Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:14 pm Post subject:

Passionate.

A top class peeve! Bring 'em on!

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

Guys who think being a native English speaker will make them chick magnets in Central/Eastern Europe. VERY outdated notion!

It takes a lot more quals than that to be a chick magnet Very Happy

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject:

At least some degree of articulateness. Maybe even a degree!

But be they a master or knave, they'll soon meet their match. Slavic chicks can run rings round the best.

fdmi · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 13

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but 'ek cetera'. Christ that pisses me off.

Completely overused expression in Callan material and taught wrongly by plenty of teachers too. Hearing an Italian say 'ek cetera' is ridiculous.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:17 pm Post subject:

Yet again! The spelling/grammar mistake contained in the first sentence of this post posted JUST A FEW HOURS AGO!!!!!

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=876444#876444

NCTBA

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

The English would-be English teachers produce....... Rolling Eyes

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:30 pm Post subject:

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

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

At least some degree of articulateness.

I didn't look it up yet, but I THINK it should be "articulation". If I'm wrong, I'll come back and edit.

My bid on this one: ability to articulate?
Or degree of articulation (yeah, I think so).

That's without looking it up, of course!

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject:

Ha! I wuz jes' thinkin' about the difference between George Dubya's English and the English of his Dad's VP, Dan Quayle.

Dubya jes' made up words. Quayle used properly-developed words...jes' in the wrong order...

Hmmm...

NCTBA

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

What's your analysis of your own on-line writing style, NCTBA?
It's interesting, but I have difficulties to label it appropriately.

I have difficulties to label it appropriately.

Just realised that I'm writing Chenglish Embarassed

At least I've labeled it:)

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 12:24 am Post subject:

The longer I stay in Mexico the more I find myself speaking and writing isolated chunks of Spanglish. �Ay, Dios m�o!

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 12:47 am Post subject:

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

I think a lot of your style is Recognition of Reductions Smile

Waddaya got?
Wammeda fill er up?
Didja eat yet?

I used to teach these to immigrants in Canada, where they're frequently used. Not so that they could USE them, but so they could understand when they hear them!

It's different from contractions, as some reductions make grammatically little sense.

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

Ok, I'm ready for a rant.

I've been in Canada for a couple of weeks doing a bit of work. There are some things about North America that drive me utterly CRAZY.

TV:
1. Sheer percentage of adverts versus actual programming. I watch a few of the same programmes in Europe and you see the pauses where American commercials are inserted. Here - we get 'em all. In spades.
2. Why does anybody EVER take any of those drugs that have every side effect known to man all the way from diarrhea up to 'has occasionally caused DEATH???"
Ooooh, I'll go ask my doctor for THAT sleep aid tomorrow Shocked

3. Those constant ads aimed at the elderly and 'people with a larger body type' Shocked

for step-in bathtubs (why not a shower, people??) and chair lifts you attach to the stair bannister in your giant suburban home (heaven forbid the elderly and those with larger body types consider moving to an apartment building with NO STAIRS).
4. The obsession of American news with American news....to the near-utter exclusion of anything that happens outside - even when this means they have to simply repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat the same news over and over and over and over and over...............

CARS:
What the ^**%&6 is with these Monster Vehicles???
Why do they have so little respect for cyclists and pedestrians??
Clearly, if you're driving a five-door pickup truck, your time is more valuable than anyone else's.....get the hell out of the way, little people.....exit scene with ear splitting
ROAR of engine, cancerous BLAST of exhaust

PUBLIC TRANSIT:
Clearly, one LRT train every 10 minutes is inadequate. THAT'S why they are jammed like the purple line Moscow Metro at rush hour.

CYCLISTS:
Where I live, this is a civilised method of transport for EVERYONE. Suits, elderly, little kids, English teachers, etc, etc.
Here - it's all type A oil industry execs pushing 40ks per hour on their way to torture the staff in their glass tower offices all day - and their families all evening. Walk a small schnauzer on one of these 'park trails' at your own risk!! Twisted Evil

Cookie Cutter MALLS & Shopping Centres:
It's obvious. How many of the same stores does one small city really need? There must be 125 Shopper's Drug Marts here, all carrying the same dreary atmosphere and goods. Deadly depressing.
Where's my local baker, butcher, fish market, cheese specialist? Oh, back to Europe ASAP....where the food's edible and the shops are individual.

FOOD
Additives additives additives additives....it all tastes like plastic.
Why this Canadian obsession with Timmy H's over-sweet coffees and donut holes? (Sorry, Canadians, I don't mean to attack your traditions and memories - just can't find it in myself to share them).
Did you know that SEVENTY PERCENT of all the foods in a North American supermarket contain something that has been genetically modified???
And they wonder why Irritable Bowel Syndrome is so rampant here...back to the drug ads, we are!

DRINK
Ok, I can deal with a European cappucino is a North American latte (not being a Foam Fan). But why do they keep warning me I won't get much foam in my FIVE DOLLAR coffee???
And the beer.
OMG. Stuff obviously comes out of the lower end of a horse. My Czech spouse likes Canada a lot - but is careful not to buy the beer.

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
I can't speak for Canadians in general here, but Calgarians LOVE to tell you what to do.
It took them a whole 24 hours to start shouting at me for walking on the left instead of the right side of the park path (it's to keep the schnauzer out of the path of speeding cycles). They don't like the type of leash on the schnauzer (it's standard web mesh). They think I've parked wrongly (it was LEGAL). I should buy a different kind of sunscreen. I shouldn't let the schnauzer roll on the grass (he might get a tick). I should stop shooing the magpies off us on the walks (it's their park, not mine - though we pay taxes here and I doubt the magpies contribute much). And just let the dog off the leash in the park for three minutes - even just drop the end of the leash for a couple of seconds - and they come running from the far corners. OMG

BORDER
This is the only country that has ever charged a fee at the airport for the dog. First, they called it an 'import fee.' I pointed out that the dog's documents clearly show that he was born in Canada and is clearly a citizen. Then, it becomes an 'inspection fee.' Ok - I'll take him out of his crate and you can look at him - No, No! Look, just tell me you want me to buy you a nice lunch, I'll give you the thirty bucks, and we'll go on our way.
Total freak out if I let the dog out of the crate at the airport. Can't wait for Schipol where I can take him out and let him ride on the trolley on top of the luggage, or walk with me, and enjoy a cheeseburger in peace.

They're nasty to me, too. Always question why I have a green card.....

AAARRRRGGGHHH

Yeah, I admit there are some good things about North America. But 90 percent of it simply isn't my bag.