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We ended our survey with an open
question asking for additional comments and suggestions and received a number
of revealing and informative comments:
“As much as my professional self would
prefer to shy away from this practice, the students I taught responded to me
the best when the lines of teacher and friend were slightly blurred. We don't
need to, nor should we, ingratiate ourselves to them, but they will generally
work harder when they feel a great deal of support and appreciation for their
efforts, as well as a general concern for their personal and scholastic
happiness.’’
“Always teach and treat, all of your students
with respect be firm but fair - the same rules apply in Saudi Arabia as elsewhere.
Be realistic about their levels of motivation and don't expect their levels of
participation to be as high as in other countries continuously try to ensure
you have their interest by developing as many fun activities as the curriculum
allows!’’
“Always have an open-mind. It can be
very difficult, but students know when you are rejecting their ideals. Once
they see you don't accept them, they will be difficult. That applies to all
students around the world.’’
Concluding
Comments
We found it a very useful and
informative exercise to poll teachers at the end of a semester about their
successes and suggestions for effective teaching strategies. We hope you feel
the same. In summary, the responses indicate that standard TESOL and CELTA
techniques for teaching and class management work well in Saudi Arabia, as they
do elsewhere (kinesthetic and interactive activities, using additional realia
and material in addition to the text, using a constant variety of activities
and formats: group work, pair work, individual work, open class work). Some
specific differences lie in the increased amount of time spent engaged in
classroom management activities in Saudi Arabia compared to other countries
(dealing with cell phone usage, attendance policies, chatting in class,
participation issues) and the need for a wide variety of management tactics
applied on a constant and ongoing basis. Another difference is the need for
relationship building with students on an individual level. Other, universally
accepted, professional teaching practices work well here too, including staying
positive and enthusiastic, smiling and not losing your temper and treating the
students and their culture(s) with respect. It is important to be friendly,
professional and approachable. It is useful to be organized, use interactive
activities and constantly changing types of activities and delivery methods for
lessons.
