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Citizenkane
Joined: 14 Jun 2009
Posts: 234
Location: Xanadu
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 Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:35 am Post subject: |
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When the lesson is "screw them first", then it is time to leave the Kingdom. Your humanity is at risk, and that is too valuable to lose for a few dollars. |
Oh c'mon. A guy was ripped off. That's too bad but it goes on everywhere. Let's not over-philosophise. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| "a foreign communist country" ? I am intrigued. Cuba ? North Korea ? |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Every few years in the United States there is a story about a foreigner who gets off the plane in, say, Houston, then he gets into a taxi and asks the driver to take him to, say, Dallas. The driver neglects to tell him that this will costs thousands of dollars and drives him anyway. The poor foreigner is appalled at this, and probably assumes that all taxi drivers in the US (and maybe all Americans in general) are dishonest and corrupt. 
KSA is a tough place, but it doesn't mean that you can't find many honest and competent drivers there! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Mia,
But don't you know - ALL the taxi drivers in the USA ARE foreigners.
Regards,
John  |
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With Malice Toward None
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 250
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Was it Winston Churchill who said, "I don't like dogs. They look up to us. I don't like cats, either. They look down upon us. I like pigs. They treat us as equals."? (Slight misquote, maybe) |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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Dear WMTN,
Pretty close:
"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." - Sir Winston Churchill
But I like dogs, cats AND pigs.
"Dogs believe they are human. Cats believe they are God."
though I'll confess to a slight preference for dogs:
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."
Milan Kundera
Regards,
John |
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With Malice Toward None
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 250
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear WMTN,
Pretty close:
"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." - Sir Winston Churchill
But I like dogs, cats AND pigs.
"Dogs believe they are human. Cats believe they are God."
though I'll confess to a slight preference for dogs:
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."
Milan Kundera
Regards,
John |
Thanks for the correction.
Cats somehow seem to manage their own affairs but dogs are too dependent.. and smelly, too.. Pigs are jolly and they love to party. I accept your quote from Kundera, perhaps there is no other animal that so understands human emotions, especially its master's. I say master because I won't feel happy saying 'owner'.
Regards. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Well if you think pigs and you are equal, then the Magic Kingdom is not for you! 
BTW, the Magic Kingdom is injecting anybody who is complaining from swine (pork) flu!!
Last edited by 007 on Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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With Malice Toward None
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 250
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I think pigs can at least squeal at the abattoir but I have seen on video people go down under the sword without as much as a whimper. Kudos, my porcine brethren!
Last edited by With Malice Toward None on Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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Dear WMTN,
Having both a cat (Archer, an eight-year old Tuxedo male) and two dogs (Tenzing Norgay, a 2 1/2 year old Lhasa Apso male) and Phu Bai (a god knows how old chihuahua/terrier mix) as companions, I can testify that even cats are somewhat dependent in that they need expression of affection. True, dogs are more into "bonding," but then, so are we humans. We need to know that we're needed and loved at least as much as dogs do.
I can appreciate your using "master" instead of "owner," but I prefer "companion" to both.
Regards,
John |
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The Lathe of Heaven
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 162
Location: drifting from dream to dream from future to future
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| Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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Why do PYP programmes in some Saudi Universities experience a hard time when they choose to hire native speakers of English to instruct in their universities?
Why do some non native staff take offence to this and plot and scheme to sabotage it?
They hold a meeting with a PhD holding teacher to give a presentation on teaching philosophy and set the bench mark for all others to conform to. In this way even though a native speaking English teacher gives this weekly talk all other teachers are made to look inferior. And there we have the victory that is sought by the non native speaking staff.
TLOH |
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With Malice Toward None
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 250
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| The Lathe of Heaven wrote: |
Why do PYP programmes in some Saudi Universities experience a hard time when they choose to hire native speakers of English to instruct in their universities?
Why do some non native staff take offence to this and plot and scheme to sabotage it?
They hold a meeting with a PhD holding teacher to give a presentation on teaching philosophy and set the bench mark for all others to conform to. In this way even though a native speaking English teacher gives this weekly talk all other teachers are made to look inferior. And there we have the victory that is sought by the non native speaking staff.
