes - eight years living and working in a place you dislike so much. Mama mia, what caliber is that gun that they've got pointed at your head? 
Give me a ring when you hit nineteen. Is that eight continuous years, by the way? Even I never did eight in a row. Seven was my max.
Regards,
John |
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kazazt
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| I never said that I disliked it so much but I also will not pretend that Aramco trainees are awesome. 8 years straight. No night beach excursions in Jubail. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Dear kazazt,
OK, I did a more thorough search of all the posts this time, and the only person I can find who (sarcastically, of course) described the students as "awesome" is you.
Please correct me if I'm mistaken.
Awesomely,
John |
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h-train
Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 100
Location: 26 miles from Bahrain
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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John,
On another thread I said that my Aramco apprentices are awesome. I have a great group of young guys. I never dread going to class. I also do not teach in didactic fashion and do not expect my students to be perfect, attentive angels 100% of the time. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Dear h-train,
Oh - well, you must be wrong then. NO Saudi student could ever be "awesome." Well, except for some of mine that I taught at the IPA over the years.
But then, I suppose "awesome" is yet another subjective opinion. And subjective opinions that differ from the subjective opinions of others are not received well on this forum.
Regards,
John |
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kazazt
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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not awesome student but a whole class  |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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Dear kazazt,
Oh, my God. That poor guy. Imagine having to raise the level of your teaching to accommodate a whole class of awesome students. He has my deepest sympathy.
Regards,
John |
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