There is so much to write here, that I have to break this into parts. Will try and write something up regularly.
Not wanting to sound too much like an expert, I outline observations and some experiences of being involved in the recruitment process in the KS of A. The points below relate to public and private institutions. The more unconventional requirements could be said to apply to the private sector, but may have some applicability to the public sector too, although this may be changing as the demand for teachers reaches peak levels.
Question 1: What is the one single quality or characteristic that can at least guarantee an interview?
Answer 1 : Being white and male. Sad but true. When one thinks of English speakers what immediately comes to the fore is images of a white man, with blue eyes, blond hair, and an extremely aristocratic British accent – “I say old boy, how ghastly, don’t they know any better!!”
Whereas in the West people are brought up to be more open minded in their thinking, the culture here is a little different. In that same spirit of open-mindedness, one can only deduce that the educational opportunities afforded in the West are not available here. Although even “Western open-mindedness” is open to question; especially when it comes to economics and power. At that point, open-mindedness goes out of the window. Instead, words such as suppress, conquer and 'civilise' come to mind. Of course what may count as being civilised in the West, may have no relationship to what counts as being civilised in the East. Local knowledge vs. Globalisation? A topic for another day.
There’s no point blaming the KSA or in fact other parts of the Gulf or the wider world – maybe it’s just human nature – and the probability is that this is the real issue. Islam is colour blind, so we can't place the blame there.
So the question becomes how do we change it?
Answer: We can’t ( not in the short-term ) and so we need to work out ways in which the problem can be resolved.
Possible resolutions: Qualifications, experience, enthusiasm, a can-do attitude, devotion to the cause.
Not wanting to sound too much like an expert, I outline observations and some experiences of being involved in the recruitment process in the KS of A. The points below relate to public and private institutions. The more unconventional requirements could be said to apply to the private sector, but may have some applicability to the public sector too, although this may be changing as the demand for teachers reaches peak levels.
Question 1: What is the one single quality or characteristic that can at least guarantee an interview?
Answer 1 : Being white and male. Sad but true. When one thinks of English speakers what immediately comes to the fore is images of a white man, with blue eyes, blond hair, and an extremely aristocratic British accent – “I say old boy, how ghastly, don’t they know any better!!”
Whereas in the West people are brought up to be more open minded in their thinking, the culture here is a little different. In that same spirit of open-mindedness, one can only deduce that the educational opportunities afforded in the West are not available here. Although even “Western open-mindedness” is open to question; especially when it comes to economics and power. At that point, open-mindedness goes out of the window. Instead, words such as suppress, conquer and 'civilise' come to mind. Of course what may count as being civilised in the West, may have no relationship to what counts as being civilised in the East. Local knowledge vs. Globalisation? A topic for another day.
There’s no point blaming the KSA or in fact other parts of the Gulf or the wider world – maybe it’s just human nature – and the probability is that this is the real issue. Islam is colour blind, so we can't place the blame there.
So the question becomes how do we change it?
Answer: We can’t ( not in the short-term ) and so we need to work out ways in which the problem can be resolved.
Possible resolutions: Qualifications, experience, enthusiasm, a can-do attitude, devotion to the cause.
So for budding recruits out there, don't let this 'skin deep problem' put you off. Its performance on the job that counts ( I say this with a certain amount of hope and cynicism at the same time)
To be continued
1 comment:
Greetings,
You have mentioned the requirements, qualification, and obstacles that face adult-ESL teachers to be hired in Saudi Arabia. You stated a strange and superficial, yet an important qualification for an ESL teacher in Saudi Arabia, " white male".
Generally, Saudis are not white people like the English teacher of their imaginations preferences. They are Moslems; and Islam as you mentioned is color-blind. People need to open their minds and hearts, not only their eyes.
Q. What are the problem of adult ESL teachers while teaching there?
Thank you.
Abdelmonem Saad Ahmed
abdelmonem.ahmed@waldenu.edu
personal: abdelmonemsaad@hotmail.com
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