Some Great Photos Suitable for Teaching Activities in Saudi Arabia

Want some teaching materials that are easy to adapt to any level class, and works well for teaching men or women?

Try this photo pack I created while I was in Saudi Arabia for classes taught while teaching in Riyadh.

I made these photos because it is very tricky to find suitable visual images that would pass the cultural sensitivity guidelines I had to work within. And that I could get printed off (so get prints made  efore you go). Since they were given the green light where I worked, and were really well received by my students, they are likely to work well for you too.

 You can get the photo pack here: www.eslincontext.com ( click on ' photo packs' on the left hand side and scroll down to ' Scenes from Saudi Arabia'.)

www.eslincontext.com

The photos are of a variety of situations in Saudi Arabia: weather scenes, shopping in a bazaar in downtown Riyadh, people meeting and talking in a hotel lobby (series of photos) and a woman teaching a class ( series of photos).

The photo series work well to teach a variety or verb tenses: present simple ( What`s the weather like? Describe what you see in this picture? stating the facts of the situation depicted, dialogues for role plays) the continuous/ progressive tenses (describe what is happening/happened/will be happening 10 minutes later) and perfect tenses (by the time this picture was taken, what has/had/will have had happened?) and perfect continuous/ perfect progressive ( by the time X happened [imagine an event depicted at some point in the photo series], what has/had been happening/ will have had been happening?)

You can teach all parts of speech with these photos, and adapt your dialogues and activities to suit the needs of whatever level of language learner you are dealing with.

Since photo are so versatile and are easily portable, working just as well in print an in digital formats (on your smart phone during a private lesson or when projected onto an interactive whiteboard) they are the perfect teaching aid.

Best of all, the students always responded to the photos when I used them in class. The glazed look of boredom passed from their faces, replaced by active interest. Once they perked up, they usually participated well in the next activity based on the photo(s).

If you want more ideas about how to do engaging interactive activities using photos, be sure to download the free ebook ''Using Photos to Teach English' on my site:
www.eslincontext.com ( click on ' instructional materials').

Enjoy!

Teaching in Saudi Arabia Part Five: Student motivation strategies

-->

We asked teachers what they had found worked well to motivate their students, and here is what they suggested:

Tips on how to get your students motivated:

“Find out the students reason for studying and what they enjoy then work from there. But some girls here really don't want to be motivated so don't take it personally when everything you know doesn't work.’’

“Be strict. These girls are not attending university because they want to. They are attending because of social pressure and because they get paid to come. Some even come because they have nothing better to do. Its important to make the class entertaining and be very strict with discipline. These girls lack punctuality, classroom respect, and ability to be consistent in their work and submission. Its important to start off the in classroom strict and clear of expectations.’’

“Your personal relationship with your students first and foremost - I personally have found that when you make 'contact ' with your students - ie you've got to know them and have 'got through' to them - ie effective communication - you will have got their attention, and respect - you're halfway there........this helps you to continue giving them examples of how improved their lives can be it they learn English!

“Examples of how much easier job-hunting will be - how much more enjoyable travelling abroad would be reminders of how proud their parents and family will be of them.... etc’’

“Marks - real or imaginary. If you want them to do it, hang a mark on it. Sadly, I haven't found anything else - not fun, food, or anything overly English related. They do enjoy sharing info about Saudi - places to go, things to see, animals and such, and doing make-up and nails.’’

“Using realia. They get bored easily and their classes are long. It is also a new form of education to them where they have to work for themselves and think for themselves. So putting things into context and using reali life situations, makes it more interesting for them.’’

¨I have found that if students were not already motivated, there was nothing I could do. Wish there was a magic wand for this one!´´

“Being enthusiastic and persistent, consistent and not taking everything too seriously. Fun and passion in what you're talking about are infectious.’’

“Talk to students about future goals and aspirations, help them to envisage this and how English can be incorporated in their dreams. A lot of the students' want to be translators and doctors, so the teacher could demonstrate a day in the life of one of these people (via interviews on youtube etc.) and ask questions about why English is important to learn and the benefits etc. If students can see tangible results, they are more likely to feel motivated and want it for themselves. Also showing strong female role models from the Arab world. My students were inspired by a Qatari Shaykha who did a lot of humanitarian work and supported womens' rights.’’