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uaeobserver
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 236
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 Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:16 am Post subject: |
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HCT can be really fun --- you might be called up for crowd duty for a Nobel Laureate.
Some HCT staff got to meet Pele last week.
Not many places on this planet give you opportunities like that. |
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redsoxman
Joined: 30 Apr 2007
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:53 am Post subject: Teacher harassment at HCT |
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So far I have no real complaints about HCT - I just started last August.
But one things bugs me a lot. I notice that some teachers are getting harasssed by administration for ridiculous things. It hasn't happened to me (yet) but I don't like what I see.
To me the role of an administrator is to guide, support and encourage - not to harass or belittle someone. Some of the admin staff need to take lessons in good manners and appropriate behavior. I work with some wonderful teachers and they don't need to be harassed by types who don't know which way the world spins. Leave these guys alone. They are doing their job, working hard, teaching well and having to deal with some administrators' sick quirks is making them ill. Come on you guys, do what you were hired to do. Administer and manage with integrity. Don't harass people. I turned down a job because I heard of staff harassment and I had hoped I wouldn't find it here. |
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ArtyCycle
Joined: 25 Sep 2007
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:36 am Post subject: a penny for your ....pubs, flats and computer facility |
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* Have seen a reference to bars in Dubai. Have been wondering whether Abu Dhabi will have bars or pubs around to take the edge off things.
* Am joining soon and wondering about accomodation. A mention by a poster to Mirdiff... in Dubai has disappointed. Would sure like to have a nice flat to relax in. Do teachers live together in buildings or are they sprinkled around everywhere?
* Any hints about computer connections in these places? Would there be something up and running already? |
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Miyazaki
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 635
Location: My Father's Yacht
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:06 am Post subject: Re: Teacher harassment at HCT |
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| redsoxman wrote: |
So far I have no real complaints about HCT - I just started last August.
But one things bugs me a lot. I notice that some teachers are getting harasssed by administration for ridiculous things. It hasn't happened to me (yet) but I don't like what I see.
To me the role of an administrator is to guide, support and encourage - not to harass or belittle someone. Some of the admin staff need to take lessons in good manners and appropriate behavior. I work with some wonderful teachers and they don't need to be harassed by types who don't know which way the world spins. Leave these guys alone. They are doing their job, working hard, teaching well and having to deal with some administrators' sick quirks is making them ill. Come on you guys, do what you were hired to do. Administer and manage with integrity. Don't harass people. I turned down a job because I heard of staff harassment and I had hoped I wouldn't find it here. |
Can you give us some particular examples of this harrassment?
What form does it take?
Bullying by admin?
Power Harrassment? |
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adorabilly
Joined: 20 May 2006
Posts: 430
Location: Ras Al Khaimah
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:20 am Post subject: Re: a penny for your ....pubs, flats and computer facility |
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| ArtyCycle wrote: |
* Have seen a reference to bars in Dubai. Have been wondering whether Abu Dhabi will have bars or pubs around to take the edge off things.
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There are bars in most emirates (you just have to find them.) But you will find lots of higher prices, and in some places there aren't many folks to go with, or things to do there. Much easier to just buy your own and invite a few friends over.
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* Am joining soon and wondering about accomodation. A mention by a poster to Mirdiff... in Dubai has disappointed. Would sure like to have a nice flat to relax in. Do teachers live together in buildings or are they sprinkled around everywhere?
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generally the teachers are "sprinkled around everywhere" but HCT may have agreements with certain renters, which may mean you will find 3 or 4 HCT folks living in the complex you live in, or you maybe all by your self. (which can be a good thing being able to get away from the people you work with for a time)
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* Any hints about computer connections in these places? Would there be something up and running already? |
In most places you would need to go in and order your internet to be set up but it shouldn't be that big of a deal (not as bad as mine was anyways.. esp if you are in abu dhabi or dubi) HCT will usually take you there on the 2nd or 3rd day you are in country (usually the same day you go to the bank for the first time) to get a cellphone, order a land line, and order internet |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: Teacher harassment at HCT |
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| Miyazaki wrote: |
Can you give us some particular examples of this harrassment?
What form does it take?
