Job Discussion Forums

[zackzack]

This thread is like an obstinate old tomato plant that just won't die long after summer has passed; it just keeps on producing bitter fruit that no one can make of any use.

[trustedteacher]

To Zack Zack and all others:

Very well stated, this thread is a perfect example of the type of individuals that currently work there. They are unhappy with their lives and that is why they cannot produce anything but venom. Like I said in an earlier post misery loves company. Life is short, if your job is making you that unhappy quit and find another job. Life is too short. You see actress Brittany Murphy who just died at age 32!!!! Tommorrow is promised to no one, and if this is how you are going to live today then I feel very sorry for you!!!

[007]

[trustedteacher]

I love the photo of the cat in the turban. My name is Bond James Bond!!!

[Citizenkane]

[veiledsentiments]

[scot47]

Anti-woman ? No it is cats I dislike

[theonewhoknows]

Well I have been reading this post and have chosen to remain silent. Here is a letter from a student complaining about the quality of the program. This says it all. What do you think? I did not include the name of the student to protect their identity.

To whom it may concern:
On behalf of BUS102, we are writing this e-mail to raise the issue that we are facing this term.
1) This course is not like the SILC program. It is an academic course and should follow an academic curriculum that should be set by YU and approved by the �Ministry of Higher Education�.
2) There is not any specific objective or target to be met. Therefore, students do not know where are their weaknesses, what efforts should be exerted and how should they improve it. Hence, the instructors can not evaluate the students on an unclear objective.
3) Unfortunately, both the teaching and learning methods are not adding any value to our academic experience since we are not able to develop our skills. In addition, the process of teaching is basically: Instructor sets topic to be researched, student writes the essay, and essay is then evaluated.
4) There is a lack of feedback on the student�s essay, such as feedback on any errors in the grammar, sentence structure/language and so on.
5) Instructors focus mainly on the final evaluation, rather than assisting the student on improving her writing skills (Instructors can not be blamed because the goals are not clear to start with).
6) Instructors hold a committee meeting where opinions of different instructors are taken into account when evaluating the student�s work. This is unfair since each instructor has her own expectations and evaluation standards. Students have different levels of writing skills, and therefore should not be evaluated by comparing a student�s work to other students.
7) Instructors request the first draft to be as good as the final draft. They insist that the second or final draft should not be edited to a large extent. However, this has resulted in a lot of confusion. This is since during the SILC program, we learnt and practiced that the first draft is where you put you points and thoughts on paper and is edited to produce the final draft.
We will be tested soon on essay writing which we will need to finish within 45 minutes. During this time, we need to read a case study, write an essay, and will be evaluated on what we have written within 45 minutes. It is impossible to produce a perfect essay with this entire pressure and meeting the time deadline. We are neither journalists nor literature writers.
9) Instructors do not have business backgrounds. They are all English instructors which leads to conflict between us and them when it comes to the business terms, or essay requirements.
All the above concerns have affected us mentally.
1) We passed eight levels of the SILC program, and believed that we were good enough and capable of writing good quality essays. Now, our confidence in writing essays has declined. Hence, if our writing skills are weak, then the SILC program that we graduated from must have been weak as well.
2) It is just frustrating, since this course is the most pressurizing out of all courses. It is my fourth year at YU, and I am taking specialization courses. Unfortunately, this course is the most expensive (SR.6000) and most stressful. Not doing well in this course will really affect our GPA.
3) Finally, after the business writing 101 course, there is nothing to add in business writing 102.
4) In addition, writing essays has nothing to do with business writing. We have already learnt how to analyze business case studies and wrote critical essays and analysis. Why are we repeating the same thing again?

[trustedteacher]

Well this is one good point that I agree with you on Veiled Sentiments, it is sad that societies like this one do not understand the balance of male and female energy. I want to emphasize though that it is culture and not Islam that pushes these ideologies. I have seen successful organizations succeed because of the organizational power of both men and women working together. I have always believed in balance.

To theonewhoknows:

Wow! The way that particular student articulated their problem with the program was very well stated. I wonder what happened with the student after they expressed their frustrations with what was going on.

[Cleopatra]

[trustedteacher]

Yes Cleopatra I was wondering the same thing, the grammar sounded too perfect for it to be a student.But who knows, you never know....

[theonewhoknows]

Believe me it was a student that wrote this complaint letter. Now I am not sure if they had someone with a higher level of proficieny of English to write it for them, but it was a student!!

[trustedteacher]

Well I guess we do not have a choice but to believe you after all you are the one who knows!!!

[veiledsentiments]

I too suspect that the student had help writing this, and it was likely a group effort... it does, after all, start out saying "we." And even if there was input from more advanced English writers, I'd say that this is how we would want most "business writing" to be done... collaboratively and using the best of the group knowledge.

[Citizenkane]