Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

So you are NEW to TEFL and want to work...
Goto page Previous  1, 2
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Newbie Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
double agent



Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Posts: 152
Location: In the wild wild west

PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2003 9:01 am    Post subject: not so deep Reply with quote

I did not have to dig deep at all. The culture came to me so to speak.
Perhaps because I am an open educated person. Sure a lot of teachers
even speak the local language, but I do not. But I have
slept in locals homes, been treated like one of the family.

Been shown things literally none of the other teachers have ever seen
or been invited to.

It all depends on who you are. If you are intellectually keen on a culture
and study the behavoirs and language but treat it like an observer, then
you too will be kept at arms length.

I never hang out with the Brit teachers they drink and I dont. They are
worse than the Americans in my view. They come to watch the East Enders if they can on satelite somewhere. Of course there is the
occasional good brit, but far and few between.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Guest






PostPosted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:57 am    Post subject: Re: not so deep Reply with quote

double agent wrote:
I did not have to dig deep at all. The culture came to me so to speak.


So if I were interested in the culture of whatever country you came from (which I assume is neither the US nor the UK since you seem to despise people from those places so much), and came and stayed at your house for a night, then the culture would have come to me, too?

The thing that astonished me most about China was that once I was back everyone had THE ANSWER TO CHINA for me. Because they'd been so deeply accepted and loved and let into all the secret areas. And had been there for two months longer than I had.

The truth is that it takes a generation of living to get into the culture you're surrounded by -- most Americans don't even have an idea of what America "is" no matter what their age. The truth is also that a people's culture IS to some extent their culture's "intellectual" treasures, as it is only the intellectual treasures that survive the years -- the corporeal can't hold up.

If you ask someone to name a country with a lot of culture you'll probalby get Italy or China -- not Angola or Bangledesh. Despite whatever culutre they may have in Angola or Bangledesh, Italians and Chinese are deeply proud of their intellectual past and so it is a part of the people as much as the jokes they tell or the food they eat.
Back to top
double agent



Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Posts: 152
Location: In the wild wild west

PostPosted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 6:00 pm    Post subject: what are you talking about Reply with quote

Embarassed Excuse my vaguenss. What I really ment is that
the locals befriended me rather easily. It wasnt from sleeping
with them haha..or at their house that i became saturated.

What i mean is that you dont necessarily have to dig
so deep to experience and catch a glimpse into
another culture. I feel I understand it more.
An expert. No I am not that, not even close.

I wouldnt claim to know how long it takes, but you can learn
if you are keen. That is what is so wonderful about our jobs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Newbie Forum All times are GMT
Goto page Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China