TLOH |
Dear TLOH,
The answer to your question is best answered by the theory of demand and supply. The fact is that there aren't enough qualified/commited 'native' speakers who show up for these jobs. The question who should be deemed 'native' begs debate. The content and tone of your post surely demonstrate your preference of 'native' teachers being awarded the better jobs in EFL,regardless of their (lack of?)qualifications, commitment to the profession, and you refer to those other teachers as 'they' and 'them' as if they are not really teachers and were not entitled to any eminence in life for the simple reason that they are not 'native'.
As for the last paragraph in your post I can only say that you have every right and, the opportunity, to prove your worth and there are ever so many ways you can do it. Giving good lessons, giving some insights into the genius of the language to your students, enriching their vocabulary and sharing cross-cultural experiences can all contribute.
Hate and rancour arise from ignorance and indifference. There are a few posters here whose words have been revelation to me. Some are erudite, consistent, some have shown aberrations, some just candid and outspoken. I have no problem if I am placed at the bottom rung.
Regards and the best of luck.
WMTN. |
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The Lathe of Heaven
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 162
Location: drifting from dream to dream from future to future
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| With Malice Toward None wrote: |
| The Lathe of Heaven wrote: |
Why do PYP programmes in some Saudi Universities experience a hard time when they choose to hire native speakers of English to instruct in their universities?
Why do some non native staff take offence to this and plot and scheme to sabotage it?
They hold a meeting with a PhD holding teacher to give a presentation on teaching philosophy and set the bench mark for all others to conform to. In this way even though a native speaking English teacher gives this weekly talk all other teachers are made to look inferior. And there we have the victory that is sought by the non native speaking staff.
TLOH |
Dear TLOH,
The answer to your question is best answered by the theory of demand and supply. The fact is that there aren't enough qualified/commited 'native' speakers who show up for these jobs. The question who should be deemed 'native' begs debate. The content and tone of your post surely demonstrate your preference of 'native' teachers being awarded the better jobs in EFL,regardless of their (lack of?)qualifications, commitment to the profession, and you refer to those other teachers as 'they' and 'them' as if they are not really teachers and were not entitled to any eminence in life for the simple reason that they are not 'native'.
As for the last paragraph in your post I can only say that you have every right and, the opportunity, to prove your worth and there are ever so many ways you can do it. Giving good lessons, giving some insights into the genius of the language to your students, enriching their vocabulary and sharing cross-cultural experiences can all contribute.
Hate and rancour arise from ignorance and indifference. There are a few posters here whose words have been revelation to me. Some are erudite, consistent, some have shown aberrations, some just candid and outspoken. I have no problem if I am placed at the bottom rung.
Regards and the best of luck.
WMTN. |
Let me clarify:
They(university PYP non native speaking English instructors) hold a meeting with a PhD holding teacher (a native speaker who is specially picked for this purpose) to give a presentation on teaching philosophy and set the bench mark for all others (native speaking EFL instructors) to conform to. In this way even though a native speaking English teacher gives this weekly talk all other teachers (native speakers) are made to look inferior. And there we have the victory that is sought by the non native speaking staff (the ones that don't want to lose their jobs).
This decision (by the university president) to hire native speaking staff was opposed by the non native speaking staff months before they (the native speakers) arrived.
Hope this clears it up a bit. I'm not for loss of jobs for qualified EFL teachers (native or non-native). I'm just commenting on a situation that is becoming more prevalent across the KSA (the hiring of native speaking staff as EFL instructors).
Regards.
TLOH |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Dear TLOH,
I'm a little confused. Just to clarify:
When you write "native-speaking staff," you're referring to teachers whose "native language" is English, right?
When you write "non-native speaking staff," you're referring to teachers whose "native language" is NOT English, right?
Because, maybe I'm just being dense, but this puzzles me:
"with a PhD holding teacher (a native speaker who is specially picked for this purpose) to give a presentation on teaching philosophy and set the bench mark for all others (native speaking EFL instructors) to conform to. In this way even though a native speaking English teacher gives this weekly talk all other teachers (native speakers) are made to look inferior."
How are they "made to look inferior?" I don't get it.
Regards,
John |
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eclectic
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
Posts: 1122
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| Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| "a foreign communist country" |
USA? |
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