| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: Someone should write a book |
 |
|
I've been a member here for over three years now, but just started to get active this summer. Since I've returned to Canada I find myself with time on my hands.
I am amazed by the naivete of some of the questions (and answers) I've seen raised here. Today I read about someone who hopes to go to China, as a foreigner, and start a business, just like that. In another forum, someone asked, "How long does it take to find a job?" It's like asking, "How high is up?" 
I hope someone will start a collection of stupid questions and answers that appear in these forums. It could be called "Innocents Abroad" (oh, maybe that's already been done) or "Gullible's Travels". 
I'll be one of the first in line to buy a copy! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Remember that the only stupid question is the one that's not asked. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jizzo T. Clown wrote: |
| Remember that the only stupid question is the one that's not asked. |
I agree. There are certainly some redundant questions, but we were all new at one point and likely had similar questions... whether or not we asked them in public! A lot of them can be answered with a little bit of research, but I think that this site has so much valuable information that it can actually count as research. (Not the only form, though!)
d |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| You don't think "How long will it take to find a job?" is a stupid question? What possible sensible answer can there be to that other than "It depends..." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| jwbhomer wrote: |
| You don't think "How long will it take to find a job?" is a stupid question? What possible sensible answer can there be to that other than "It depends..." |
No, I don't think it's stupid. It just so happens that it's not very easy to answer because it depends on so many factors. Questions that are hard to answer are not automatically stupid. People may simply not realize that there are a lot of factors involved.
My answer would be something like, "It depends on where you want to go, what time of year you apply, and what type of school you're applying to. The whole process--sending in a CV, getting an interview, sending paperwork, contracts, etc., back and forth--has generally taken a couple of months for me. If you're applying for a job that operates on an academic calendar, they will likely do their hiring several months before the start of the term, and keep in mind that terms don't always start in September. Schools that have primarily business classes tend to hire year-round, so there are always openings--just start looking a couple of months before you want to go. And of course there are always last-minute/urgent openings. I've had two jobs where they wanted me to get there as soon as possible--one guy (jokingly, I think) said, 'tomorrow' when I asked him when the job would start."
d |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, Denise, you're obviously a thoughtful and patient person. 
I guess I should try to suffer fools more gladly. Let me pray... "Lord, grant me patience...RIGHT NOW!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
I tend to agree that people often ask impossibly general questions. But I tend to be patient as LOADS of people answered MY newbie questions when I was first heading out.
My favorites are things like, "What is Thailand/Korea/Taiwan/etc like?" - Well, really, you could write a book on it - and it does feel a bit silly trying to put it into just a few sentences . . .
But - as former newbies - we all owe it in the great Karma Circle - to help those who follow us. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sounds like a good idea. That's why I wrote the Ultimate Peru List. It should be published in a travel book by the end of the year. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:56 am Post subject: Re: Someone should write a book |
|
|
| jwbhomer wrote: |
| I am amazed by the naivete of some of the questions (and answers) I've seen raised here. Today I read about someone who hopes to go to China, as a foreigner, and start a business, just like that. |
I talked about opening a business, however, I meant online exporting things to the USA. YOu just need a website to do it if it's small. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jwbhomer
Joined: 14 Dec 2003
Posts: 876
Location: CANADA
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:15 am Post subject: Re: Someone should write a book |
|
|
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| jwbhomer wrote: |
| I am amazed by the naivete of some of the questions (and answers) I've seen raised here. Today I read about someone who hopes to go to China, as a foreigner, and start a business, just like that. |
I talked about opening a business, however, I meant online exporting things to the USA. YOu just need a website to do it if it's small. |
PM sent. No offence meant. Wish you good luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ok. Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the kind words... but you are quite possibly the first person who has ever said that I am patient! Try to go easy on the newbies. Today's newbies could be tomorrow's seasoned vets fielding questions from the next batch of newcomers.
d |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
I think the only newbie posts that bug me are those ones who don't want to hear any 'bad news.' Like a girl who flamed me a year ago because she didn't want to hear that it was unlikely she'd be able to get a legal work permit for someplace that North Americans can't get legal work permits in....
She wrote that she wanted only 'helpful' posts - not realistic ones...  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Aussie Chick
Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 104
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Interesting to see the ones who always patiently respond to us newbies are here in this thread....
I have to say as a relative newbie that although our questions may sound naive (and some are positively cringe-worthy), the answers you "old hands" give us are INVALUABLE in our quest to persue a career in TEFL.
In the beginning, I scoured this board for hours, night after night, looking for information on TEFLing, countries, visa queries, money questions etc etc. An answer you gave someone 6 months ago is still sitting there for us newbies to read and learn from.
So don't hold back on giving information if you are able to help. For every one person asking that question, there are probably a hundred others out there pondering the same thing.
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
zorro (3)
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 202
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I do find some of the posts on here to be completely pointless.....  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
