Teaching in the Gulf Region: Cultural Tips

It is quite normal that before we start our first overseas teaching placement, our heads are absolutely jam-packed with questions to which we need immediate answers. Questions like what should and shouldn't we do in our host country. How can we avoid being trapped in any potential cultural shock that may ultimately turn our teaching journey into a nightmare? Therefore, to best help you have a very rewarding and enjoyable experience here with us and to develop some cultural skills, we would like you to carefully consider these culture tips. Inside the classroom

Be very flexible and lower your expectations as things won’t usually work out the way planned or guaranteed. No matter how much planning you do, you must always expect the unexpected and be ready to cope with them.

Be humble. Try not to assume your methodology, lifestyle and your standards are better than that of your host country just because you are a native speaker.

Plan your lessons in accordance with the conventions, lifestyles and beliefs of your students you will be working with. Certain topics are still considered taboo. Always make sure to fully research your chosen topic before you introduce it to your class.

Cheating is notoriously rampant during exam hours but it is quite tolerable. However, while invigilating exams, an iron hand in a velvet glove is preferably required.

While assigning homework, students will always respond saying ‘Inshaallah’ means if god’s willing. In an Islamic context, the phrase implies submission to god’s decision but needs to be followed by positive action. Here, however, it is often uttered to mean good intention but rarely followed by any positive action.

A student may be absent during the first hours but will show up later and ask you to mark him present. Students expect favors from teachers regardless of whether they are reasonable or not.

Expect gifts from students, but once given make sure they need something in return.

Most course-books are authentic and may contain some culturally sensitive topics (e.g. cinema, clubbing). The management may ask you simply to skip it.

A student may ask you to stop a certain listening simply because it contains some music. Some students consider music as something ‘Haram’ forbidden. Others may just smudge pictures of girls on the course-book. Just accept the fact and don’t argue. It rarely happens though.

Outside the classroom

There are five prayers a day during which all shops, malls and every selling point comes to a halt. They all close for about 20 to 30 minutes until the prayer is over.

There are no bars at all. If you consider quitting drinking, Saudi Arabia is your perfect place par excellence.

While walking down the street or sightseeing in malls, the young may greet you by saying ‘how are you?’ Just smile and answer back.

In supermarkets, some shoppers expect the cashiers to put the groceries in bags. So take it easy and just enjoy your queue.

Driving here is an absolute insanity. The young drive at very high speed and rarely abide by driving codes. Just be careful!

Having said that, bear in mind that every place is just a different place with different culutre. Thus, haivng an open mind with the ability to adopt to another culture is your ‘cast-iron guarrantee’to have a wonderful and rewarding overseas teaching experience.