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Advice needed about EFL,
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Irish



Joined: 13 Jan 2003
Posts: 371
PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 5:58 am    Post subject: Well, if we're going to get serious Reply with quote
tjpnz2000:

You're probably right about people not taking the time to search the site for information that they need. Also, I suspect that many fail to take a little time to lurk and get a feel for the...um...colorful personalities around here. Knowing which posters are likely to provide sensible replies and which are likely to tear into you is very important.

That's not to justify rude behavior. No matter how dumb we might think a given question is, lashing out at the person doing the asking does more harm than good. Not only does it usually spark a pointless flame war, good advice gets lost in the shuffle, wasting everyone's time.
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tjpnz2000



Joined: 22 May 2003
Posts: 118
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 7:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Irish,

True, rude behavior is never justified, also true that good advice gets lost.

I personally don't think I have ever tore into anybody (I am not suggesting that you are implying that I have). I have given some frank and blunt advice at times, I said

Quote:
This post reads a lot like someone who thinks that New Zealand is in the same catergory as far as Korea, Japan, Taiwan with regard to ESL work and living conditions. Sorry if I am mistaken but that is how it reads. If you have done your research you will know that this is not the case.


See the New Zealand/Australia forum for details.

I definately think that this kind of advice is justified at times. On the `Quit picking on backpackers` thread one of the on of the posters, I think it was Glenski, said it is mainly an issue of tone. I think this illustrates 2 things first Glenski knows what he is talking about and second that very few people who are new her read anything other than the first page, if they read that. Ok, 3 things. Number three being that I am too lazy to check the old thread.

I try to be frank but fair. God forbid I ever put someone off being an ESL teacher based on what they or I post here. Niether of us know enough about each other to make major life changing decsions. Hell, we don't even know each others names!

<tjpnz2000 stands up> `Hi, I'm Tamai and I'm an ESL teacher`

T
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Irish



Joined: 13 Jan 2003
Posts: 371
PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yep, tone is key, and it's very easy to read too much into a message and get worked up over something that isn't there. It happens on both sides.

"Frank but fair" is the way to go. I'm too lazy to look up the thread you've referenced right now but I've seen similar messages from you before so I'm confident that you're just trying to be honest with the person you're talking to. The excerpt doesn't seem out of line at all.

Let's face it: some people perceive any hint of negativity as an attack but I say it's irresponsible not to tell posters about possible pitfalls in their plans. I don't want to put anyone off becoming a teacher either. However, I don't want to hold back information they need for fear of offending them only to see them post a "Nobody warned me!!!" message later on. Just trying to find a balance here...I reckon we've all got to toughen up a little and take a deep breath before hitting the Submit button.

Gah, enough seriousness! Let's get back to the fun! I need a job that will support me, my beloved spouse, our eight children, and the family dog. Can anybody tell me which country will pay the airfare for all of us? Oh, and I'm about to finish my online certificate that lets me teach anywhere on the planet. The company said so when they billed my Visa.
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