Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Thetan is smarter than you. He knows best.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It seems clear that Mr 7 is the only teacher who follows his system while every other long-time teachers in the Gulf with experience from the 70s to the present says the absolute opposite.

Any newbies would make their lives easier and possibly avoid being fired and/or deported by taking the advice of the majority and let Mr 7 be in a class of his own.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Thetan, or "Mr 7" as vs calls him, no longer teaches in Saudi Arabia.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'd say that the advice here is true for most of the Gulf at most institutions. Mr 7 did say awhile back that he is now in Bahrain.

VS

lazycomputerkids · Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 360 Location: Tabuk

I currently teach in Saudi Arabia and find little value in the "majority's" admonishments to follow their "example".

I do respect experience, however.

Neither do I believe controversial subjects are engaged without risk anywhere in the world, nevermind Saudi Arabia. The United States is hardly a shining example of tolerance. Three decades of Texas-based, corporate dominated school texts throughout the nation is a travesty beyond words. I taught in Oakland and Los Angeles, California long enough to learn how systemic repression is meted and advocated. You watch your mouth in a California public school or get moved along.

So to claim controversial subjects can be broached in Saudi Arabia without risk, or that risk can be mitigated by simply remaining neutral in one's presentation is...tenuous

I'm not surprised frequent posters to the Saudi forum would take exception to a poster claiming his/her experience was not as 'repressive' as theirs because the prevailing number of posts to this forum are critical.

But imagining an audience of newbies torn between following the "advice" of some to ignore the experience of any is laughable.

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

To answer the original questioner, try broadening your definition of "text"--youtube, IM texts, TV soap operas etc all make useful material to analyse linguistically.

About subjects you can and can't talk about, I have found I can talk to my (relatively sophisticated) students about anything. Crucially, I always get to know a class before broaching topics that might ordinarily be considered sensitive. It really is a case of treading carefully in the beginning, especially if you are inexperienced at dealing with Arabs/orientals. You see, it is essential to preserve face, or honour, but as long as you do that then an open discussion about anything is possible. It's when you become an advocate and forget your outsider/guest status that things can go wrong. General rule: exploratory discussion is fine, advocacy is dangerous.

Cuffs · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 77

The topic of masturbation comes up frequently in jokes with my lads, in their early 20s, and on the cusp of marriage, but we refer to it euphemistically as "self-study".

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:49 pm Post subject:

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

[quote="Cleopatra"]

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject:

Cuffs · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 77

[quote="Cleopatra"]

johnslat · Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject:

Dear LCK,

"I currently teach in Saudi Arabia and find little value in the "majority's" admonishments to follow their "example"."

And given the nature of this discussion, what would/do you find lots of value in? What texts are you using? Are you broaching "controversial topics?"

Regards,
John

lazycomputerkids · Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 360 Location: Tabuk