Bullying by admin?
Power Harrassment? |
HCT, just like every large bureaucratic organization has good and bad managers. This differs by branch and the same gamble one takes joining any educational institution (or any other kind of job anywhere in the world).
I have found overseas TEFL to be sadly lacking in good management. I came to the conclusion that most educators do not make good managers. The people who are content with their jobs in the Gulf are usually those that can deal with this situation. Low expectations are a good idea... 
VS |
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ckhl
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Posts: 214
Location: SE Asia
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:12 am Post subject: |
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I have found overseas TEFL to be sadly lacking in good management. I came to the conclusion that most educators do not make good managers. The people who are content with their jobs in the Gulf are usually those that can deal with this situation. Low expectations are a good idea...
Encore. Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach manage teachers. |
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moralleader1
Joined: 15 Oct 2007
Posts: 69
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: OK |
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| ckhl wrote: |
[i]
Encore. Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach manage teachers. |
And I add " And good teachers always leave"
You just hit the nail! Well done CKHL |
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al bidarnd
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: good hct teachers |
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| moralleader1 wrote: |
| ckhl wrote: |
[i]
Encore. Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach manage teachers. |
And I add " And good teachers always leave"
You just hit the nail! Well done CKHL |
you must teach in some real weird place - there are a lot of amazingly good teachers at hct and they keep on a-coming- I've never worked anywhere where i've learned so much from others - sad thing is - we should be learning more from each other and that's where the poor management comes in and one of the reasons why staff turnover is getting so high - true, lots of good teachers are leaving
Supervisors need to get more with their programs and more with the teachers needs and abilities - no one is asked what they want to teach - we're constantly moved from one course to the next with a reinvention of the wheel every year. We're also put on committees other people are more qualified and interested to be put on - seems a waste of human resources - let teachers teach on the courses they want to, keep some continuity in programs, keep down the number of meetings, get a supervisor to look through the folders in the drives and organize materials sensibly - this would be a step in the right direction to give teachers more time to catch their breath and then teach. We are also swamped with technology - ok guys, we know there's a T in hct, but teachers teach, not technology - lay off on thrusting it down our throats and give us some time to talk to each other about pedagogy and methodology - forget yet another vista or sharepoint PD
all that's needed is a vision of teachers teaching classes - not a college that wants to be a university - remember hct students didn't make the grade for university - a lot of them barely made the grade for college and really need the basics - and the supervisors also need to be allowed to get back to basics and listening to teachers - or lots more of the best teachers will continue leaving |
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moralleader1
Joined: 15 Oct 2007
Posts: 69
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: good hct teachers |
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| al bidarnd wrote: |
| moralleader1 wrote: |
| ckhl wrote: |
[i]
Encore. Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach manage teachers. |
And I add " And good teachers always leave"
You just hit the nail! Well done CKHL |
and the supervisors also need to be allowed to get back to basics and listening to teachers - or lots more of the best teachers will continue leaving |
There you go! You went 1500 kms around to get back to my point and CKHL's. CKHL stated and I quote" Those who can't teach manage teachers"
You need reading skills dude and seriously get the points before you jump up!
Have a nice day/evening.morning whatsoever! |
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bje
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| There you go! You went 1500 kms around to get back to my point and CKHL's. CKHL stated and I quote" Those who can't teach manage teachers" You need reading skills dude and seriously get the points before you jump up! Have a nice day/evening.morning whatsoever! |
Chill out dude. There are, in my experience (but perhaps not yours), plenty of managers around who are just fine in the classroom. Currently there are probably also plenty of teachers in the classroom who are not that great. Should they thus take on a managerial role? Well, they may not be especially effective in that capacity either. Your 'piece of wisdom' seems unduly cut and dried. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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It is one of those platitudes that has enough validity, that we tend to nod our heads. But, if we think at all, it is not terribly accurate. I have always found that first part to be highly insulting to all professionals in education.
"Those who can't do, teach."
We know that is total bullsh*t. I worked and taught in two fields... Business and English... and I was very good at both of them. I also have degrees in both fields.
"Those who can't teach, manage."
