Teaching English in Morocco

Morocco, situated in North Africa, is an interesting blend of European, African, and Middle Eastern influences. Morocco is influenced by its neighbours. Near the water border with Spain, Meknes blends Spanish culture with Moroccan. To the east, it shares a border with Algeria. The country cascades down to the Western Sahara Desert, where visitors can go on dune safaris in jeeps. This desert frontier is still disputed under international law.

Moroccans enjoy other outdoor pursuits. These include skiing in the Atlas mountain range, swimming on the Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean Sea, and hiking to discover the forests and hidden waterfalls.

For those who are not so into outdoor adventure, Morocco offers other interesting activities, both historically and culturally. A visit to Fez should be high on any visitor’s list. This medina (ancient city), dating from the Middle Ages, is protected under a UNESCO mandate and will delight any visitor. Other medinas also include Essaouira, Tetouan, and Marrakesh, where time can be whiled away drinking fresh mint tea and eating tajines and couscous dishes.

The language of Morocco is officially Arabic, but French is also spoken. Some basic French could help you navigate the country when you are first starting out.

Interestingly, despite its location in Africa, Morocco is not a member of the African League. Instead, it has decided that its allegiance is with the Arab League. This means that people in Morocco follow Islam, and with that behave much more conservatively. For Western women, in particular, this is important because if you do not dress more modestly here, you will be harassed. It is also advisable, as a woman, not to wander alone or take taxis in this country at night.

An interesting insight into the culture and workforce of Morocco: about 19% of the country’s land is able to be farmed with around 40% of the workforce in the country employed in the agricultural sector. The main exports include citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, fresh and/or canned vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes, and beans. Some of the most beautiful cut flowers are distributed around the world from Morocco.

Morocco’s government is described as a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy. This is due to the Moroccan King being both head of its Government and Head of State, making the Moroccan King the only monarch in a Muslim country both a religious leader and the leader of a governing body.

Found with nearly every meal, tea in Morocco is extremely popular. There’s evidence its discovery in Morocco was in the 19th century when a British ship was left stranded on its coast; the sailors on board made the decision to remove the cargo and sell it to the locals nearby. Green tea with a hint of mint tends to be the most popular tea of choice across Morocco.

Widely seen as the oldest city in Morocco, Tangier has reports of being occupied as far back at 1600 BC by the Phoenicians.