Job Discussion Forums

[sager]

http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/features/2014/07/31/language-school-blogger-writes-about-homophones-fired-when-boss-misunderstands-words-meaning/index.html

[johnslat]

Dear sager,

What!!!!! You mean homophones AREN'T cell phones that gays use???

Good Lord, does that also mean that that I've refused to drink homogenized milk all these years for NOTHING????

And I've avoided contact with any of those homo sapiens for nothing, too.

Cripes, NOW you tell me!!!!!

Regards,
John

[fluffyhamster]

Would it have been too discriminating to call them heterographs?

Homophones: the communicative devices that must-be-gays employ e.g. in previously not very widely-read ESL school blogs, for the purposes of provoking incomprehensible fear and indignation in thick-as-two-fingers ignorant~religious types. Example: Hurrr, lookee pa, it's one of them infernal gays usin' uh ho-mo phone agurn!

Seriously though, if anyone should be fired it's that school's boss ( http://www.linkedin.com/pub/clarke-woodger/90/208/891?trk=biz_employee_pub ). In the UK the teacher fired could bring a pretty iron-clad case of unfair dismissal. Shame we can't sue for stupidity.

From the school's website (my bold):

"Mission Statement

Nomen Global Language Centers substantially helps students from all cultures and walks of life to excel in each aspect of their English acquisition and to obtain their goals for the future. We achieve this goal by means of qualified and experienced faculty, dedicated staff, engaging and challenging curriculum, and professional and ethical student services."
( http://www.nomenglobal.com/esl_agent/ )

Noble words, ignoble deeds. This is low even for a language school. Then again, it is America, land of the free yadda yadda.

[fluffyhamster]

I've had a listen to the actual interview (didn't notice the "Listen" button until just now). Torkildson says he was viewed as a "loose cannon" by the school's boss, but would anyone really expect an ex-professional clown (for 25 years!) to always be a straight arrow? Not that the reason, the "final straw" for his firing, seems any less unfair.

Torkildson's defence for mentioning/teaching homophones seemed a bit weak though (considering he'd been thinking and writing about them prior to the sacking and subsequent radio interview). In the interview he says that "English is kind of special that way" (what, compared to Chinese, Japanese, ...?), and gives three examples of the kind of thing that would be a problem for say Thai students:

/si:/
I see something
I swim in the sea
I take vitamin C

Any students who had problems with such basic (and sufficiently disambiguating) contexts would be in no position to take the TOEFL or any other kind of exam really. (I could understand a student perhaps not knowing 'vitamin' though). Better examples required. Anyone? Granted though, English spelling can be a problem (similar sounds can be spelt differently), but the flip side is that the differing spellings can help provide a better "sight vocabulary" once you know them.

Bonus: Cached version of the offending blog page here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2712312/Language-school-blogger-fired-boss-confuses-homophones-homophobes-accuses-promoting-gay-agenda.html

A number of the news stories are now running with the concept of "homophonia" LOL.

[Janiny]

Some of the nicest words I know are homophones.

[fluffyhamster]

"Nice one", Janiny!

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[johnslat]

Dear Janiny,

Or sum! Gneiss won!

Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

Two phones that love each other? They should be allowed have the same T&Cs as everyone else,...

[johnslat]

Dear Sasha,

Ah, the return of the native (speaker), Oh, brother - where hast thou been?

Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

Dear Johnslat

Had a bit of an accident on public transport. I suspect piggie sabotage was behind it. Medical specialists advised refraining from doing anything that might elevate blood pressure. But should be able to post a few times a week again.

Wish the same were true of the good water treatment...


With Communist greetings

Sasha

[teacheratlarge]

Must post...must justify existence ..

Wait a minute....can I be fired for....this?

[Sashadroogie]

Only if you are a crank caller...

[Janiny]