My appraisal took place this week and I now feel like I have completed the contract. Except there is still just over a month to see out. It was an opportunity to officially vent some feelings and have my comments about the programme recorded. Of which more shortly.
I have booked a flight to Jeddah and am going with seven others next week to visit the Red Sea and chill out away from Riyadh. The mini break can't come soon enough. It looks like being the only trip between now and my flight home on 27 June. I requested my exit visa yesterday. Before that, I am going to the American Embassy for a Marines organised party... JD, here I come.
I have finished the penultimate week of teaching and can look forward to a pleasant final week consisting of final exam revision and accurately counting the number of students present and absent. Despite plenty of rumours the university are not increasing the threshold of absences that the student are allowed and attendance remains compulsory for the final week, ahead of the exams, which begin on 4 June. I have been showing Doctor Who in class recently at the end of the lessons, as reward for their IELTS results and an excellent debate about the moon landings. And incredibly we watched Chris Morris' black comedy about Muslim suicide bombers, 'Four Lions', with some of them... they got nearly all the jokes. So far, we have got away with it. Haram, no doubt... but educational and funny, nonetheless.
This is of little concern to the higher level students who have already taken an IELTS exam and achieved a score of band 5.0 or higher and are subsequently exempt from the final exam - which accounts for 50% of the semester marks. This applies to 18 of my 25 remaining students. So I have just 7 students left who are taking the exam and interested in turning up next week. Remedial classes take place this weekend and the following weekend for those that need it. Fortunately my first name doesn't begin with an 'A', 'B' or 'Y' and I didn't make the list for taking these particular classes. Phew! Who needs that, really?
The twelve-month contracts for 2011-2012 have been finalised and published. Bell are still involved in recruitment, although have been given less places than before. I have declared no interest in returning and subsequently stated this in my appraisal this week. During an hour long meeting I explained why. Despite my positive feelings about what a great experience it has been for me, I had to relay my constructive criticism of the place. The PDMS appraisal system which applies to everyone, who really has any bearing on those intending to return. It is a rough, arbitrary way to assess a teacher's performance. My motivations to carry out all my duties, never miss a day through illness and contribute successfully to the programme have all been achieved. But I was internally motivated by things other than wanting to prove how good I am and secure a place for next year. As I have explained to a few people here and in my appraisal meeting, I was motivated to do well on the back my own perceived 'failure' in January, whereby I was employed by Bell on the Young Learner Programme in Bedgebury, yet didn't teach one single lesson. This internal motivation, if explained to people, accounts for my attitude towards my work... I can still feel it pushing every single day, even now.
My students have been obsessed recently about a proposed intention for loads of women to take to the streets in their cars on 17 June. As this CNN report and this Al Jazeera report shows the campaign group, Women 2 Drive, led by Manal al Sharif, are trying to encouraging women to take to the streets and disobey the cultural 'law' - Saudi Arabia remains the only country in the world where women are banned from driving, except this is only really enforced by the religious police.
This is one example of a country that is going to have to change from within. The middle east uprising across the whole of the Arab world is having its effect. We are yet to see real protests (because they are also banned) and we are yet to see real societal change (because people are still a little scared) but things will change and this country will begin to see changes and concessions soon. Saudis, especially women and young people, are all too aware of the outside world and are getting envious of the minor freedoms allowed elsewhere. The King appears to be a progressive man but it would take some time to filter through change.
There have been more student complaints this semester than any other so far, according to my supervisor in my appraisal. Although I have relayed my concerns about the students have too much power over the teachers here, I believe it is showing a trend towards not taking things lying down. There is general unrest, which sometimes manifests in students stupidly trying to challenge their marks or attendance figure, but sometimes comes from a desire to show unhappiness with treatment... perhaps a microcosm of what is happening in wider Saudi society. As I explained to my supervisor, these kids will not be contained forever. They will get MORE demanding, not LESS. Although they don't have an Allah-given right to favourable treatment, they could be persuaded to start challenging some of the constructs that are deeply ingrained in wider society.
NOTE: CURRENTLY SKYPE IS DOWN - CALLS NOT POSSIBLE.
