Teaching English in Yemen

The following comments are from teachers who have taught, or are currently teaching, in Yemen. If you are a teacher and have some advice to share, please add it here.

Liz on 19 February 2007

quote There are lots of language schools in the capital, Sana'a, and a few in other cities too, especially Aden. Come with a TEFL qualification and preferably a little experience too, and you should walk into a job. Yemen is a very strict Muslim country. Men and women do not mix socially. This makes the mixed-sex language classroom environment something of an anomaly. Most students in mixed classes are men. The women can be reluctant to do small-group work with men, and are sometimes shy about speaking at all. Male teachers can have a lot of fun here getting to know your students, and doing stuff with them outside class. There is an increasing number of Yemeni-run women-only institutes here. These provide a 'safe' environment for women and girls to learn English and are nice places for female teachers to work. Quality of teaching and management is variable! People who come with a flexible and 'learner' attitude are likely to have a great time!