Job Discussion Forums

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Johnslat, just guessing that you've never been in the military...

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johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject:

Dear Ariadne.

Sorry - your guess is wrong. USMC: 1963 - 1967, Chu Lai, Vietnam: 1965 - 1966.

In fact, the military is where I first realized that having bars on one's shoulders (or any other "symbol of office") doesn't mean that person can't be a complete idiot.

Vietnam's where the term "fragging" was coined. Some idiots can get you killed - unless you act first.

In Vietnam, NOBODY got "automatic respect" - you had to earn it.

Regards,
John

Jbhughes · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 254

Wow, that's a really interesting post, Johnslat.

What about if we moved it to general politeness and common decency, rather than respect? To me, it's incredibly impolite for a student to openly show disrespect to a teacher in a classroom setting. This is kind of how it pans out in Vietnam, too (er, now and where I work).

One problem is when there is a student older than the teacher and they feel the need to somehow gain some kind of edge or level above the teacher. Such a pain. Add them to the list.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'll swiftly agree that reasonable politeness should be a given. Thankfully, the 'age demands respect' thing doesn't occur in the parts of the world where I live/work (that's from the Asia persepective again, right?).

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject:

On second thought - respect WAS automatically given to one group: the VC.

But they'd earned it.

Regards,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject:

Dear Johnslat

Where's the 'like' button?

Sasha

PS

Here's a pic that might be of interest:

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Russia/Center/Moscow/Moscow/photo960772.htm

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:30 pm Post subject:

Dear Sasha,

Uncle Ho - well, I certainly can't quarrel with this statement of his:

"Nothing is more valuable than independence and freedom" (in Russian "Нет ничего дороже независимости, свободы !").

But you know - very few call it Ho Che Minh City. Saigon is was, and Saigon it remains.

Regards,
John

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I'd like to think there is a basic level of respect towards teachers - by simple virtue of the fact that teachers are paid to be there and help students get through their exams - or whatever the reason. But in the state school system in Italy, you'll get various levels of respect from the students. I've been in some places where students are more or less incarcerated for six hours a day to keep them off the streets (and zero interest in learning anything at all) and in some other schools where students have such a high opinion of themselves and their parents' clout that they really couldn't care less.

But I have never been in an adult classroom where there wasn't respect for me as a teacher. But there and again, respect is a two-way street. If I can't be respectful to my students and their English needs, I really shouldn't be in the classroom.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:50 pm Post subject:

Students not knowing each other's name. Surprisingly common here in Moscow, even in groups together for a couple of months.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

... which probably comes across as a bit po-faced. Apologies!

I should add, all my most recent experience has been in Italy, where students are generally a delight to teach. I have no idea how I'd feel faced with some of the groups mentioned above.

Not much gets on my nerves. I don't even mind that VV (w) thing that Sasha hates so much. Italians think it's weird we call it double u, by the way!

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

This (probably) will only sound familiar to the teachers in the gulf:

Something which irritates me, but also amuses me at times too, is the students who come up to me, wanting out of the classroom, to go and "drink water", "go to the bathroom", etc, usually at the start of class, after the students are coming back from a long break. They spend all that time chatting in the hallway, sitting about drinking tea, etc, and then want to use classtime for the necessities: "Teacher, teacher, 1 minute! 1 minute! I go to drink water!".

"1 minute" usually ends up being 5-10 minutes.

Also, cellphones all need to be collected up and cast into the eternal fire of hades. I mean all cellphones in the world.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject:

They don't know their own calligraphic history then. The Latin letter V was pronounced like our U today - hence the inscriptions 'GAIVS IVLIVS CAESAR' on all the statuary.

A modern W is really a double U sound, but uses the archaic form of V. Ooooohhhhhh!

Very Happy

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:20 pm Post subject:

Dear bulgogiboy,

"Any perception that you are disrespecting the judge, or the court, through your behaviour or speech, can see you in the hoosegow."

Some confusion here (on your part, I think). Not according automatic respect is not (to my mind, anyway) the same as disrespect. Of course, I wouldn't stick out my tongue at the judge and chant, "Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck, Judgie pudgie." I'd be civil (especially if it was a civil suit Very Happy

), but I've seen too many corrupt, crummy judges (and cops) to automatically respect any jamoke wearing a black robe or a badge.

Recently, a cop pulled out right in front of me on a frontage road here. I passed him and he hit me with the siren. I pulled over, and when he came up to the passenger door, and I'd given him my license and registration, I asked him, "Would you mind telling me just why you pulled out right in front of me back there?" He handed me back my documents and mumbled, "Didn't see ya," went back to his patrol car and took off.

Regards,
John