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lazycomputerkids
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 360
Location: Tabuk
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 Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
| Perhaps I am wrong, but if you see the purpose of 7atetan's posts as being strictly "experiential" (t.e. descriptive) and devoid of any "prescriptiveness,"I would call that disingenuous. |
I'd call it disagreement.
| johnslat wrote: |
So, you really don't think 7atetan is advocating his "methodology" as being the "right" or "better" way to teach in Saudi?
"I did my job well, without ruffling anybody's (students' or managers') feathers and, hopefully, WITH teaching the students a thing or two, or at least planting a seed of rational critical thinking in them." |
I don't see your citation as evidence of anything other than a prideful claim by 7atetan.
Yeah...it's filled with presumption and prescription as well.
The thread addresses "authentic" text and has snagged on the issue of topicality. In my part of the world, topicality was no easy matter. The Saudi Ministry had to choose an "authentically" challenging/effective/modern core ESL text and sections of it were given amendment by trusted, Muslim staff along the lines of topic.
It's an ongoing and evolving matter. Merely dismissing controversial topics as verboten is about as useful as a bag full of hammers.
It is surely true there are anecdotes of teachers obsessed with issues that are too little concerned with accepted practices. But is as true that the Saudi government is aware of a wanning professional class and genuinely seeks to adapt to contemporary, "global" society-- a notion worthy of a thread in itself.
I don't think "authentic" can be given adequate qualification by a listing of topics that are controversial or not. I think other posters, long tired of this debate, spoke to familiarity with a class and a caution in advocation.
Less of a listing and more descriptive of a method.
You are insistent of a censorship in Saudi Arabia that will evolve in your absence.
To the degree 7atetan claims? I don't think so. But merely insisting X number of topics are best avoided is of little value to me in a classroom. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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Dear LCT
"I'd call it disagreement"
OK, we'll disagree about that.
" I don't see your citation as evidence of anything other than a prideful claim by 7atetan "
While I'll go along with the "prideful calim" (or maybe even fibbing,) I am nonplused that you don't regard all that (e.g. see below) as not being prescriptive:
"We had some great discussions and the students not only acquired new bocabulary, fluency and other purely linguistic skills, but also learned to think laterally and critically, debate, be objective and be persuasive.
despite this
"I am not advising or exhorting anyone to follow my lead."
No, of course not. You can be a mindless drone and do this:
"Do what you want. If you are happy to talk to intermediate and above students about going to Buckingham Palace to have tea with the queen or discussing Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, BULLY FOR YOU!"
or you can be a brave, daring teacher and engage in "vigorous academic, scientific inquiry."
Right - clearly no prescription there.
"But merely insisting X number of topics are best avoided is of little value to me in a classroom."
To you, perhaps (but I wonder if you would share your methods of avoiding class disruption and possible job-ending controversy with us); however, on this forum there are a fair number of posts by teachers thinking about going to the Kingdom inquiring about that very topic - including the OP of this very thread:
"Exactly what subject matter is "off limits" in the classrooms?"
Some more:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=79837&highlight=taboo+topics+saudi
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=79407&highlight=taboo+topics+saudi
Regards,
John |
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