My Teaching and Administrative Experience in the Middle East: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract

This paper explores the evolution of my experience in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) culminating in my current employment as an administrator and instructor in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on TEFL as my passion for more than 20 years and highlights the impact that my various TEFL roles have had on my teaching strategies throughout my academic professional career various institutions. This paper emphasizes that despite the teacher\u27s vast experience in designing courses, training teachers and teaching at all levels, new cultural contexts, students\u27 expectations as well as the dynamics of divergent administrator/teacher/student cultural perspectives (especially when the administrator/teacher represents a minority culture) present great challenges to successful interpersonal, educational and administrative approaches. Working with students from Saudi Arabia has brought a change in my teaching perspectives and techniques due to their unique social environment, religious beliefs, historical educational approach and family orientation

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