Job Discussion Forums

[Glenski]

richard,

You misread my post. I meant that this discussion forum should not be considered a battlefield. I agree tha the classroom often is.

While most newbies who post here are not teens, many newbies are indeed starry-eyed.

[johnslat]

Dear richard ame,
" some people tell me they won't do group work without a flame thrower and an AK47 . so who's kidding who? Let em sweat,we did so why shouldn't they? It's all good character building stuff and it would be good practice for them to cross swords with the best (?) in the business "

Often, life is not fair. Teachers can find themselves in work situations like the one you mentioned. But that, I think, is all the more reason why we, as individuals, should try to be fair, and helpful to each other, whenever we can be. Your attitude towards " newbies " reminds me of the " hazing " ceremonies that still go one in so-called fraternities and in some military schools. " I suffered so why should THEY not suffer ". Oh, don't worry; they will suffer - everyone does. But perhaps we can reduce the amount of general suffering a little by passing on some of what we know.
It's hard to see why this would not appeal to someone, unless he/she enjoys seeing other suffer.
Regards,
John

[R]

Sorry Sunaru, you missed them!! You should have been there yesterday. There were newbie snacks, dancing girls, whole roast oxen and small bags full of sweets and toys for everybody to take home.

[once again]

Having been in the "business" of teaching English for a number of years I have found my biggest dread is not the classroom but some of the supposedly educated educators who work within the field. The utter arrogance of some has astounded me. What on earth do we have to be arrogant about? And what is that "best in the field" comment about? Strikes me that anyone who would call themselves the "best in the field" doesn't have enough self awarness or hasn't met many of the excellent people working in it. I have a theory that this arrogance comes from being in situations where upon we are looked at as experts at what we do in the countries in which we teach. This leads to a degree of self reverence for many who would not find themselves in any such postion in their home countries. Having been in the field for a number of years I am constantly astounded at how my students learn and how imaginatively they use a language that the average native speaker struggles with. I take as my evidence here the lack of literacy of native speakers constantly shown in studies carried out in the UK. I learn something new everyday about my native language. Most people that come here looking for advice are doing so not because they are the "evil backpacker" out to make a quick buck while travelling, but because they really want some help. All power to "r" who seems to have instigated the new forum and shame on those that have constantly flamed and insulted questions from the inexperienced but eager for advice from which to learn.

[johnslat]

Dear once again,
I AM WHO AM - YE SHALT HAVE NO FALSE TEACHERS BEFORE ME.
Now, what's all this bushwah about some of us being too " self-reverent "?
Regards,
John

[once again]

As one who learned at the knee of the great teachers of our time I am full of reverence for the greats and know that I could never reach their standards. The greatest of all being Thumper in that great movie of learning and education "Bambi". To quote from Thumper here "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all"!!!!

I am not sure if this is a verbatum quote, but it is close enough to get the gist of the meaning!
Regards, Once again.

[richard ame]

hi once again and others
I dared to suggest that some of those who regularly post are shall we say better than most even good ok the "best" so who is going to blow our trumpets if we don't ? Not the newbies thats for sure .

[johnslat]

Dear richard ame,
On the other hand, if we can help them even a bit with our posts, maybe we'll have a whole brass section of newbie's tooting away.
Regards,
John

[once again]

Ah, I can here it now..the sound of the fanfares as the king gets to the thrown and we bow our heads in superstition and a small voice says "but as a newbie I see that he has no clothes" (irony and spelling intended)

[johnslat]

Dear once again,
Nude teaching - I like it. You may have started a new trend. We present the naked truth, the bare facts. Why should we be clothes-minded about
our jobs?
Regards,
John

[Tripmaster Monkey]

I am definitely for a newbie board. I've been on this forum for years. Even way back before when it was an unmoderated wild west show. Admittedly, I come here very little because of cliche tired out threads that live on like vampires. I'm talking about "Can I teach without a degree?", "Is ESL a profession?", "How do I get a visa?", "Where are the highest paying jobs?", "I'm leaving next week. What should I take?", and a whole host of other monsters that have been talked about to death for years because each new boatload of greenhorns has to ask them again. And that's not to blame them. I asked them myself in my own time. It seems a bit of a shame that they are not archived like the Job Journal. That way, everyone could have their say and have it left for posterity.

Still, I digress. Very simply, you would check the newbie forum first before starting a topic in the general forum. Of course there is some debate there as to what's newb and what's gen, but I believe most would agree on most topics. Moderators could referee if it came to that. Doubt it would.

Historically speaking, creation of the separate Korean discussion and web boards benefitted Korea posters and non-Korea posters. The Korean section now has a life of its own, and the general forum is no longer flooded with Korea posts. I would really look forward to reading the general index, but I'd still be happy to offer up my opinions about the classic paleolithic questions on the newbie board. In other words, anyone could post anywhere, but we could all benefit by concentrating the newbie questions in one area.

And I do believe that is what R is thinking. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, I cast three votes for having a new section!

[Wolf]