Job Discussion Forums

leez · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: Aljouf Uni and environs

Hi. Anyone familiar with this uni or its setting? Also, this is my first foray to SA. Are uni curricula generally sufficient or shall I plan on substituting with materials from home?

Thanks,
Leez

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 3:09 am Post subject:

al-jouf have no environs... You couldn't ask for a more remote outpost in the kingdom.

No, wait! There's always the Empty Quarter...

NCTBA

Marquess · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 165

The curricula will consist of textbooks seemingly chosen at random and consist of books that are out of print, American esl textbooks for esl students living in America and with levels ranging from pre int to upper int. You will only have a third of the books and there is no bookshop in Jouf. The students will allegedly be intermediate but in reality they will and always will be beginners. You obviously have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Bring your own stuff. Getting photocopies will be torture and the students will not want to do anything except pass the course. Luckiky unless you speak Arabic you won't have much in the way of conversation with them.

leez · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject:

thx, m, i'm already mentally shifting my contents to include all my beginning level stuff. what about bringing a printer/cartridges (if i'm living on the dark side of the moon, i will assume cartridges are not available, though i would be grateful for electricity; too much to ask?)

guess i should change my name to,
ignorance is bliss.

xo

Marquess · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 165

Yes but ignorance will not turn out to be bliss for you.

leez · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject:

tough crowd to play to. with this training, SA should be cake.

any constructive info out there to be shared?

thx

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Al Jouf University is new. Expect the students to have a low level of English and poor study skills. They will be mailnly locals who did not get into one of the more established unis (KFUPM, KAAU, KSU etc)

They will probably ne nice though. Nowhere in KSA have I come across the "Blackboard Jungle"

leez · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject:

scot, glad to hear that the university actually exists. only online campus pics are artist renderings of the 'after' project...even the satellite map shots yield nada.

knowing what you know now, what would you consider to be essential to bring (i.e., not available for purchase) for a semblance of successful teaching? can one hope for a 'smart room' or shall i plan on packing dry erase markers, paper and pencils, that sort of thing?

i don't mind carting stuff, but why if not necessary; know what i mean?

thx again,
leez

Marquess · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 165

There won't be a smart room. The best you will get is a whiteboard. Out of interest why do you consider it your job to provide stationery and board markers?

leez · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject:

m, once upon a time i taught english at a girls' orphanage in guatemala. an adequately stocked school in terms of study/reading materials and supplies, however, 'round the corner was the local school, void of ANYTHING except a chalkboard and desks. as bizarre as that was to me (elementary teacher with a room chock full), it was the reality in this rural school house.

this was in '97; hopefully times have changed there, but for some reason, i have it in my mind that i will be walking into a similar situation in this SA provincial school. i do not mind supplying what i need to make the c/r environment easier to negotiate, that's all. want to minimize the 'i-wish-i-would-have-brought.....syndrome.'

g'day,
xo

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

leez · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject:

thx, all

being in contact with a westerner working for same company is helping to get questions answered. yes, i know it is going to be like a trip to the moon; thrill seekers only need apply!

leez
xo

ps. have learned a lot by skimming the posts here; fascinating reading.
pps. sure glad i don't have to allot weight for a desk in my duffel. thank heavens for small favors...

DenUk · Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 60 Location: Ask me..

leez · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

denUK,

after reading a bazillion posts, have stirred all the info with my gut juices and have come up with my own concoction o' stuff to haul. may have to pay extra, maybe not, but don't care.

bringing my laptop, printer, cartridges, and about 60# of books, teaching materials and classroom supplies that i have on hand.

once upon a time, i drove to meet a never-before-met relative and had no idea what to expect, so hauled my bedroll with me in case i needed to claim a piece of floor for sleeping. when i got to the house and learned that i would have a 'guest wing' to myself, i was smiling. expect anything, but hope for the best. Smile

if you would like to pm, please do. that way we can share knowledge to date, etc. without boring the seasoned folks here. Wink

leez
xo