Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear MEB,

"And who would you say I'm writing about? "

I can't say - are you writing about people who moan and groan but do nothing to effect change or are you writing about people who see problems, complain about then and at least TRY to improve the situation?

I've had both kinds of colleagues, and it's only the first-mentioned group that I find irritating. If you think something's wrong, complain about it, sure. But if ALL you do is complain, then you're really not helping. Depending upon the severity of the problem(s,) if it were serious enough and change COULDN'T be implemented, then I, for one, wouldn't hang around.

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]

[isabel]

[frankincensed]

I originally joined this forum in good faith, in order to voice some serious concerns about my last work place and hopefully inform anyone who was considering going about the facts. Although very many who post here do see it as a fair exchange of ideas and a place for a mutually beneficial discussion, most don't. It seems more like a place for those who can't tolerate an opposing opinion, or else have an agenda. And it's a real cesspool of misinformation that I've seldom encountered before...except perhaps at my previous work place! Wow, what a coincidence!
So, maybe many of you should in fact go to A'Sharqiya. You'd fit right in, prosper and probably have the time of your lives.

[Sleepwalker]

I take your point, Frankincensed which is fair comment.

Many threads get derailed here and it's a great shame.

[isabel]

[ositolector]

It's difficult to write a lot of negative things about my tenure at ASU because in some way it forces me to dwell on what was a terrible experience. I'm doing it so that others, perhaps more deserving than I, might be spared.
Don't come to Oman to work for either ELS or ASU. You may feel you are hardup and need the work and that you're tougher than the posters here but you ought reconsider. You will never know peace of mind while working there or for them.
If I compare it to my experiences elsewhere in the Gulf, which are extensive, I'd say it was near the bottom. I really don't want to go into examples and details - others have done so here and on fb quite well - but will say I am only now recovering mentally from what was a highly stressful and unprofessional experience. In the end, it wasn't worth it -on any level- and I'm sorry I put myself through it.
I wish us all good luck in the future.

[isabel]

When looking for information about a job on Dave's, I am looking for the things to be cautious of. I have the problem of being overly optimistic, so I need both sides. The schools are excellent in painting a rosy picture, so I look here for the other side of things.

[eslbear]

well, I'll chime in again to balance the scales...........

Ositolector - A vague post like this one leaves a lot to ask and so let me be the first. Please be more specific if you are truly intending to be a help to those who come to Oman after you. If not, then it appears that you only mean to take a final pot shot at your former place of work and who knows what the reasons are?

Let me repeat, for the few admirers here who think that only negative posts are worthy of their stamp of authenticity. Posts like this one serve to condemn behind the safety of anonymity. They preclude any form of change at their former workplace, as if the repetition of their bad experiences is inevitable for everyone who follows.

I disagree with this type of posting in general. Specifically, I feel that I know some things and assume others about ASU and the potential for a decent experience there. I could be wrong of course, many of you are thinking as you read this. But....I could be right as well.....an attitude and perception which seems to be sadly lacking in these boards.

eslbear

respond here or PM if you like

[simonenglish]

[isabel]

I, for one, am vague and non-specific because it is a small world in EFL, and there are always people watching. I know people who have been blackballed from countries for posting specific negative stuff on Dave's.

It is against the rules to name names, also. Being too specific will get a post pulled.

Private messaging is for specific stuff. I am sure we all try to answer our PMs.

[eslbear]

simon,

Guilty as charged - I do err on the side of optimism and that is largely due to my nature but also my experience with finding out a lot of 'truth' behind these types of postings on the boards.

I am regularly surprised to see the types of complaints and the types of complainers - a significant majority are baseless or can be understood if there is any perspective. I suppose it falls under a blanket statement like this:

welcome to the ME, it is different here! There are systems and traditions and foibles and bureaucracy and finances and people that are different than you know or might expect. An open mind, patience and tolerance are necessary.

I truly believe that the intentions of the vast majority of management around here are positive - they are hamstrung by bureaucracy, finances and yes, inefficiency and sometimes incompetence. But often, complaints seem to fall under the category of gross mismanagement, abuse or mistreatment. I just haven't seen it. If someone doesn't get their way or has to be 'encouraged' to work harder or isn't coddled to their liking, then they can end up here, citing all kinds of nastiness in order to be vindictive.

I choose to make the assumption that the other side of the story is closer to the truth than the complaint is - after all, only the negative ones bother to post and it is rarely out of a sense of altruism to help those who may come after them - it is out of spite more often than not.

IMHO, that is the real truth behind these boards - not that there is a conspiracy or cover up regarding bad schools and management, but the loud minority have a disproportionate amount of influence by virtue of being the first to strike. And so, that is why I post the way I do.

eslbear

[Middle East Beast]

[veiledsentiments]

That is not what he said MEB. You have just twisted his post as you are accusing him of twisting the negative posters.

He is just saying the obvious. That there are two sides to every story. Every employer that has been panned here tends to still be around and still have plenty of teachers who deal with the "issues" with a shrug. So it has always been... so it always will be.

Reality is that there are more "eccentric" - for want of a better word - teachers than there are "eccentric" managements just because there are so many more of us. We EFL expats are nothing if not an interesting group.

The other reality is that teachers with something positive to say are way too often afraid to post here because the negative posters go on the attack.

VS

[Middle East Beast]

Read the sentence after the ones I quoted, VS. The poster goes on to claim s/he knows the motives of negative posters and judges them.

That's twisting.

MEB