Job Discussion Forums

sallyann · Joined: 18 Oct 2003 Posts: 39

I lurked for a few months, reluctant to post because of fear of being attacked. When I finally did post for the first time, 99% of the replies I received were intelligent, interesting and helpful. There were one or two, however, who obviously intended to be mean and spiteful - motivated by what, I can't imagine. I decided I wouldn't let that put me off, but I'm sure some people don't post for this reason.

Dave · Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 11 Location: California, USA

I used to come here and post some about 3 or 4 years ago, but as my TESL days receed into the past I return only rarely....

Kiyasarin · Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Posts: 8 Location: California

Hogbear · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 42 Location: New York City

I haven't been a member for very long, but I've definitely been doing more lurking than posting.

I'm consdering leaving my stable NYC magazine-editing gig and pursuing a career teaching English somewhere in Latin America (Colombia or Brazil). Crazy? Most of my friends think so. I browse this forum every time I feel the blahs with my current job. I'm still waffling, but this forum has been a great place for me to do some initial research. It's nice to read the detailed experiences of people who love teaching English.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

[quote="Hogbear"] It's nice to read the detailed experiences of people who love teaching English.[/quote]

I am not sure that I would say that I "love teaching"

I love my wife and kids. I teach because I need an income

Mister Ed · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 32

When looking for some info. on the HK Forum, I got some really good feedback, both PM and posts, from infrequent contributors [lurkers???]. I won't out them, but thanks guys.

Hogbear · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 42 Location: New York City

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

scot47 - I love teaching too but it's more of a philo love. Personally, I reserve agape for the wife and certain other individuals. Sorry our language isn't as expressive as some other classical languages you have recently espoused Wink

BTW, are those same loved-ones with you in Saudi?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:33 pm Post subject: Relativity

Dear Hogbear,

"Love is a relative word."

Hmm, I'm not so sure about that. Do you love ALL your relatives?

Regards,
John

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

I read a lot more on here than I post (though I'm still relatively new to the site), so I suppose I could be called a lurker. When I lurk, it's usually because, while the discussion is interesting, I don't find it interesting enough to post a reply. Or I don't know much about the topic, and so lurk to find out more. Or I just don't feel like talking! Confused

Nowt wrong with lurking, in my humble opinion -- it's fascinating to see what others are saying, and sometimes, like in real life, you prefer just to listen.

On a more negative note, I have found by reading some posts that some newbies are attacked quite viciously by older hands for posting what is seen as a 'silly' question. One poor naive 18 year old on the Japan forum asked how he could get a job in Japan with no degree or much work experience. Naive of him, yes; but I was staggered by the vitrolity of some of the replies. That was one instance where I did post, to defend him.

I posted a question myself recently and got quite a terse reply back telling me to check out previous forums, as the poster was sick of saying the same thing over and over. First -- he was wrong, as I had checked out the forums but there was nothing relating to my quite specific enquiry; second, he did not have to reply if he clearly thought it such a waste of time, and third, there is no need to be rude even if the topic I was querying had been clearly posted on the forum I used. Evil or Very Mad

And this is contraversial, and I know I am generalising wildly, but I have found in my experience of TEFL and of reading ESL sites and forums that there can often be a very arrogant contempt for newbies. It's like people want to portray themselves as 'real' or 'true' ESL teachers just because they have lived in a foreign country for x years. I found this type of snobbery while in Japan -- the amount of gaijin that wouldn't even reply to a friendly 'hi' !

Maybe it's the same with all professions, I don't know. And maybe this snobbery/contempt is more linked with 'travelling' rather than ESL teaching. But I do think it exists. More manners please! I would never put someone down for asking a question I found simple -- we were all new once.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Thank you, Laura. I too see needless hostility (arrogance?) towards newbies, and I cannot understand it.

d

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

I see nastiness on most internet discussion forums - I presume this is due to a lack of physical presence in regard to the communicators, it's OK to be rude because there's no chance of someone bashing your head in.

It's also trickier to read emotions over the internet (even with such expressive emoticons as Wink

,

and

), sometimes people read malice in statements where there is none, and react accordingly (thus starting a chain reaction snowball effect of negativity).

I have rarely met arrogant English Teachers in real life - but then, I have never met anyone who posts on here regularly. Possibly, people who are usually "nice" turn into something horrible when they log on at Dave's, or maybe internet discussion forums just attract a certain breed of person!

I am both puzzled and amused when I see the highly emotional "arguments" so prevalent in the China and Korea forums. What satisfaction anyone can possibly gain from trading insults in such a context is beyond me. As a communication medium, discussion forums are (IMHO) better suited to neutral exchanges of ideas and information - heated emotional arguments are better left face-to-face, or (at least) over the phone.

Experienced teachers are understandably concerned about (what they see as) an underserved reputation for ELT as being a bit mickey-mouse. For someone with a master's in TEFL and 10 years' experience to be afforded the same job title as an unqualified and inexperienced amateur is (I suppose) a little demeaning. I'm sure there is a lot of insecurity out there about this, which in turn manifests itself as hostility towards "newbies". Perhaps ironically, though, behaviour like this is hardly professional.

Smile

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

Good points Laura. I also usually lurk far more than I post.

tjpnz2000 · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 118 Location: Japan

Interesting topic.

I myself have gone full cycle.

I started on this board `lurking` to see if there was information relevant to me.

Then I started posting. Partly, to have specific questions answered, partly to `give something back` to the board for the information provided to me. And, yeah, cause I had nothing better to do.

Now, I'm back to `lurking`. I drop by every so often to see what is on the boards. It is usually the same questions:

`Where is the best place to teach?`

Anwsered, with the patience of saints, by the same people, who will remain nameless.

Some of the time I don't bother to post because I what I would say has already been said.

Some of the time I can't be bothered with the flame wars.

I also can't be bothered reading super long posts.

Currently split my net time between; smirkingchimp.com, foxnews.com, nzherald.co.nz.

T