Teaching in Abu Dhabi...

Teaching in Abu Dhabi...

Even when they said, “prepare yourself”, I really couldn’t understand how different teaching is here. Only when you arrive in your classroom and begin interacting with your students and faculty members can you begin to scratch the surface of what it’s like to teach here. First off, it’s been very positive for me so far. Comparing myself to others from my group I have been extremely lucky when it comes to settling in my school. Let’s start at the beginning…

The schools here are set up so that each school is based on a ‘cycle’. I am in the KG cycle. In my school, there are only KG1 and KG2 classes (JK and SK for those of you reading this in Canada). The school is set up in a circle, leading in from the main hallway. If you go to the left, you are in the KG1 hallway. To the right, you are in the KG 2 hallway. In the center is our main play area where all children are able to go to on break. The resources that this particular school has are amazing…back home, I taught in the HCDSB, one of the most progressive boards in Ontario…here, the standards are even higher. Not only are the classes stocked with amazing resources (ie LCD projectors above every white board in each class, art material cupboards full in each class), the gym is well supplied, the school has an amazing play area full of costumes, pretend food/houses, the library is well supplied with bright and colourful materials for this age…and should you need anything, we are likely to get it if we only ask. I am in the KG1 cycle, knowing that next year, I will likely have the same children as they progress to KG2, and if I should stay, I would start again in KG1 for my next cohort.

The rest of the cycles are 1, 2, and 3 (much like our primary, junior and intermediate/senior). Each cycle has their own school in their area. I have to do some research into what the birth rate is in each area as there are no shortages of children, babies, women expecting, and busy children’s stores and departments in every mall.

As I mentioned, I’ve been extremely lucky. In my classroom, I have a beautiful and talented Arabic teacher who teaches the children Arabic and Islamic studies and is with me most of the time. I am starting to face difficulty when I am alone with the kids doing Jolly Phonics and various science and gross motor activities, but we just started behaviour tracking, and I believe it can only get better. I have to get used to names like Mohammed, Katija, and Rashid. They are not too difficult, but they are still 3.5-4year olds. The behaviour in this age group is universal! In addition to my Arabic teacher, there is an English teacher next store that has been doing English studies with my class AND her class during my absence while I was waiting for my plane ticket. What’s very special about her is that she was born here, but focussed her training in English. She is considered an EMT like me (English Medium Teacher), but she is also fluent in Arabic…a true asset to me and our school. Going into the classroom, therefore, has been a good transition so far as the routines have been set in place, and most diagnostic assessments have been complete.

The staff at the school are incredible. My Arabic and English colleagues have been incredibly welcoming. We plan together as a team and share ideas within our expected working hours. Most of our Arabic teachers for from the area. The English teachers are from all over the world. I have to giggle when I hear the children beginning to converse in English…each classroom is picking up the accent from their English Medium Teacher. You can hear the southern drawl of my colleagues from the south US, the cheerful Irish step, and the Canadian (eh?) every now and again.

Other teachers that I have arrived with aren’t so lucky. The teachers in the higher grades have to deal with students that have not have teachers for 5 weeks, so in the meanwhile, they’ve treated some of their time as ‘spares’ and now all of a sudden have to sit in a class, continue their English learning, and have to listen to a foreign teacher. That’s one of the unfortunate realities. We are just ending our third full week.

For the first time, in a long time, I’ve felt that have little idea what I am doing in the classroom. The planning process and assessment protocols are strict and lengthy, but standardized and relatively easy to follow once you start going. I look forward to going to school again. Although it’s the end of October, you will find me beginning my day by parking my car, waving to our great security guard, and shaking the sand out of my sandals before I step into a highly air conditioned environment. My code is entered, my finger print is scanned, and I join the ladies for sweet Arabic tea before heading to the halls and welcoming the children to a brand new day.