Advice for how to survive and thrive from Sarah

My tips for thriving in Saudi Arabia:

 

A: Be prepared to accept that you will be in a very different working environment, social environment and cultural environment. There may be times when things leave you feeling very confused and frustrated. Understand this is a part of the process of adapting to a new environment. Individuals who have the worst time in foriegn environments are those who focus on complaining, belittling the culture and who have no interest in being compassionate or understanding the situation they are functioning in. Accept ambiguity, be open and patient.

 

B: Reserve time for your hobbies or personal development. This can be a hobby like painting, cooking or going on hikes in the desert. Having free time is also useful if you want to enhance your skill set, go to lectures, learn Arabic, become and IELTS examiner or take the CELTA or DELTA. Enhancing your skill set can help you for the rest of your life.

Guest post by Sarah Ali

Find more of her advice on:

http://www.sarahali.us/teaching-in-the-middle-east-blog.html 

What People Are Saying About ''Teaching English in Saudi Arabia: Strategies and Class Activities''

Stay tuned for the official eBook Launch date-- coming in 2013!

What people are saying:

   ”Teaching in Saudi Arabia is both challenging and rewarding.   I think this book gives an accurate overview of the challenges faced in Saudi classrooms, as well as some awesome activities and strategies to help you have a successful and rewarding teaching experience. I wish that I had had this book when I first started teaching in the Kingdom!”–Janine C. Galindo (taught in Saudi Arabia for 13 months)

 ”I so want to thank you for this valuable resource. It’s really helpful and  the cultural nuances you document are so true for these Saudi girls. I can only give positive feedback.” - Joan Carpenter, English Instructor (was teaching in Saudi Arabia at the time of making this comment)

 ”I’ve enjoyed reading it. I feel like it echoes a lot of what I went through and felt about teaching in Saudi.”- Greg Wirch, taught in Saudi Arabia for 1 year