Job Discussion Forums

redeyes · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 254

Cleo, I just PM'd you offboard -- hope that's ok.

RE.

Cleopatra · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:59 pm Post subject:

One has to take it on a case by case basis, but my general advice to teachers is to 'let the students do the talking'. If you are asked your opinion on a 'sensitive' matter, feel free to deflect the question or change the subject.. Indeed, don't be embarrassed to refuse to answer the question outright. Saudi students are used to studying and living in a 'censored' environment and will perfectly understand why you may not want to be drawn on 'controversial' matters. Bear in mind also that some students are quite good at 'winding teachers up'. It's not unknown for students to provoke teachers into revealing personal opinions or information, and then using it against them.

Best to play it safe - there really should be no need to discuss politics or religion in the ESL classroom anyway.

redeyes · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 254

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

During my nineteen years in the Kingdom (in which period there were many, many "incidents" that one might think would provoke the local citizens to vent their rage against a handy "symbol of Western imperialism"), at only one time was any action directed against me.
That happened when President George W. Bush and Co. invaded Iraq. On three separate occasions, while I was on my ten-minute walk to work, what appeared to be Saudi male drivers (all of whom were in Toyota pick-ups, but were different individuals) aimed their vehicles at me as I was crossing a street. Had they wanted to actually hit me, they could have, without any difficulty, but they seemed satisfied just to give me a scare.
After the third time, I started taking a taxi to work.
Regards,
John

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

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject:

I think that it was the term "statistics" that set me off. Statistically speaking, I knew seven of the dead on the compound attacks.

NCTBA

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject:

Dear NCTBA,
I can see how that could affect one's viewpoint. I'm reminded of this quote:

"One death (when you know the person) is a tragedy; a million is a statistic."

Very sorry,
John

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject:

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

For what it's worth, when I worked for IPA Jeddah in 1994-96, the Khobar towers were bombed, and the next morning a student in class said to me, "Some of your compatriots were killed." or something very similar. I responded that while I didn't wish to see anyone killed, and was sad for the soldiers, who probably didn't ask to be sent to the KSA and were just sitting around in their housing, I wasn't angry. I said that if a bunch of Arab soldiers had been stationed in Detroit or somewhere to help make the world safe for Islam, they would probably have been bombed by the likes of Timothy McVeigh or somebody like that. Students appreciated my ability to examine issues from different perspectives and every day after that I found a flower on my lectern (not that all I did was lecture!)

007 · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject:

Dear 007,
Strange as it may sound, and hard though it may be to believe, it is indeed possible to have both civilized and welcoming as well as vicious and inhospitable people in the same country, the same city, even in the same classroom.
Regards,
John

MyTrunkshow · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

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

Yes. It's all very sanitized.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain