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sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

I'm with you on those ESL studies. Those were my initial two answers to the questions. And I'm English!!

wildchild · Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 519 Location: Puebla 2009 - 2010

conform

Teejay · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 59

Hi,
I was interviewed yesterday and thank God they offered me a place for the course.

Going back to the application task, the direction was - Spot the mistake in the following sentences and correct it.

1. She remarked a suspicious looking man in the doorway.

My answer: She noticed a suspicious looking man in the doorway.

The correct answer: She remarked that there is a suspicious looking man in the doorway.

2. It's not sure it will rain today.

My answer: It's not certain it will rain today.

The correct answer: I'm not sure it will rain today.
He explained that only a person is sure- I'm sure, he's sure

Guys, thank you so much for your ideas.

Let's close this topic now.

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

And it strengthens my belief that CELTA cannot be taken seriously. There are myriad ways to correct those sentences, not just one each!

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Can't I properly say that

"It's sure that he won't pass the exam?"

for example?

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

To be sure.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:26 am Post subject:

Heh, you're under no obligation to keep coming back to thank us, Teejay! Wink

We just like chewing over some things until all the marrow's gone and we're getting bone splinters in our gums. Very Happy

I mentioned 'for sure', SJ brought up a few variants, subordinate clauses are possible etc. Many subtle variations.

I think "the" answer to the first item is "interesting", in that it "packs a lot in" (which can perhaps be of some value for learners), but it ultimately sounds clumsy, too cluttered. Perhaps it's just 'remarked...' that's the reason - compare 'She said (that) there's a sale on at Kinokuniya' (ha, that'll be the day!).

Oh, and I just wanted to ask if my analysis of the "two 'it's'" was OK or not (or was it a bit too brain-bending? Even I have to admit, when I read it again, that it's tough going!).

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject:

coffeedrinker · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 149

I'm not really the one you asked...but I did a celta and there are maybe ten questions like that, along with other things in the application. I'm sure there are celta trainers or whoever who have a more developed explanation for it than I do - but I understand that they want to see some ability to analyze (what is usually) your own language.

teejay gave the answers - they were apparently wrong - but teejay still got accepted.

I think there are people who really can't analyze their own language at all. "Why is that wrong?" "Well, because..."

I'm not saying these two questions are a great way to find out if someone will be a good teacher or not ... but there probably is a difference between someone who is able to come up with a reasonable explanation and someone who is not...I think a person can get the answer "wrong" and still show they have an ability to think analytically about language. And the fact that teejay got accepted seems to show they realize that.

zorro (3) · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The purpose of the exercise is to check the trainee's sensitivity to language and ability to analyze.

The fact that the trainer has dismissed two correct answers, and in one case has substituted a clearly inferior response, suggests that the center is not as good as it should be. An early warning signal. Where is it?