| UMM ZAKIYYAH | American English Teacher in Riyadh: Professional, Experienced, and Dedicated |
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| Wednesday, 26 October 2011 00:00 |
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Promotion
"I love teaching, and this is an absolute must in the field of education in my view… "I don’t offer clients the empty 'I’m a native speaker' line. Yes, I’m a native English speaker. But what’s more important is that I’m a professional teacher…" Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m an American expat currently residing in Riyadh, and I’m a native English speaker—or, as they say here in Saudi, I am “aslee” American. I come from a family of educators (who all live in America except me), and I have a passion for excellence in teaching and education. What services do you offer? Please describe in detail. I’m an independent tutor and consultant, and I offer different English language services to individuals, schools, and businesses in Saudi Arabia. In addition to companies, my clients include native English speakers (who are preparing for college in the States) as well as Saudis and other non-native English speakers who live in the Kingdom. My services center around two areas: English language teaching and educational development.
English language learning Standardized exam prep (SAT, TOEFL, GRE, and GED) Essay and research writing (for school, university, and work) Public speaking and debate Creative writing Educational development services include: Curriculum development for schools utilizing the American curriculum College-prep orientation for prospective (or current) students at American colleges and universities Teacher training and professional consulting for English curricula What are your qualifications and experience? I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education (1997) and a Master of Arts degree in English Language Learning (2010), both awarded by American universities. I am also CELTA-certified (UK-based Cambridge University’s Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults), and I have more than fifteen years teaching experience. Currently, I train teachers and administrators of Saudi schools regarding effective English language teaching methods. I also have experience teaching the language and writing portions of the American SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test) and GRE (Graduate Record Exam) tests, which are required examinations for entry into many American colleges and universities. Additionally, in both America and Saudi Arabia, I have received numerous awards for my teaching and writing. For my MA in English Language Learning, I was awarded the Classroom Excellence Scholarship at my university. I am also the author of five books (which are used worldwide in schools and universities) and numerous print and online magazine and newspaper articles. I am also a professional public speaker and have been a special guest on numerous radio and television shows, making my qualifications both professional and practical regarding the range of services I offer. What makes your services unique, and why should I (or others) consider hiring you?
I believe what makes my services unique are three things: my professional and educational background and experience; my genuine love for teaching and excellence; and the student/client-centered creativity I apply to my work. I often joke to my clients and students, saying, “I’m allergic to boredom!” And it’s true. I don’t just believe learning should be interesting. I believe learning must be interesting; otherwise you don’t learn. As for why you or others should hire me: Well, let me be honest. I’m not the right person for everyone, especially those looking only for the “status quo” English language training that is popular in language institutes. I’m the right person for only those who like what I offer—personable, intellectually-challenging, student-centered learning—and come prepared to benefit from it. Specifically, the “right client for me” has three characteristics: Sincere desire to learn and excel Dedication to do what it takes to succeed, no matter the obstacles Appreciation for the services I offer and a desire to benefit from them As an experienced teacher, I can tell you that although there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of clients who have all these traits, there are many others merely looking for a “magical solution” to their struggles or ambitions in English, or who simply want “an American” to sit with them for an hour or two each week. Some people think if a teacher is “American,” the teacher can somehow magically pass on that “American-ness” to them—even with no knowledge, background, or experience in what’s being taught! Yes, I’m American, but that’s not why someone should hire me (or anyone else) to help improve their English language skills. I’m a professional, and you should hire me only if my expertise is what you’re looking for in a teacher. What are the logistics of your services? In general, the educational services I offer depend on the client’s needs. However, currently, I teach only female clientele (in schools and businesses) and female teenagers and adults based in Riyadh. Currently, I’m offering special sessions in SAT preparation as well as other skills (as described above) to interested students and clients. I hope to expand to offer more in the future inshaaAllah. However, I do not accept everyone who is interested in my services. Clients are interviewed beforehand, and I accept only those who I feel are (as I mentioned above) sincere in their desire to learn and excel, are dedicated to putting in the time and effort for success, and genuinely believe I have something to offer them in their road to success.
