Job Discussion Forums

buzzing · Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Posts: 42

I have a number of Saudi students in then Uk. I teach them privately and would know how to handle them. I charge 12 pounds hr and for that I drive to where they live (it's close) and teach at their place. I taught in Japan for years so have no experience of how to handle Saudis. I have found that they don't return my sms emails from my phone and when I tried to cancel an appointment- I left a message on his mobile- I got no reply. Should I just pester him by calling not bothering with SMSs or is their lack of response a subtle sign (it would be for a Japanese) that they are not interested in more lessons. My students are young 20 somethings.

babur · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 3:24 pm Post subject: Saudi students

freesoul · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: Saudi students

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 6:58 pm Post subject:

The most important thing to remember is that there really is no "typical" Saudi behavior. It is much easier to lump Japanese into a group and describe their typical behavior than it is to do the same for Saudis. There is so much variety among them regarding age, socio-ecomonic status, religious persuasion (Sunni or Shia), tribe or area of origin...I could go on and on.

I am not jumping on you for stereotyping. I am just saying that in my experience the Saudis, more than any other group I have taught, need to be regarded as individuals with only a few group characteristics uniting them. Until I understood this, I had a hard time with my Saudi students. Once I understood it at a very deep level, dealing with them became much easier.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Saudis are in fact very diverse. they fool us into thinking they are all the same by wearing the thobe and ghutra , but the reality is that there are ENORMOUS differences between them !