Job Discussion Forums

[jonniboy]

[ecocks]

[jonniboy]

[maruss]

some interesting recent comments there!I would add that unless you are Russian and live there it is very hard to appreciate how people see this subject and why:especially since the second part of the Putin era,there has been no real politics in the way that we see them in the west because there is no effective opposition to the regime.Consequently most people don't care about politics,sensing that is a waste of time discussing them as they can do nothing about the situation anyway?I would agree with Johnny that people who pay for private lessons would most probably consider it a waste of their time and money,unless they had a special interest in it which they wanted to discuss with you?
Another reason,and more sinister, is that they have learned from tradition that delving into such subjects only stirs up trouble and fear is never far from the surface of the Russian psyche...also consider that you probably know nothing about your students lives outside the lesson,what problems they or their families have, or even who they or people close to them work for?
To relate my own example,in early 2006 I had an integration group of young adults with a firm I was freelancing for in Moscow.I will also admit that as a historical researcher I was using my free time there to meet people and discuss the Soviet era and also how Russia was developing politically in the 21 st C. etc.One evening I casually found a way to slip-in a barb about what happens when you call the emergency services there and how long they take to arrive etc?This lead to my target which was the way they virtually left people to die after the Dubrovka theatre siege in 2002 because they had no antidote to the unknown nerve gas which was used.......After the lesson one of the girls came to speak to me in private and asked me why I had made that specific remark about what was a very sensitive event,suggesting that such conversations are best held only in private and with persons who are known to be trustworthy.She then warned me that she knew that the father of one of the other students in the group worked for the FSB and that if she happened to mention it to him he might well ask someone to call my firm and investigate me etc!The consequences of that would almost certainly have been no more work from that company at the least?Luckily for me, nothing further happened at the time and the person who came to confide in me was also a friend of the daughter of the late and very well-known journalist, Anna Politkovskaya and admitted that she shared my concerns about the situation in Russia.This led to a subsequent meeting with Anna,for which I was obviously very grateful,although perhaps unsurprisingly, knowing her track record for exposing corruption and on Chechnya etc. my visit to her was duly noted and from what I have been able to ascertain since then, was the cause of me being banned from further entry to Russia indefinitely!The situation there back in 2006 was far more relaxed than it is nowadays and my sincere advice is to bear in mind that Russia is not like the west,especially concerning these subjects and also the rights of the individual etc.The FSB has absolute authority and can find ways of hassling and removing anyone that they decide is becoming a nuisance-this applies equally to foreigners and I known of other people they have caused trouble for.

[ecocks]

I saw this [in the FSU] as well and agree it is a factor for some, maybe many, particularly in the over forty crowd. You can almost picture them looking over their shoulders to see who might be listening. Once I was a bit shocked that they seemed a bit concerned that the room might be bugged (at a corporate venue). If I worked in Russia proper in this current climate, I'd have to accept that it would be walking close to the edge.

Dealing with the Ukrainians it was much less of a worry though since the government was so disorganized they really didn't care about individuals expressing private opinions in the cafes. They were looking for different fish to fry.

[maruss]

In Ukraine you don't feel scared of the authorities in the way you do in Russia!The place is so dis-organised and corrupt but then there are plenty of other hazards such as pick-pockets and all the other risks associated with poverty stricken places,including dirt,delinquency and diseases,including those which you can pick up from various types of errant behaviour !Mind you the place has a certain charm and I met some really nice people there,despite all the problems...I really feel sorry for the mess they are in.

[ecocks]

[maruss]

......see your family and friends killed for no reason?

[ecocks]

[Sashadroogie]

Comrades, your thoughts and comments have been duly noted and filed. Thank you for your co-operation and forthrightness. The organs will be in touch with you presently.

[ecocks]

LOL!

Keep your organs to yourself!

[Sashadroogie]

I'm afraid that is not possible. The wheels of justice have cranked into action...

[jonniboy]

[Sashadroogie]

I think the main issue here is when teachers get ideas that are not consistent with their role as language teachers. We are not here to help students think critically - whatever various people mean by that. Nor are we here to make them better people. Nor challenge them on any issues, especially regarding their own culture (which they know far, far better than the typical TEFLer's superficial experience of it).

Teach them English. That is the beginning and the end of it. The quality of the learner's mind is of concern only in as far as they can make language progress.

[teacher X]