Would you live in MENA if you had to?

[mahboula 11]

I'd live there now if I had to. I would prefer not to right now though. We've talked about moving back there some day. I'd like to have plenty of money saved, have my oldest through high school, and finish some schooling myself. I do have two children, but their fathers are deceased, so there would be no problem with them leaving the country. I think though that I would give my oldest a choice to come or not, if the situation was that I had to go. As for my youngest, I think it would be a great experience for her. The language skills, the exposure to another culture, all the new friends...she'd love it!

Personally for me and my daughter living here with all the diverse cultures and the multi-language has beeen great! Plus so many life lessons for her ... plus the most important thing for me is the little stress I have here. Sure we have problems daily with the water, the neighbours, etc buuuut unlike in the US where with so much worries stress/anxiety literally slowly killing you!

Yes That's one thing I also noticed when I was in Algeria. People didn't seem so rushed and stressed out. My stress level went way down too.(of course it was like a vacation for me) . How hard would it be for me to find a decent job over there if we did decide to move?

[Henia 11]

I'd live there now if I had to. I would prefer not to right now though. We've talked about moving back there some day. I'd like to have plenty of money saved, have my oldest through high school, and finish some schooling myself. I do have two children, but their fathers are deceased, so there would be no problem with them leaving the country. I think though that I would give my oldest a choice to come or not, if the situation was that I had to go. As for my youngest, I think it would be a great experience for her. The language skills, the exposure to another culture, all the new friends...she'd love it!

Personally for me and my daughter living here with all the diverse cultures and the multi-language has beeen great! Plus so many life lessons for her ... plus the most important thing for me is the little stress I have here. Sure we have problems daily with the water, the neighbours, etc buuuut unlike in the US where with so much worries stress/anxiety literally slowly killing you!

Yes That's one thing I also noticed when I was in Algeria. People didn't seem so rushed and stressed out. My stress level went way down too.(of course it was like a vacation for me) . How hard would it be for me to find a decent job over there if we did decide to move?

Really depends on what your skills are! Medical workers are in demand here ... as well as Marketing and Business people. Also if you do hair or something similar in the beauty industry = macho dinaros! But most basic of jobs you could do is tutoring English ... if you have any degree then of course better pay. Minium of 300DA per hour w/o degree. Work for one of the several foreign companies doing marketing or anything using your English skills.

And last but not least, open your own business ... like buying wholesale hijebs or whatever from places like El Harrach and sell them in the markets or even better yet online ... lots of profit!

[Henia 11]

Thx for ur input Henia. I was talking to a girlfriend of mine that had taken her 9 year old to Jordan for just over a year. She said that he left here in the 3rd grade and when they came back to the USA he tested at 3rd grade level again so he had to repeat the 3rd grade and had to work hard to get up to level again. My son has issues in school as it is and I surely don't want him to be set back any due to a country relocation. *sigh* difficulties difficulties...

Well it would depend on the child first (their learning level and style) but also how much effort you put in their learning. If you just let them go off to school daily without helping them at home then sure one would except failure. But working with them at work or even putting them in a private or public funded school for foreign children is good way to go! I know I am working really hard to get us in a situation where I can transport her to the International school. And another option is homeschooling ... I follow a homeschooling program with my daughter (this summer) to keep her up to date on subjects that I can help her with like Math, Sciences, English, etc. This way she isn't falling back if/when we decide to go back!

i dont think i could never homeschool!my daughter would bring her homework home and say help me, she was in the fifth grade at the time and it's geometry! come on now!i wasn't exposed to geometry until i jr. high or maybe it was high school-don't remember and not to mention they teach this "new math" which still to this day don't understand how they even do multiplication.

That's great though Henia that you are doing a wonderful job with your kids, props to you!

There are alot of programs where they give step by step instructional work sheets. Plus alots of sites online! I know I use these ... easier on me and her! And I think this works better for the younger kids then older ... Older children I would be afraid too!

But thanks for the encouragment! I know I need it some days LOL!

[Nasturtium 500]

I want to homeschool my kids there but Ammar isn't sure if it's allowed in Jordan.

[Henia 11]

I want to homeschool my kids there but Ammar isn't sure if it's allowed in Jordan.

Many of the MENA donnot offically allow it but unoffical allowed to take the tests while homeschooling. But I would personally, use the American or UK homeschooling programs then the MENA ones!

[Nasturtium 500]

I want to homeschool my kids there but Ammar isn't sure if it's allowed in Jordan.

Many of the MENA donnot offically allow it but unoffical allowed to take the tests while homeschooling. But I would personally, use the American or UK homeschooling programs then the MENA ones!

