Answered Prayers

The English teaching industry suffers from a severe identity crisis. In my first English teaching incarnation in Taiwan, it was an environment filled with fresh-faced young adventurers. On this second incarnation in Oman it has, until now, been one mostly of academics slightly disillusioned to be language teachers. These experiences in just two of the environments where English is taught internationally demonstrate the professional schizophrenia of my current vocation.

But change is afoot, both in the industry and in my workplace. Within the industry there is a gradual professionalization process at work, both through experiential and academic developments in the field, creating a fusion of informed theory and passionate practice. Within my workplace, the dry and dusty academic approach has been closed in on year by year by more eager, hands-on teachers. This past week, the pillars of the old guard were officially toppled.

Our English department, which had grown from a dozen to thirty teachers in the past three years, has had to expand to fifty-three this year to meet the demand for English instruction. The arrival of so many new people has completely changed the chemistry of the department- all that within five days of their arrival. Where the response to additional work had been a grumble before, it has suddenly transformed into eager acceptance. On this fifth day of what can only be a new era, newcomers actually found things to do that would lighten the load of the head of department, improve the functioning of the department and generally make our work lives better. All this despite the obvious “challenges” (Oprahspeak for massive problems) that cannot be concealed within the department.

Two weeks ago I was job-hunting, ready to leave the country. Now I am bubbling over with excitement to see what this new era will bring.