Job Discussion Forums

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

No, just a sarc.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:31 am Post subject:

That is coz I'm pregnant. Gives me a licence to be rude about Billy boy, just like it does in the classroom for students.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:10 am Post subject:

Oh God! I had a bad student a bit like this. Everyday there was some racist stuff he would say about black people, Arab people, Jewish people adn I thought it was too much. Also when he came in late for class he would snap things like "start the lesson now!" and "Write that on the board!" etc... Crying or Very sad

So I told my boss who was quite helpful he said I should calmly explain that thsoe things are consoderd rude in my culture and if he wants to learn English to impress people he needs to know about culutral rules because if he came in late to a meeting and let off with a mouthful of racial slurs and pushy demands he would be defenestrated. Very Happy

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

I recently had an incredibly wealthy, arrogant Russian student who thought he was far superior to me. He intended studying Maths for a PhD.

So one day I simply asked " Oh, you are from St. Petersburg, aren't you?
Could you explain to me about Grigori Perelman's "Thurston's Geometrization Conjecture" and it's importance and relevance to society?

I don't think he has picked his jaw up from the floor yet. His attitude dramatically changed after that.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:15 am Post subject:

john123 · Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 83

Dear SashaDroogie
I don't even bother to read your comments.

Dear sensibles
He is Polish.

Regards

John

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

You're missing the best part, then, john123; better a Pole than a mick (that's me).

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

I also treated this kind of thing as an issue that needed language attention, when it came up from time to time. I was deeply enthusiastic about resolving any such issues, because, you know, I really cared about their language development! Of course quite often that's what it really is all about - an inability to express oneself in a foreign language in an appropriate way.

BlueMango · Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Posts: 24

Who is this Zukkerberg you lot keep on piping on about? And what the heck is a powerpoint??

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:56 am Post subject:

john123 · Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 83

Dear artemisia
Among the many solutions, the cold, hard stare is one which I think could be rather fruitful.
In reply to his questions, I've also considered just saying 'no' with a completely straight face:
Enemy: 'You've heard of google, right?'
Teacher: 'Google? You said , google? No.'

I think it would actually be fun after a while because I don't think he'd pick up on slightly sarcastic intonation etc.

Regards
John

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:06 am Post subject:

Is there any follow-up? Has learner's neck been wrung? Were the other ideas successful?

john123 · Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 83

Dear Sasha
He still has a neck.

I now have one individual lesson with him and one where he is in a group (with his subordinates). He will really use the latter to try to make me look a fool.

I'm ready for the fight in the coming weeks.

Regards

John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 1:04 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm. Interesting. Group dynamics with office politics thrown into the mix are always good for a laugh. He'd need to be very careful that he doesn't make himself look like a fool in front of his underlings. He has more face to lose than you do, it appears to me. So the situation should be easy enough to flip. Topsy turvy him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URtQAa3Y-ns