That's what I wanted to do. Their educational system isn't *bad* but it is a bit behind ours and very behind in some areas. Some things which even seem so basic to us are not taught at all-- like that there are 7 continents. LOL! They also tend to lack in the sciences some. Science is one of the most fun subjects you can get a kid interested in if you do it correctly.

[Henia 11]

I want to homeschool my kids there but Ammar isn't sure if it's allowed in Jordan.

Many of the MENA donnot offically allow it but unoffical allowed to take the tests while homeschooling. But I would personally, use the American or UK homeschooling programs then the MENA ones!

That's what I wanted to do. Their educational system isn't *bad* but it is a bit behind ours and very behind in some areas. Some things which even seem so basic to us are not taught at all-- like that there are 7 continents. LOL! They also tend to lack in the sciences some. Science is one of the most fun subjects you can get a kid interested in if you do it correctly.

I find the education system here so boring for children. Not fun at all ... like when I was a child. We did so much experiments, art and exploring. Here is it so 1950s ... memorization and facts. They are not even excepted to get 100% of the their scores but if they get 50 or even 25% they are wowed by the child . Not wonder the drop out rate is so high. Even the teachers most of them are not fit to teach ... they bark at the children, rather then go down to their level and "teach" ... I wish they would get more Western teachers here ... or open a Western school! I would be first one to sign my kids up!

[Nasturtium 500]

I find the education system here so boring for children. Not fun at all ... like when I was a child. We did so much experiments, art and exploring. Here is it so 1950s ... memorization and facts. They are not even excepted to get 100% of the their scores but if they get 50 or even 25% they are wowed by the child . Not wonder the drop out rate is so high. Even the teachers most of them are not fit to teach ... they bark at the children, rather then go down to their level and "teach" ... I wish they would get more Western teachers here ... or open a Western school! I would be first one to sign my kids up!

Do the students there have to pay to go to school? I know in Jordan you have to pay per year for public school.

It's the same thing there... although they do get into scores a lot. The thing i've noticed (but can't seem to get him to recognize) is that in somehting like English, they have basically low-functioning English peakers teaching kids low-functioning English.. and think they are doing great. It's actually really terrible. I decided I'll just have to take over that part of the educational system in the village lol and be a tutor. It's really interesting how well they percieve themselves to be doing and yet they cannot carry on a most basic conversation with more than "Hello! How are you?" He says this is because they don't get to practice, but I was looking over some of their homework... practice is not the issue I could see where the students were sometimes being marked off for correct answers and obviously the teacher doesn't know one way or the other.

I too love the Western approach (which,. BTW, has disappeared from our school as well as being out of style) which involved art, expreiments, etc. I think hands-on learning is good for many kids, although not all kids. I have a whole lot of ideas involving instructional gardens, etc for the kids.

[Henia 11]

I find the education system here so boring for children. Not fun at all ... like when I was a child. We did so much experiments, art and exploring. Here is it so 1950s ... memorization and facts. They are not even excepted to get 100% of the their scores but if they get 50 or even 25% they are wowed by the child . Not wonder the drop out rate is so high. Even the teachers most of them are not fit to teach ... they bark at the children, rather then go down to their level and "teach" ... I wish they would get more Western teachers here ... or open a Western school! I would be first one to sign my kids up!

Do the students there have to pay to go to school? I know in Jordan you have to pay per year for public school.

It's the same thing there... although they do get into scores a lot. The thing i've noticed (but can't seem to get him to recognize) is that in somehting like English, they have basically low-functioning English peakers teaching kids low-functioning English.. and think they are doing great. It's actually really terrible. I decided I'll just have to take over that part of the educational system in the village lol and be a tutor. It's really interesting how well they percieve themselves to be doing and yet they cannot carry on a most basic conversation with more than "Hello! How are you?" He says this is because they don't get to practice, but I was looking over some of their homework... practice is not the issue I could see where the students were sometimes being marked off for correct answers and obviously the teacher doesn't know one way or the other.

I too love the Western approach (which,. BTW, has disappeared from our school as well as being out of style) which involved art, expreiments, etc. I think hands-on learning is good for many kids, although not all kids. I have a whole lot of ideas involving instructional gardens, etc for the kids.

Education and healthcare are free here, so one reason I personally cannot and will not complain too much about the quality. There are private schools including some foreign run schools that you obviously have to pay to attend. But from what I see, the quality is about the same ... just smaller classes, or some are religion based.

