Nadia Said Dahbour is an English and Social Studies teacher at the International School of Choueifat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Before teaching in Riyadh, Nadia was a Social and Islamic Studies teacher at the International Leaders Academy in Amman. She taught children in middle and high school for over a year. Nadia also worked at a cultural center in Amman, Irth Academy, for three years, where she gave English and French language courses for adults of different levels. Nadia has a Bachelor’s degree in English and French Literature, and a Master’s Degree in International Business – both of which she obtained at the University of Jordan. Nadia got married two years ago and has been living and working in Riyadh since then.
My day starts at 7:30. I always have a first class, so I pick up my students from the morning assembly with a wide smile. Smiling is a huge part of a teacher’s job. A teacher has to be positive and friendly at all times, even if it wasn’t one of her best days. And as a primary teacher, I try to emphasize the importance of having good manners and discipline, because with students at this age, discipline always comes first.
My second class kicks off at 8:45. It always starts with these questions: “Miss, what are we going to take today? “Miss, I forgot my book.” “Miss, which page should we open?” “Miss, I can’t find my pencil.” “Miss, he hit me.” “Miss, I love you!” “Miss, when are you going to get me a gift?” Yes, believe it or not, I could actually hear all these questions at once in less than a minute!
This is the students’ recreation time and my break as well. I eat breakfast in the staff room. It varies from one day to another. Sometimes I bring a croissant, other times cornflakes or a labaneh sandwich, or my all-time favorite: olive oil and thyme sandwich. No matter what I have, my cup of tea is always there to warm me up! During the break, I engage with other teachers and we pass comments about the events of the first two periods. Some of the students are incredible experts in driving teachers crazy, so we try to think collectively and find plausible solutions to deal with these issues.
The post-break period is my Social Studies time in the girls' sections. Every time I enter this section I have to brace myself for the “hug attack”. Just imagine 28 little girls hugging you all at once! To be honest, I love them so much so it doesn’t bother me at all, even if I insist that everyone stay seated during class.
2:00 is the best time of the day for the students: it's the time to go home. They all gladly pack up and get ready to go home. At 2:55, and after all students have safely left school, I head home.
I get home at around 3:10-3:15. And it’s cooking time! My husband and I normally agree on what to cook the day before. I thank God day and night that he is not a picky person, especially when it comes to food. Cooking is one of my greatest passions. I have my own Facebook page with my signature recipes, so I’m always keen on taking and posting the best food shots. I love to try new recipes from both regional and international cuisines.
My husband and I chat about the events of the day and our plans for the next day. We watch some TV, check our emails, or take a drive around the city. I read a lot! I read in English, French and Arabic. I love biographies, business books, social books, and history books. My favorite are “The Encore Effect” by Mark Sanborn, “I am Malala” by Malala Yousefzai and Christina Lamb, and “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Husseini. I also read Paulo Coelho, Nicholas Sparks, and others. As for Arabic books, I am one of Jibran Khaleel Jibran’s biggest fans. I also like Islamic books, such as the ones written by Aeid Al Qarni. I stay up until 12 or 1 AM before putting my head on the pillow and indulging in my own realm of dreams and future plans.
Although teaching is not an easy job, I must say that being a teacher is one of the best things that have ever happened to me. I am proud of who I am and what I do. I give endlessly and with passion. Being a good teacher is all about the passion and the desire to deliver every single word you say with love and sincerity. Teaching is not an easy job, whether it is teaching children or adults. I am experienced in both. Each one of them has its own challenges. Some teachers find it easier to teach children, while others feel more comfortable working with adults. Personally, I do not mind either; I am keen on making the best of any teaching experience! A good teacher motivates and praises her students and never belittle anything they do. One of the characteristics of a great teacher is to never give up on a student. A great teacher strives to make a difference anywhere they go and with everyone they come in contact with.
“Miss Nadia you are the reason why I love English.” “Miss Nadia you were born to be a teacher!” These heartfelt statements and more are – and will always be – the greatest rewards I could ever receive in my career.
