Day #1 of work at Al Huson CDC (Career Development Center). The center is completely state of the art. 15 computers in the computer room, a conference room, receptionist desk, and two offices for the directors. We have internet, a kitchenette, and a boat load of Nescafe so in this department we are good to go! The Al Huson University itself, is quite small, about 5,000 students all packed into a campus composed of 5 buildings. It is quaint but beautiful. Littered with olive trees, large open corridors, and a youthful student body, I think it will become a very comfortable place to work.
Praise Allah for the amazing staff of professors, otherwise I would have been utterly screwed. At first thought I assumed that today, (being my first day of work) would be full of enthralling tasks like introductions, training, getting situated and the like. But NO! I arrived to work around 9:45am and my students showed up ready to go at 10:30am although class didn't even begin till 11:00am. Holy crap was I not expecting that. I currently have a 1 page outline for a 3-6 month course, no books, no workspace, and about zero knowledge of teaching English...yikes this job is going to be a challenge.
Ok ok so I know I sound a bit freaked out (which honestly I am), but seriously I am really excited for this opportunity. I get to make my own curriculum and classroom and have A LOT of freedom and independence. Only problem is...my students have already graduated from a 2 year program and have various degrees in engineering, but they have absolutely no English background. Today in class I was like "Hello, my name is Trisha or Batrisha" and the were like "uuuughhhhhh wtf are you saying strange foreign lady with an afro!"
So just a small hurdle to jump and we will be speaking English in no time. So we did introductions today, to the best of our abilities. Then the Al Huson professors stepped in and began translating and explaining everything I said in Arabic. I think I will need a permanent translator in the classroom for at least the next few weeks. Praise Allah that the weekend in the Arab world is Friday and Saturday, because now I have 2 days to prepare before my next class. Deep breath, it's going to take a few weeks to get the ball rolling, but the students are dedicated and so am I. I mean it;s not like their English could get any worse...we can only move forward.
All in all my end goal is to in 3 months, maybe longer if needed, turn 21 students with no English training, into engineering supervisors, ready to go on site, communicate in English with people in an international setting. I also have to teach etiquette, proper manners and body language, self-grooming and attire, oh yeah and how to read and write.
Ohhhh and p.s. all my students are male. And all my colleagues are male. Surprise, surprise.
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