Job Discussion Forums

hellionzap · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 61 Location: Nizwa

I repeat, raspberry. And to you sir, double that.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:22 am Post subject:

Well, I am...speechless, by your witty reparte. But, at least, it's encouraging to see that you correctly know how to address superiors. Laughing

...

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NCTBA

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:55 pm Post subject:

Dear boundforsaudi,

Funny you should mention that. "Teaching How to Use the Articles" was the topic of a "lecture" that all the staff at the IPA in Riyadh had to attend one day. The US embassy had flown in an "expert."

All assembled in the room put up with this "presentation" (delivered, by the way, in the most condescending manner) until, at the end, the very self-satisfied lecture made the mistake of asking, "Any questions?."

One grizzled Ph.D's query was this:

"Just how much do they pay you to teach your grandmother to suck eggs?"

Regards,
John

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

I didn't mean to imply anything by "advanced degrees" other than the fact that people at all levels of education know bull#$&* when they hear it- and most of the jargon driven PD is that.

On the other hand, there are good courses to be had.

It is too bad that you have to fish through so much dross to find a few pearls. Most of what I have learned about teaching English has been self taught, Most of my time at conferences has been spent at the book tables advancing my education.

I do know people with NO degrees who have the heart and personality to teach. I know PhDs who cannot teach a lizard to crawl.

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

�Learning must be equal to or greater than the rate of change� Reg Revans

Reg Revans is widely credited with being the founding father of
Action Learning....but, who was Reg Revans Question

http://www.imcasocrates.com/resources/download/111602.PDF

Geronimo

johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject:

Dear Geronimo,

"In all cases, people learned better, faster and more enduringly from their own problems than from management �experts� importing �prefabricated�
knowledge."

"The learning is most effective if it is self-managed and focused on finding internal solutions, rather than seeking external help."

Rex sounds like my kind of guy. Very Happy

Regards,
John

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Yet again a fascinating thread, particularly as somne people are opening their mouths only to stick their feet into them.

eslbear, I share your disappointment with the negativity that some people have expressed on this thread. Most of us have, at some time, attended a PD event that has been less than stimulating - I remember one lecture at Dammam on where one could stick posters - but we remember them precuisely because they were so bad.

When, however, we have people who seem to believe that Action Research is a new buzz word - Action Research has been around for at least 20 years - or use the term "jargon" for what is simply the formulaic language of a discouyrse community, then it becomes clear how imoportant PD really is.

THe "I-did-my-training-25-years-ago-so-I-know-everything" attitude really does not wash any more.

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Dear boundforsaudi,

If you real-ly have prob-lems with this type of lang-uage, then it might held if you took some sort of read-ing course.

And if most educationalists had to choose between the opinions of Professor Jack Richards and your opinions, guess who would probably get the majority vote.

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

Educationalists? Please watch your language. This is a family forum.

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Dear Neil,

I am sure that what you are saying and quoting is an intentionally farcical way of demonstrating how ridiculous most of the jargon laden BS is.

Educationalist! If I didn't guess that you were having a go at us, I would have to wonder where you ever got such a word. Is that like Congregationalist? A new religion of learning and teaching? Shocked

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

Dear John,

Dr Reg Revans outlined the role of Action Learning in improving the rate of learning in an age when the rate of change is accelerating.

I thought that you might be interested in taking a look at the 2 short video clips of his talk in the USA back in 1994 , which are available for viewing at:-

http://www.gullonline.org/media/action_learning.htm

Regards,

Geronimo

johnslat · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject:

Dear Geronimo.

Thanks - this reminds me (in a way) of Toffler's "Future Shock" (published in 1970.)

"Possibly the best section in the book is that on education. Here he advanced a powerful critique: �what passes for education today, even in our �best� schools and colleges, is a hopeless anachronism.� He then added: for all this rhetoric about the future, our schools face backwards towards a dying system, rather than forwards to an emerging new society."

It seems such an obvious idea - and yet, here we are, forty years later,
still, for the mist part, "facing backwards."

which brings to mind the last line of "The Great Gatsby":

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Regards,
John

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614