This has a problem too. It is probably not that they can't teach, it is that they don't really like to teach and add to that the fact that managers usually make more money... The problem is that few, if any, of them have any training in management, and that is what shows glaringly in the education field. |
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al bidarnd
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: good hct teachers |
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| moralleader1 wrote: |
You need reading skills dude and seriously get the points before you jump up!
Have a nice day/evening.morning whatsoever! |
Yo moral leader - i think it's you who need the reading skills - i didn't agree with your sorry opinion. I pointed out that there are a lot of damn fine teachers out there - you must have your eyes full of... something not to see them
i did not agree with you or anyone else that "Those who can't teach, manage." I didn't say that managers are ex-teachers. lots of hct managers have not taught before. i said supervisors need to be allowed to get closer to their programs - they are currently restricted in doing this because of endless meetings, Q&A reports etc.
and finally..... I didn't jump up - i put a post that didn't agree with yours - calm down yourself - no way for a leader to behave
i have taught and managed and received superlative feedback on both and am sure others can do the same if the culture is right in the institution |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: good hct teachers |
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| al bidarnd wrote: |
| [Supervisors need to get more with their programs and more with the teachers needs and abilities - no one is asked what they want to teach - we're constantly moved from one course to the next with a reinvention of the wheel every year. We're also put on committees other people are more qualified and interested to be put on - seems a waste of human resources - let teachers teach on the courses they want to, keep some continuity in programs. |
I wanted to address this separately because this very issue came up when I was at HCT. It was almost my second semester and the teachers were already grumbling about this exact situation. This constant reinvention of the wheel and not being able to use and refine the materials for a particular class and level. I was shocked that they never seemed to get to teach the same class twice. What a waste of teacher effort!!
Just by chance, I was eating lunch alone at a table when the Head and the English Supervisor walked in and asked if they could join me. As those of you who read this board know, I am not afraid of giving my opinion... especially when I have facts to back it up. I asked why they did this. The answer was that since we are all "professionals," we should all be able to walk into any class and teach it. While my mind was saying what a ludicrous bunch of crap that was - my years in accounting and having to convince my bosses that - no, actually they didn't have enough money to do X - helped. Though I padded it and was super polite about it, I pointed out that teachers are not just pegs to fit in a hole, and while it made their jobs easy if they could close their eyes and drop us into a class schedule, it was unfair to both the students and the teachers. Some teachers are good at low level, some are not... and vice versa. I pointed out that while I considered myself a great writing teacher, I also considered myself lousy at listening/speaking mainly because I didn't like teaching those skills. Many teachers feel the opposite way. I managed to make the case that if you can give most of the teachers classes that they like you will have happier teachers that do a better job - as the students deserved. And isn't that why we were there? Amazingly, my idea was implemented at my branch. For the next 2+ years, we teachers had input and almost always got the courses that we wanted to teach.
Now... HCT was much smaller then, and if you have never done scheduling, you may not realize how difficult it is. With my accounting background, I found I was quite good at it... and at my previous job, I often helped the course leaders who found it difficult with just a half dozen teachers and courses. (classroom availability is the kicker) I volunteered to help out with the scheduling if they wanted and I did each semester. When the woman who did it would reach an impasse, she would call me to help.
With the size of HCT branches now, this must be a total nightmare. I don't know if it would even be possible to do this in the larger branches. Think about the complexity of matching student schedules to room availabilities to teachers' preferences. It is not just management laziness or orneriness or even lack of competence. It is a matter of time and a person who can do the job. At my branch it was handed off to a secretary who also had a job... so for about two weeks, she was handed what was, in effect, a second full-time job.
I was able to present the problem and help with the cure. The other teachers had merely muttered and complained about it for years. So, if you want to tweak the system, you will probably need to help with the cure too.
VS |
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ckhl
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Posts: 214
Location: SE Asia
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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lot of them barely made the grade for college and really need the basics - and the supervisors also need to be allowed to get back to basics and listening to teachers - or lots more of the best teachers will continue leaving
Ain't that the truth. The problem is that advocating the need for basic literacy skills and what that entails in the classroom isn't sexy. It won't raise profile and provides little opportunity for posturing. |
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