Job Discussion Forums

Tazmin · Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

Oh dear, another fight between zola and duffy Crying or Very sad

Please can we have the topic adhered to as it is a genuine topic with many points raised. I did not attack the British or the Americans and find it a bit disturbing when people take a genuine topic and turn it into a personal fight and attack upon other countries and each other, AGAIN . I have no interest in the problems between zola and duffy - i would just like some answers or opinions on my points.

I did not say one was better than the other, i said that it was CONFUSING to the students. The colleges need to decide if they want to follow British English, American English or a mix (which can work). There are many differences in the languages and what a student has learned one semester as being correct vocabulary may well end up being 'wrong' vocabulary the next semester - because of the change in course material. Simple examples: you could say to an American woman that you like her pants, but if you say that to an English woman it would be HUGELY offensive. An American puts things in a their trunk, an English person puts things in a boot. An American woman carries a purse, an English woman carries a bag (and uses a purse only for money!) And so on......

Anyway, such are the joys of teaching Very Happy

No comments on any of my other points?

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

So what are the coursebooks, anyway? I haven't seen them yet.

Re. switching from British English one year to American English the next--I agree that it could confuse the students, but as long as the teachers, wherever they come from, are educated enough to know that "trunk" and "boot" are perfectly valid and correct, there shouldn't be huge problems. I think if teachers can respect and explain the differences between various Englishes, the students will be fine.

On another note--why are people so negative here?!?!? This forum and another one--UAE or general (don't remember which) have so many locked threads! Come on, people! Please calm down and stop putting each other down.

d

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Changing between textbooks can be a problem at lower levels not because the old vocabulary is obviously wrong, but because it is different, and students of the new book haven't learnt the vocab from the previous volume of the old one that is taken for granted.

There are reasons for using predominantly British textbooks in Europe and predominantly US textbooks in the Americas. In the Middle East they will come across both varieties so a mix is exactly what should be aimed at.

The problem here is lack of planning, not switching between two almost identical regional varieties of the language.

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

Denise wrote:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Tazmin · Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Apart from anything else there is no such thing as a 'Gulf' standard. What would be viewed as fine in the Emirates or Oman will raise screams of horror in Saudi, as we have found with "Skills in English".

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

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It was written for SQU. It was also used at UGRU. I suspect the complaints were not about cultural inappropriateness.

As for its general standard, you have never used the old KFUPM books. Even Skills in English was a great improvement over them.

The picture that really caused a complaint was that of a male and female Emirati student studying together. The argument given was that it was quite all right to show pictures of westerners indulging in all kinds of inappropriate behaviour, but to show a Gulf National doing the same thing was an invitation to social mayhem.

yumyumkorea · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Europe

Arguments with regard to American or British English aside, the choice of books for the coming academic year has been given to individual colleges. A selection of sample books was sent to each college. Ideally the coordinators should have allowed teachers to inspect these books, and some sort of consensus, (where possible) should have been arrived at.

As is the norm, a wave of complete indifference met the announcement that books were available to be inspected, with a view to recommendation, (or not) for the coming academic year. (At least in some colleges).

If as a teacher, you were asked for an opinion, but chose to give none, then you must put up with what was chosen on your behalf.

If you were not given the choice, see your coordinators.