Job Discussion Forums

RPMcMurphy · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

I don't think singing and dancing is what she means, and I'll read the whole dissertation before making judgements. I can't locate her conference papers in the library catalogue though. Some academics keep tight control of their work, so its hard to find in the public domain.
A bit like AC/DC.

ps in 5 years I never witnessed a singing, dancing FT, or worked with a back packer FT. Some were pretty lax and incompetent though.

chinadad · Joined: 29 Nov 2011 Posts: 291 Location: chengdu

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

chinadad · Joined: 29 Nov 2011 Posts: 291 Location: chengdu

Working out in the backwoods of NE Sichuan - luckily I can arrange to hide out here during national holidays!!!!!! Some nice walking involved in this job - and no tourists.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

$147.55?!?

RIP OFF!

No thank you.

Cool

To be honest, it probably really doesn't say all that much. Nothing that you don't already know at least. Agreed with 7969, stick to the boards here and save your shekels.

Warm regards,
fat_chris

RPMcMurphy · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

Chris and others, the trick with expensive books is you get your library to buy 'em. Tell them its essential professional reading. That's what I'll be doing.

Lobster · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:24 am Post subject:

Personally, I don't need someone who's using a telescope to tell me what I'm looking at using a magnifying glass.

RED

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

wonderingjoesmith · Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 910 Location: Guangzhou

Not only entertaining but also englightening. I haven't brought a telescope to this, to me, new land of opportunities. It's really expensive and I suspect the pricing of it too. Still we all should consider the capitalizm features.

RPMcMurphy · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

There's a wealth of literature out there that offers different ways of considering things, but that can call into question peoples' entrenched views. If they don't want to engage with those ideas, thats fine, but its good to look at things from different angles. I guess some are uncomfortable with TS Eliot's "certain certainties", as indeed they should be.

RPMcMurphy · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

Lobster · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:49 am Post subject:

A telescope is good for peeking through your neighbour's windows, and a magnifying glass can be used to set fire to paper or finding clues at a crime scene. A metaphor is just that.

Will I read this book? Probably not. Why not? Because it probably won't benefit me much in terms of doing my job or living here.

I suppose the trend of scholarly writing these days is to churn out books or theses that are little more than opinion pieces with a popular or sensationalist theme, nicely cooked to support the authors' pre-determined point of view. The flavor of the day is "all the unqualified native English speakers teaching English in Asia and why they're a bunch of losers and degenerates". Statistics are conveniently unavailable, giving free rein to the type of speculation that sounds good and sells well. We may now consider this the current "entrenched view". Oddly enough, it seems to run counter to the actual related experiences of most FTs in China.

RED

RPMcMurphy · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

I think it sounds like a good read ... but it also sounds like its going to be an academic study / report, which means it isnt likely to be an easy read. I dont think its going to be a character killing piece of popcorn pulp fiction, but will probably draw upon historial and current approaches to language teaching and language acquisition compared to what happens in China. Interesting stuff IMO.

RPMcMurphy says he has never worked with a 'backpacker teacher'. I always hate that term TBH. People call me a backpacker teacher sometimes, if not overtly, certainly by general implication. I probably fit most peoples idea of a 'backpacker teacher' and that does bother me on occasion. Maybe Ill start an online campaign to change the term somewhat! Very Happy

If you have a backpack but can transcribe connected speech into IPA script Id refer and recommend you for a position, even if you want to stay for just 6 months. If you have an Bachelors in Education and taught Geography in Australia, but cant tell the difference between past and present perfect I wouldn't want to work with you even if you want to work here for 2 years.

TEFL specific skills, knowledge and qualifications are quite rare in China and they are the only things that should matter IMHO.