Blog

It’s that time of the year again when we begin to welcome teachers from across the globe into their new roles in Aldar Education schools. It can be a very exciting and daunting experience at the start of your time abroad, so I’ve shared some advice below that I would have liked to receive when I first left the UK.

1.)   Context is key. Learn about the rich culture and heritage of the UAE. It demonstrates a willingness to explore the wonderful traditions and ambitions of the UAE. If you’re new to the UAE, why not make a note of the key dates in the UAE calendar so that you pass on your best wishes to families when they are celebrating? Or learn some basic phrases in Arabic so that you can greet people in their own language? These are small but powerful gestures that demonstrates your ambition to connect with the community.

Further to this, try to incorporate aspects of the students’ lives into your teaching. What are the most iconic places in your city? What events are happening that the students are aware of? Who are the national heroes or heroines? This will improve the contextual relevance of lessons, serve as a powerful tool for engagement, and will undoubtedly help to improve outcomes.

2.)   Develop partnerships and friendships– Teaching in an international setting provides a wonderful opportunity to meet and to share ideas with people from around the world. Don’t overlook the valuable opportunity to learn from teachers that have been trained in different contexts to your own. Get to know all members of your school’s team, and not just the one’s that come from your hometown. Take the plunge and go and introduce yourself to someone new. You will often find that local teachers (or those from neighboring countries) have been in the school many years. Their success and longevity are based upon their acute understanding of students and parents. They have adapted their teaching to meet the needs of their students over the years and parents love them! Not only that, they also know the best restaurants and hangouts!

3.)   Develop yourself – Teaching abroad has many benefits and teachers arriving in a new country will often find that they have more free time and more disposal income. Why not use some of this to develop your skills and knowledge? Courses that once seemed expensive and out of reach suddenly become possible. Your school may even provide support for certain activities and learning.  They certainly will encourage you to apply your new learning in the classroom. The learning and development gained through these courses will serve to strengthen your toolkit, improve student outcomes, and could open new opportunities to leadership. Not only that, they will also be valuable when, and if, you decide to return to your home country.

Wishing you a successful year ahead!

Liam Stewart