Page 4 - ELG1701 Jan Issue 443

ELmiddle east 2017

Page 4 ELjobs January 2017

An EL Gazette Middle East & North Africa supplement in association with the British Council

Iran sees More English for Morocco Qatar hails

the rise of Pisa score

Persinglish INITIATIVES TO raise the QATAR PERFORMED well
official status of English in
Morocco are proving popular.
Back in March 2014 Morocco’s in the 2015 Program for Inter-
higher education minister Lah- national Assessment (Pisa),
A NEW phenomenon is prolif- cen Daoudi announced plans to released in December, which
erating across bars, restaurants switch from French to English tests fifteen year-olds in 72
Issue 12 | January 2017 and cafes in Iran – menus are as the nation’s primary language countries in science, maths and
appearing in ‘Persinglish’, with for higher education, following reading.
English names for food and an earlier government statement Qatar was up in all three
drink on display but with their of its ‘desire’ to make English the subjects, jumping 26 points in
names rendered in the letters of nation’s official second language. literacy, placing it in sixtieth
the Farsi or Persian alphabet. The Supreme Council for Edu- place. The United Arab Emir-
(It’s based on the Arabic script, cation then submitted a report in Courtesy Dale Harvey ates (UAE) didn’t perform as
but with four extra letters.) January 2015 calling for English well, as mean scores for all
The words ‘onion rings’ ren- to replace French in the Moroc- three subjects from its sample
dered in the Persian alphabet are can curriculum for schools. of 15,000 students decreased.
now a common sight in Teheran In a 2015 survey by Arabic- SCHOOL SIGNAGE This Sidi Ifni school is signed in Arabic, French, Tifingah (Berber) but not English The UAE’s 11-point drop in
restaurants, while ‘French fries’ language news website Hespress, science now means it’s in 46th
is replacing the Farsi equivalent nearly 86 per cent of Moroccans Belmokhtar was encouraged census of population and housing ated to the ruling Party of Justice place, with comparable mean
‘sibzamini sorkh karde’. who responded wanted to replace by the ‘good’ level of English for 2014 recorded 66 per cent of and Development, told his audi- scores to those of Cyprus, Bul-
Iranian linguist Reza Shok- French with English as the coun- demonstrated by students par- Moroccans as speaking French, ence, ‘I am serious, French is not garia, Uruguay and Romania,
rollahi, interviewed by France try’s first foreign language, with ticipating in last November’s while 18.3 per cent spoke English. the language of tourism, science and way below its national
24 news channel, says the Pers- Morocco’s youth in particular COP 22, the Marrakech climate At around the same time as and civilization – 80 per cent of agenda target to reach Pisa’s top
inglish phenomenon is about viewing French as a hangover from change conference called by the the minister’s update, a promi- scientific research in every field twenty by 2021.
expressing something mundane the days of the protectorate that United Nations Environment nent Kuwaiti businessman and are released in English. Today, The Jordanian Al Ghad
in English to make it sound ‘hip ended in 1956. (The official second Programme as a follow-up to the Islamic scholar was quoted as the language of science is Eng- newspaper reported that
and modern – young people use language, and the most prominent Paris climate agreement. telling Moroccans, ‘French is lish – keep it in your minds.’ Jordan, Pisa’s only other par-
English to show off and prove language of higher education, is The minister also cited useless and a waste of time,’ Al-Suwaidan added, ‘You are ticipating Gulf state, saw a
Brand marketing, talent recruitment, student enrolment that they’re well educated, and still currently French, with the offi- Morocco’s position as the highest- with his speech widely circu- still attached to French. We need slight improvement in reading
demonstrate that “I’m cool, I’m
ranking Middle East and North
compared to previous results,
to break this barrier because it is
lated on Moroccan social media.
cial first languages being Arabic
Tariq Al-Suwaidan, giving a
Call to discuss advertising options +44 (0)20 3735 9672 intellectual, I’m open-minded”’, and Berber with equal status.) Africa region country in the 2016 speech at an organisation affili- useless. Pay to attention to this with its science scores staying
Moroccan World News reported
stable.
with the added attraction that ‘the
and learn English.’
EF English Proficiency Index (EF
n
n
West’ incurs official disapproval. that new higher education minis- EPI – the test doesn’t cover speak-
Labelling in Persinglish is ter Rachid Belmokhtar updated ing, while its test-taker sample is
also an excuse to hike prices – the Supreme Council for Educa- those who discover the test online
sometimes up to three times the tion late last November, telling and volunteer to take it). EF’s
country in Central Asia Deserts, ski resorts and oil: a plain old Farsi would cost. Says ‘serious procedures to expand and that the recent arrival of Daewoo
own report on the EF EPI noted
them that his ministry had taken
amount that an item labelled in
improve’ the use of English by
azakhstan is the largest
and other Asian manufacturers
Shokkallahi, ‘No one would pay
15,000 tomans (150,000 rials
students, including the establish-
to Morocco has been a further
covering two time zones. Tefler’s guide to Kazakhstan or £3.70) for a “shirmoz”. But ment of English clubs in all high stimulus to the ‘understanding of
Kand the ninth-largest
schools, which he said had already
if it’s for a “banana smoothie”,
country in the world, with vast
the economic value of mastering
been a success.
English’. Morocco’s sixth general
people seem ready to pay.’
steppes and immense deserts
n
The hardest part of any teach-
ing assignment in Kazakhstan
may actually be getting there. Olga Kravchenko looks at opportunities for English teachers in the Central Asian nation
Kazakhstan is isolated geo- BC backs Saudi women’s
graphically. If you’re offered a
flight as part of a job package, (NIS) are educated in a tri- Link – a chain originating in
insist on an international airline lingual environment – Kazakh, the UK but now headquartered workplace advancement
or national carrier Air Astana. Russian and English. Most NIS in Russia – offers similar con-
According to UK Foreign Office schools are for children aged ditions to the above. However,
advice, other Kazakh airlines twelve to eighteen. it employs only native speakers
have such dodgy safety records Named after the president with Tefl qualifications. THE BRITISH Council has been reforms made by the late King have recently launched a variety