What do you expect of your students/clients? I expect from my clients only the three characteristics that I mentioned. But I don’t expect students to “love” English, SAT-prep, essay-writing, or anything else that inspires them to contact me. As I often say to my students, “Let’s be real. We don’t always like what we have to do. In fact, most times, we don’t!” But as long as we recognize the value of what needs to be done and we do what it takes to reach our goal, and we respect the people who’ll help us get there, we will succeed, bi’idhnillaah. In other words, in lieu of “loving” what they must learn, clients should apply recognition, action, and respect to the learning process. What can your students/clients expect from you personally?
Just like I expect certain things from my students and clients, bi’idhnillaah, my students and clients can expect certain things from me. And these expectations can be summarized into three:
What can your students/clients expect to accomplish from your services?
As with all things, in the end, it is only Allah, the Creator, who guarantees results. I can only “guarantee” my clients that I’ll use my knowledge, expertise, and heart to help them reach the results that Allah decreed for them. By the mercy of Allah, I’ve had wonderful successes—in America and in Saudi Arabia—as a result of my teaching and educational consulting. On a whole, I regularly receive positive feedback from former clients and students— in the form of letters, e-mails, phone calls, Facebook wall posts, and even student-nominated awards—as a result of my work. Nevertheless, I certainly can’t promise any “accomplishment” that clients will get from my services. But I will say this: Anyone who works with me should expect the best. Not from me per se, but from themselves. It is my firm belief that good teachers don’t teach students—they reach students. And when this happens, a student realizes his or her own potential, which often far exceeds what the teacher “taught” (and sometimes even what the teacher knows)! So what can clients expect from my services? Well, let’s work together to find out. From what I’ve seen, human accomplishments are varied and almost limitless. I’m as excited as you to find out yours. How does a client contact you for your services?
Interested clients can write to msruby.moore@gmail.com and/or call 053-424-2138 To promote your service or business on Saudi Life, contact us: advertise@saudilife.net |
English language services include:
Comments
I am so pleased to sign my daughters up for your services! You are well worth the effort and I pray Allah reward you for your dedication to students and young Muslima’s minds.
Best regards,
-Aisha, Natural Mom
BarakAllaahufee ki! And I'm so happy to have them. May Allah bring about excellence and success for all of us.
It might be pointed out that it's a lot easier reaching students and having wonderful successes when you can hand-pick them and accept only the ones you want to work with. The hard job of teaching comes when you have to reach a varied lot with mixed or unclear learning motivations (to put it politely).
Perhaps most importantly, when did Saudi Life become an Employment Services bulletin board for unabashed job soliciting?
Thanks, Jacoba, for taking time to read and comment.
Being a native speaker is a qualification in some cases, but not all. As you mentioned, if a person wishes to model a mainstream accent, then having a native speaker to work with is a qualification; in fact, if modeling is the only goal, then a professional is not needed. But this "native speaker" qualification for passing on a "mainstream accent" is most effective when working with children, as research in the field of language acquisition shows--particularly if speaking "correctly" is only the actual English language aspect that wishes to be gained from the native speaker. However, if further language skills like reading comprehension and writing skills need to be mastered, being a native speaker is not enough.
When the English language aspects wishing to be mastered expand to include exam prep, formal writing skills, and college preparatory subjects (particularly for teens and adults), a native speaker simply cannot offer this--at least not on account of merely being a native speaker. It is in this case that saying "I'm native speaker" is empty, as I discussed.
In any culture--Arabic, Spanish, Dutch, etc.---native speakers in and of themselves are not masters of formal writing and speaking. In fact, in every culture, skilled writers and speakers hold a special place amongst native speakers themselves. This is well-known.
Quoting jacoba:
Agreed! :) And my successes have come from when I did not have the opportunity to hand-pick them. Now is the first time in many years that I've had the opportunity to hand-pick clients. For more than 15 years, I've had the hard time of "teaching a varied lot with mixed and unclear learning motivations"--in both public and private schools in America and KSA. And by Allah's mercy, these are the students who regularly give me positive feedback and have nominated me for my teaching awards. :)
Again, thanks for commenting.
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