Job Discussion Forums

[boundforsaudi]

Anybody know of any openings for an American male to teach the Saudi military? I want to use the Audio-Lingual Method if I can find a place to do it.

[boundforsaudi]

I just sent Vinnell my CV. Would appreciate it if anybody working there now can give me the scoop.

[veiledsentiments]

[boundforsaudi]

Yep. But make that the 50's. Before the sissification of ESL.

[bje]

[mouse5]

Vinnell = Saudi National Guard = Sleepy cadets with zero interest in learning English.

Pay's great. The rest of the contract s**ks. If you're wanting to further your career. Forget it. We're here to make money. That's about it.

Have fun!

[sheikh radlinrol]

The Saudi National Guard gave me pleasant but sleepy students and I think it's an exaggeration to say the cadets have ''zero interest'' in learning English. Some of mine had been to university and showed real interest. Little or no job satisfaction, however. But you can't really complain when you compare the financial rewards with what is asked of you.

[veiledsentiments]

But is there an actual employer out there that uses the A/L method?

Then again... if there is anyone, it is likely the military, but I would expect it to be the American military, as the British still seem rather infatuated with the straight communicative approach.

VS

[scot47]

DLI course still common with many places.

[boundforsaudi]

Looks like the DLI has strayed quite a bit from the Audio-Lingual Method:

The curriculum used at DLIELC is the American Language Course (ALC). The ALC is proficiency-based, variable in duration and includes General and Specialized English materials. Upon entry to DLIELC, international students are placed at the appropriate proficiency level in the ALC and receive six hours of General English instruction daily until they attain the required ECL score. US Army recruits, who are not native English speakers, also attend General English Training (GET).

The objective of GET is to improve the students' communicative and sociolinguistic competence. This goal is achieved by organizing instruction around language functions, by emphasizing the four language skills, and by offering a variety of language learning strategies including cooperative learning.

http://www.dlielc.org/bilc/Rep_Presnt/NATLRPT/usa.htm

[Bebsi]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the Audio Lingual Method exactly? Is it what I think it is...can we, say, think of the schoolroom in Little House on the Prairie? Or Goodbye, Mr. Chips (not so bad)?

I agree, we need to remove the sissification from teaching generally. I believe in the Proactive Post Direct Vocal Intervention Methodi.e. yelling at them to shut up, and when they do that, telling it to them as it is; none of that girlie stuff about Language Acquisition Devices and all that nonsense. When all else fails (cos u don't try it as it's a waste of time anyway) I use the Posterior Propulsion Approach, in other words, kick them out with a good size 13, steel-toe-capped, hobnailed boot up the erse.

That works!!

[boundforsaudi]

Here ya go:

http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/LANGUAGELEARNING/WaysToApproachLanguageLearning/TheAudioLingualMethod.htm

[spiral78]

Hey, they won't actually be able to communicate in English, but you can maintain maximum control. If that's what you're into.

[Bebsi]

I checked out ALM...still wayyyyyyyy too cissie by far for my liking. What happened to good ole he-man teaching, where a guy called Brad, Brock, Chase or Grant (Mister Bullman or Mr. Kruger to the students) went into a classroom and showed who was boss, as opposed to some pansy called Algernon or Dilbert standing there trying to do things like "relate" to students? Roman-galley style teaching is what I like, it made real men of us all, put hair on our chests it did.

[boundforsaudi]

Yes, ma'am.