they aren’t even allowed to land of the country, Nursultan Naz- Astana is the nation’s new teaching English in Saudi Arabia for Abdullah Abdulaziz, mean Saudi of courses especially for women
in the EU. arbayev, the NIS schools aim capital and provides similar over four decades, operating from women are gradually getting more such as the Leadership for Women
Travellers living and work- to change the way education is opportunities for EFL teachers, dedicated male and female teaching opportunities to forge their own programme, in conjunction with
ing in Kazakhstan report a warm delivered to talented high school but Almaty is certainly richer in centres in three separate locations: career paths. Durham University. Another
and kind-hearted population. Its children. Teachers involved in culture and offers a wider range Riyadh, Al Khobar and Jeddah, Although women’s rights have initiative, Springboard, offers
people tend to be well-read and this project are also expected of places to visit. Almaty is also writes Kerry Malster. been incrementally extended in a variety of workplace English
politically conscious, while the to informally mentor local close to several popular ski Before coming to Saudi Arabia recent years – they were allowed courses with the aim of getting as
country itself has large oil and Kazakh teachers and introduce resorts – the Tien Shan Moun- I worked in corporate training for to vote in municipal elections many women as possible into a
gas reserves, which make it the best practice, especially in criti- tains in particular are worth a many years, mainly in the UK but for the first time last year – position where they are capable of
richest country in Central Asia. cal thinking and co-curricular visit. Astana, on the other hand, eventually moving extensively their actions are still severely competing for work, making sure
Currently there is a high activities. There are currently no has a reputation as a soulless across the Middle East and North restricted. A woman cannot even they are equipped with the skills
demand for EFL teachers in posts for teachers who just have place. After it became the new Africa (Mena) region and then open a bank account without her necessary to advance their careers
Kazakhstan. The government a Tefl qualification, though. capital in 1997, it expanded around the world. I arrived in Saudi husband’s permission. to decision-making positions.
invests heavily in language NIS requires teachers certified rapidly, mixing old Soviet- Arabia to manage the women’s cen- The changes in Saudi legislation Saudi women are extremely
schools and courses in an effort to teach a subject in English style architecture with futuristic tre in Riyadh before moving on to do offer opportunities, though. motivated and resilient. They will
to change the local business lan- medium. buildings. It’s now best-known lead operations at the Jeddah centre. Women can now work in corpo- continue to take any opportunity
guage from Russian to English. Almaty, the largest city in for its cold climate rather than In recent years there has defi- rate settings, such as positions in they get for self-development
Schools need teachers year- Kazakhstan, is dominated by Courtesy Ken&Nietta its tourist attractions. nitely been an increase in the retail and health care, previously and make the absolute most of it.
round, so jobs are available International House, with other According to a Gazette opportunities to promote the bene- forbidden. The Saudi National It’s been an honour working with
throughout the year. The school smaller locally run schools. source, the main EFL location fits of education to Saudi women. Transformation programme aims these women. n
year starts in August and goes to InterPress–International House is Atyrau, which is the oil city The government’s Saudisation to increase the female workforce
the end of May, so hiring is particu- (Kazakhstan’s IH affiliate) FUELLING FUTURISM After becoming the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997, the city of of Kazakhstan. There are many programme, under which private- to 30 per cent by 2030. Kerry Malster is a teaching
larly popular in July and August. invites applications from native Astana expanded rapidly, mixing old Soviet-style architecture with futuristic buildings private schools there, including sector companies are required to The British Council can cer- instructor at the British
Many job listings are online, so it’s or near native speaker compe- EF. All of them are run by locals employ a quota of Saudi nation- tainly play its part in moving Council’s Teaching Centre in
best to contact schools via email. tence with a Celta or equivalent is attractive given the expensive local help and advice. Transport one-year multiple entry visa for with almost no native-speaker als, along with the limited gender forward to achieve such aims. We Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Jobseekers should consider and at least one year’s teaching rents. Very expensive accom- in Kazakhstan is cheap. Taxis you – there are strict visa regu- teachers, mainly catering for the
the Nazarbayev Intellectual experience. The school offers modation is one of Kazakhstan’s are widely available. Travel- lations with a lot of red tape. oil and gas industry. Jobs there
Schools (NIS), which have nine or twelve months contracts main drawbacks, contributing ling is safe if not alone – male The better-known international seem to be advertised mainly Inside your 8-page Middle East & North Africa supplement:
branches in the big cities. These with a salary equivalent to £615– significantly to the cost of living. or female. Kazakhstan doesn’t chains’ packages usually also by word of mouth. Atyrau is
are state funded and very selec- 790 monthly. Salaries are usually Get a job with accommodation or appear to be a dangerous coun- include fifteen to twenty days by far the most expensive city. Egypt (left) page ii
tive schools, aiming to educate paid in the national Tenge cur- an accommodation allowance if try, but it is better not to walk out paid holiday and discounted It also has a higher crime rate, Algeria page ii
the country’s future intellectual rency. The benefits include free you possibly can! alone after dark. Go in pairs. Russian and Kazakh lessons. according to our source, due to Libya page ii
elite. Uniquely, the children in shared accommodation with the Astana and Almaty are rela- The high-end international (Russian is widely spoken, espe- the presence of so many wealthy Saudi Arabia (right) page viii
Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools bills paid by the school – which tively inexpensive if you have language schools will arrange a cially in the cities.) Language expatriates. n Morocco page viii