Job Discussion Forums

[Desert Dueller]

An interesting read. Apart from suggesting to possibly look at your own grammar before posting here, could I ask if this is your first stint in the region?

[Allahtellya1]

If you would like to correct my grammar and spelling feel free but I use forums as if I am speaking to people. As long as communication is taking place we are in good shape. I have been in the region almost 7 years

[Allahtellya1]

Not sure why lord t had 2 comments edited? Only 1 had a snide comment in it

[Lord T]

Thank you Allahtellya1 for your detailed post. Working at TTC, you will be familiar with the scenario I outlined at the start of the thread.

I always felt that new students should have a level of at least B1 before being allowed to start at the college, but commercial interests take priority, it seems.

[Desert Dueller]

Interesting approach, Allahtellya1. Speaking in paragraphs and writing in accents. Hasn't worked for me so far, but, hey, I'm always happy to try out new communicative approaches to the use of language as a medium. And no, I don't want to correct your grammar and spelling. I was more intent on maintaining a certain level of linguistic integrity in this cherished forum, above and beyond a yahooist level of disintegrating language, resulting in a cacophony of chunks and grunts.

[Lord T]

I am impressed by Allahtellya1's detailed post: he is clear about his teaching objectives and he goes about them in a methodical way - I favour this type of approach.

If only my team leader, or indeed my HoD, had shown such qualities, things might have worked out better all round.

[veiledsentiments]

Nothing wrong with the approach. Certainly similar to the way that I taught writing for my years in the Gulf.

But... and it a big but... the idea of starting with students who can only barely form a simple grammatical sentence consistently and expect them to reach even paragraphs by the end of a trimester is simply not possible for 90% of the students. Even serious, hard-working students would barely get to an acceptable simple essay in 2 full semesters... and most Gulf students are just not motivated enough to achieve this.

This type of system is unfair to both students and teachers...

VS

[Allahtellya1]

[Allahtellya1]

Yes , Lord T students normally attend the school having already been taught English in a bachelors program and normally are at a B1 level or higher. That being said, some take the entrance exam and do very well on the technical knowledge side with very poor English ability. This produces a not so ideal problem that must be solved. Consistent with VS's commentary, she is correct that its next to impossible to get an A1 to write paragraphs but we have to try and see if the student has the energy and drive to seek out extra help to get them to the level they need to be. This is why the e-portfolio idea works so well, I have numerous students who have nearly failing grades currently but their grades can improve greatly if they re-work their essays and sentence building , taking the suggestions I make and doing the homework over and over again. Since graded homework is 30% of the grade, it can substantially increase their grade. Add to that an additional 10% for participation and they will certainly pass though not with flying colors. Ostensibly, students need not write a perfect paragraph to pass this trimester. They have a couple more trimesters to get to that point. The students who don't work at it though are slowly weeded out of the program.

[desertfox]

[quote="veiledsentiments"]Nothing wrong with the approach. Certainly similar to the way that I taught writing for my years in the Gulf.

But... and it a big but... the idea of starting with students who can only barely form a simple grammatical sentence consistently and expect them to reach even paragraphs by the end of a trimester is simply not possible for 90% of the students. Even serious, hard-working students would barely get to an acceptable simple essay in 2 full semesters... and most Gulf students are just not motivated enough to achieve this.

This type of system is unfair to both students and teachers...

VS - this is spot on.

That is why it is essentially dishonest (or at the very least lacks integrity) to promise otherwise.

Most people go to the Gulf for the money. That is the simple truth. Fact one = educational standards are low - Fact two = (most) Teacher's try very hard to make an impact - Fact three = grade inflation abounds.

The glass is always half full, rather than half empty. This secures the immediate future of even a failing institution, and ensures teachers still have a job earning reasonable money.

There is a distinction between the truth and cynicism. But, some are loathe to recognize it.

[veiledsentiments]

[johnslat]

Both optimistic idealists and pessimistic cynics see themselves as "realists."

But only we real realists can see that.

Regards,
John

[Allahtellya1]

Most people who see themselves as realists are either idealists or pessimists too!

[sicklyman]

[desertfox]