Here the teachers who know English, their gammer is great but really have no hands-on particular application of the language. Not that many native speakers teaching to get the lessons across to the masses. Basically like learning a language from a book. You can learn the words, the gammer, etc but speaking it - whole other ball game! Esp here since everything is FRENCH FRENCH! Similar gammer but in conversational level different.

Yes, you are right I guess with the newer funding issues programs like music and art Xed out so easily. Here my daughter has no art, music or anything other elective class. They say they have "gym"/sport once week but from what she told in the year school they had "game of basketball" once ... it was counted as their whole grade in "sports" LOL easy A!

[palilover 1]

Is it easy for an American to teach English abroad though? Or are they more happy about hiring the locals who are not native as oppsed to sponsoring any visa?

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

I want to homeschool my kids there but Ammar isn't sure if it's allowed in Jordan.

Many of the MENA donnot offically allow it but unoffical allowed to take the tests while homeschooling. But I would personally, use the American or UK homeschooling programs then the MENA ones!

That's what I wanted to do. Their educational system isn't *bad* but it is a bit behind ours and very behind in some areas. Some things which even seem so basic to us are not taught at all-- like that there are 7 continents. LOL! They also tend to lack in the sciences some. Science is one of the most fun subjects you can get a kid interested in if you do it correctly.

I find the education system here so boring for children. Not fun at all ... like when I was a child. We did so much experiments, art and exploring. Here is it so 1950s ... memorization and facts. They are not even excepted to get 100% of the their scores but if they get 50 or even 25% they are wowed by the child . Not wonder the drop out rate is so high. Even the teachers most of them are not fit to teach ... they bark at the children, rather then go down to their level and "teach" ... I wish they would get more Western teachers here ... or open a Western school! I would be first one to sign my kids up!

Before I was married to my husband and had visited...yes. After being married to him. No. I had been overseas to his country several times before I met him. I love the music, the culture the food and the people. He is incredibly controlling and made me dress like a nun. I mean not even light hijab. The whole HEY I LIVE IN THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION AND KHOMEINI IS MY BOYFRIEND outfit. No no and no. although I love it there. If I was there I would be sitting in a room plucking chickens ,washing potatoes while he hung out with his friends and yapped in the street. Oh I forgot, cleaning sheep brains. No is the answer

[Jenn! 918]

Is it easy for an American to teach English abroad though? Or are they more happy about hiring the locals who are not native as oppsed to sponsoring any visa?

If you teach for an accredited American or International School, I believe that native speakers are preferred or required. Of course, you also have to be certified to teach in your subject matter or grade level.

If you're looking to teach at a language school, then it will vary. In the EU, for example, much easier to get a job like that as a Brit.

[Henia 11]

Sure it is easy in MENA ... you just need to have the will. You donnot need an English teaching degree either since most places with the lack native speakers are more then happy to take you on but the pay would little less ..... buuuut if you want to get the macho bucks then of course having teaching degree or least ESL training is good! I have no teacher training yet I teach ... mostly from home since I have alot of free time ( I would be nutty if I did not do something) plus I know severel "real" teachers who recruited me to help them out (pre-pregnancy) ... I used to volunteer also but now being pregnant not ... it was really rewarding plus you make alot of contacts that way. But tutoring children from home or going to there home is best way I think to make money ... you get paid hourly, you set the rate and the schedule ... esp if there is high demand for natives is good ... you have the skills others don't!

OMG sorry to laugh Hanging in there (K) at your story ... but that is so funny! Some men do do that here ... enforce the "going out is haraam" ideals ... but ye if my husband were like that for sure I would be gone outta here!

Edited August 12, 2008 by Henia

[Jenn! 918]

But tutoring children from home or going to there home is best way I think to make money ... you get paid hourly, you set the rate and the schedule ... esp if there is high demand for natives is good ... you have the skills others don't!

When I was teaching in Italy I made more money from tutoring after school than I did from my teaching salary. If it hadn't been for visa issues, private tutoring exclusively would have been the way to go. Nowadays you could get 40 euro an hour easy.

[palilover 1]

hahaha No to "Iranian revolution guys" Actually it's funny. Everytime my husband sees one of thsoe poor women, he tells me "I bet her husband is from Hamas" hehehe We were actually talking the other night about it and he was amazed that there were women in niquab here in this country. He was like "Habibi why they in America if they want to live like that?" and "Why doesn't your government stop those people from coming in?" My husband is quite funny sometimes:)

As for teaching, that is something I'm interested in. I've been interested for a while as I had the luxury of sharing a bus seat in Europe with a gentleman who taught English in places like South Korea and he talked it up quite a bit. Ever since then, I've been interested. But I've been occupied with IT work so I have not pursued it. However, never say never.....