Job Discussion Forums

bearcanada · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 312 Location: Calgary, Canada

Colonel, I agree with you completely about the electronic dictionaries. They too often provide only one meaning that isn't the one you want. They just happen to be small and easy to carry, but are no substitute for a real one. Too bad.

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colonel · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Nanyang and Cha-Am

:up:

Thank you, they are limited.
I still refer to a dictionary for clarification.
Given that the average native speaker can only effectively use 5% of the English language why shouldn't I use a valuable resource?

I, earlier, resisted the temptation to comment upon what I should focus (sic) upon. However, given,

tony lee · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Location: Australia

Many untrained ESL EFL teacher make the mistake of thinking that the English they speak is shared with the rest of their country and with all English speakers living in the other big 5 countries. It is surprising really when there are quite major regonal differences within our own country - for instance in Australia a fairly insipid type of meat loaf is known as Devon or Fritz in different parts of the country and then there is bathers/cossie/costume/swimmers worn when swimming.

I think a better approach to imposing our own version of English on a class (that may have been taught according to a different version) is to use these differences or "ignorances" as they arise to broaden the students education, rather than condemning them for not knowing something they have never been taught.

At least I now know what a courgette is - one of a very small minority in Australia I think -- not that it matters because the rest of the world knows it by other names and I'm not likely to order any in the UK anyway.
Now about "scallion" ...

and

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

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

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Mpho · Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 58

I understand your frustration with "English majors" and your expectations that they might have higher levels of English than normal students.

I have never taught English majors, but spent a lot of time tutoring English majors which I taught at a Middle School. I now teach normal vocational students in a college.

The English majors that I tutored were at a third tier college and one of the lower ranked ones. I found their English vocabulary to be quite good as they spent lots of time making up for their inadequate grammar and vocabulary which is why they were in a third tier school to begin with.

But out of twenty-six students that I helped, all of them read supplemental books, practiced religiously learning new words daily and even spent time learning some non-academic English. But Englilsh majors learn academic Englilsh, not vocational English.

My vocational students in Hotel classes could probably do 50 out of 50 of your foods. My English majors maybe three.

English majors are taught words for teaching English in the schools and their vocabulary is geared towards 3000-5000 words they will use while teaching. Any extra words are ones they learn on their own.

My wife is a self-study graduate and her vocabulary is about 9000 words. She tutors English. One of the graduates of this third tier college teaches Middle School English and has about a 20,000 word vocabulary of which she self-taught herself about 12,000 words, phrases, idioms, etc.

My general belief is that English majors are better at grammar and writing, but not that much better in vocabulary and certainly a lot worse in vocational English.