Interview with a teacher in Oman

"I like Oman. It is unspoiled and is protected by the influences of the outside world. There's a certain innocence to its people - they are gentle."

CfBT English language instructor, and Sweden-native, Bjorn Candel still relishes in discovering the natural wonders of Oman, nearly two years after taking up his post with Nizwa's College of Applied Sciences.

"Within an hour of Nizwa are the two highest mountain peaks in Oman. My weekends often include a lot of trekking and climbing. Some of the most beautiful beaches for snorkelling can be found along Oman's coastline, and Ras-al-Jinz is amazing for its giant turtles and camping. The difference between Oman and other countries in the Gulf is that it's far less commercialised. I think it is the nicest," he says.

Picking up a car, which he says are half the price of that in the UK, means you rarely find Bjorn within the walls of his modern, two-bedroom apartment.

"Muscat is just an hour and a half away. The motorway is brand new. I head there most weekends, and after work to catch up with friends, to catch a movie, coffee, or to go shopping. Having lived in London, an hour travelling time to anywhere is normal. It's just as easy to head to the UAE for weekends, I've spent a lot of time in Dubai," he says. He also adds that his colleagues from Ibri often travel to Nizwa to meet up and socialise with fellow CfBT staff.

"The social life is very active, if you want it to be, here in Nizwa. We have discussion clubs and discos on the roof," he says.

The apartment complex where Bjorn lives is also home to 14 other CfBT teachers. They have affectionately named the complex TEFL Towers. Bjorn's English teaching career crosses many borders - Poland, Egypt, China, and Saudi Arabia, and as every TEFL teacher knows, each country provides different attitudes and cultures.

For Bjorn, Oman has brought the unexpected, the challenges, but most importantly the rewards. "Yes, the College's systems are regarded as less organised to what some are used to, but the bottom line is we are here to do a job. I was struck by the large size of the classrooms and the desks, compared to Saudi Arabia. The level of English is much lower than I expected, but they are keen to get good grades - especially the girls," he says.

"It's been really enjoyable getting to know Oman as a country, and getting to know the students and how they think. They know very little about the outside world, but the unique aspect about this job is that the classroom is a place for them to ask questions. They're not overly curious about the outside world, but when you do teach them something new their faces glow with amazement," he says.