Job Discussion Forums

[lazycomputerkids]

Dave's ESL forum is, to my knowledge, the longest running forum for ESL teachers on the web. I've considered teaching abroad since 1990 and I think Dave's was around in 2000, when I last considered going abroad. It was likely around before that...

Qualifying the 'mentality' of a poster, interpreting what's "behind" a message is natural as we all sit at a terminal of some sort and imagine a human being on the other end...

Posters with experience spanning years develop a shorthand between another and often imply or assert knowledge that a 'newbie' can misinterpret. Newbies come to the board with an expectation of black and white answers and become frustrated when some "fact" they seek is more complicated than their expectation.

But add to that posters that have never taught in Saudi Arabia and posters that have since left Saudi Arabia and some complicated scenarios are inevitable.

Such as direct hire. I've said in a post before, "The universities (their ESL programs) are not innocents." I was speaking to how PYPs were introduced to compete with university ESL programs that were not, in the eyes of policy makers, providing a sufficient number of students successfully studying abroad and coming back to Saudi Arabia to grow a professional class on the wane.

The staffing of PYPs is a private enterprise that employ recruiters and the culture of academia has been directly challenged as, I believe it's true, private universities are availing themselves to contractors.

There's some confusion on this board as to what sort of job a newbie is giving consideration, or the number and quality of opportunities currently in Saudi Arabia.

It's not a "bad" confusion. The posters to this forum are about the only actual information to be had beyond the sales pitches of recruiters or the want ads of universities.

[Sheikh N Bake]

[Kipling]

[Kipling]

[Cleopatra]

[007]

Welll, Sheikh Nano is smoking Castro!

[veiledsentiments]

[Sheikh N Bake]

Yeah. WTF?

[veiledsentiments]

[h-train]

[johnslat]

Dear h-train,

That's what I thought, too - but given the context, does it fit?

"I was speaking to how PYPs were introduced to compete with university ESL programs . . ."

Regards,
John

[h-train]

Good point. I didn't read closely enough. I have no idea either hahaha.

[lazycomputerkids]

[johnslat]

Dear LCK,

Are you writing about ESL programs in the States? At Santa Fe Community College, in the Adult Basic Education Department, there's a section called "Developmental Studies," separate from ESL, which sounds like what you're calling a PYP:

"School of Liberal Arts and Core Studies - Developmental Studies Department
Get ready for success! No matter where you are or what skills you need to acquire, SFCC's Developmental Studies department can help you.
We offer classes in basic reading, writing, and math as well as college success courses. We have courses to teach problem-solving and develop life skills that help you meet your personal, academic, and career goals.
You will learn from demonstrations and explanations as well as small group work, building community and increasing your communication skills.
Courses for men and women in transition help individuals facing life changes to identify and start working towards goals, and to develop a positive self-image. All students have the opportunity to put learning into action when they volunteer in the community with Service Learning.
Areas of Study."

Or am I way off the mark?

Regards,
John

[lazycomputerkids]