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sheikher
Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 291
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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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 Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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That would normally classify him as in line to get whacked by Paulie Walnuts. But I give a pass to civilians. |
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Cuffs
Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 77
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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I think that's enough, gentlemen and gentlewomen. The guy hasn't come back for more, and you risk undoing your gains by descending into easy abuse.
I declare this topic closed. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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Cuffs: Thanks to you and Tony Hayward for allowing us to get our lives back. I think that that's all that Superfly Snuka wanted in the first place...
NCTBA |
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lazycomputerkids
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 360
Location: Tabuk
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Sheikh N Bake wrote: |
| There's a theoretical-linguistics specialist on these boards |
General-theory linguistics provides the necessary imaginary-platitudes. |
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killthebuddha
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 144
Location: Assigned to the Imperial Gourd
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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Cuffs,
Really nice turn of phrase. Thanks for that. (I'm completely sincere. Your offering is "a brief, apt, and cogent expression" of the situation, and you show a real deftness with our language. Well said. Good writing is seldom rewarded and often unappreciated, but it is always enjoyed. Please write more.)
ktb |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:07 am Post subject: Re: Grammarians :get a life |
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| superfly snuka wrote: |
For all of you who think you are wiser because you have such a "clear" understanding of all the English grammar rules and are resentful of those of us who don't think the "rules" are useful or even necessary to teach ESL, find yourself a real life. Grammar has so many exceptions, and context is usually the determiner regarding whether or not grammar is "correct". take conditionals for instance; how many of the 4 categories of conditionals have exceptions? i read a book that said this: "many languages use a future tense in the condition clause to refer to a future condition, which is quite logical. however, english does not." The example they use is "if it will rain, I'll stay home" . Well excuse me to say but this is hogwash. context, emphasis and intonation are big part of determining usage.We could say "if it rains" or we can say "if it will rain" John says: It will rain tomorrow so just stay home. mary says: Well(i don't think it will necessarily rain)but to acknowledge his adamance 'If it will rain, then I will stay home.otherwise, I will go out. intonation and emphasis can't be ignored.
All you english majors need to get over the fact that Teaching ESL does not require a textbook understanding of grammar. If you analyze the grammar you will see that context seems to be excluded from the rules.
the rules are good to cover the Majority of utterances but they are not exhaustive. |
Gone AWOL is the OP. Throws gas on the fire while jumping out of the pan seems to be the OP. The dark side of the farce be strong with young OP.
Jedi's apprentice Grendal |
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superfly snuka
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: Grammar nerds |
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There is a Dutch physics teacher at MIT who has become a hit on youtube because of his fascinating ability to convey complex principals in a very simple way. This is a gift. A gift i nurture by not getting stuck on specific grammar rules that don't really exist. context creates exceptions to every rule because language is always evolving. By keeping lessons interesting and getting as much practice in as possible, students learn how to communicate in a foreign language and that is our Job. If you want to discuss and argue the subtle nuances of the language, then teach linguistics or literature not ESL!!  |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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Dear superfly snuka,
Or how about this, instead? You get a job at MIT and become a hit on YouTube.
That way your gift can reach the multitudes.
Regards,
John |
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mccainjohn96
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar nerds |
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| superfly snuka wrote: |
| There is a Dutch physics teacher at MIT who has become a hit on youtube because of his fascinating ability to convey complex principals in a very simple way. This is a gift. A gift i nurture by not getting stuck on specific grammar rules that don't really exist. context creates exceptions to every rule because language is always evolving. By keeping lessons interesting and getting as much practice in as possible, students learn how to communicate in a foreign language and that is our Job. If you want to discuss and argue the subtle nuances of the language, then teach linguistics or literature not ESL!! |
There was this other guy at MIT who used to be famous for explaining complex grammar in a fascinating way...name was ...Chumpsky or something. Lately I hear he has degenerated into the ilk of Sean Penn, Oliver Stone, Barack Obama, and other such treasonous prima donnas who sympathize with communist dictators. Or maybe he was always that way. What was I thinking? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Dear mccainjohn86,
" . . . who sympathize with communist dictators."
An endangered species these days - unless you count socialist running-dogs.
Regards,
John |
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mccainjohn96
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| "Endangered" indeed. I can see November from my house! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar nerds |
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| superfly snuka wrote: |
| There is a Dutch physics teacher at MIT who has become a hit on youtube because of his fascinating ability to convey complex principals in a very simple way. This is a gift. A gift i nurture by not getting stuck on specific grammar rules that don't really exist. context creates exceptions to every rule because language is always evolving. By keeping lessons interesting and getting as much practice in as possible, students learn how to communicate in a foreign language and that is our Job. If you want to discuss and argue the subtle nuances of the language, then teach linguistics or literature not ESL!! |
The rules exist. They continue to exist despite your not knowing them. And I doubt very much that anybody on Youtube conveyed any principals. Principles may convey a teacher ignorant of basic spelling rules to the pavement, however... |
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superfly snuka
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Grammar nerds |
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| Quote: |
| The rules exist. They continue to exist despite your not knowing them. And I doubt very much that anybody on Youtube conveyed any principals. Principles may convey a teacher ignorant of basic spelling rules to the pavement, however... |
The rules were made by nerds who never had to help students acquire language. The nerds can pretend to have some kind of authority over the rest of us , but in the end, the rules are only a guidance not set in stone as i illustrated through the reasoned approach to conditionals. In that case the rules, confuse and the explanations of Improper speech are just plain wrong.
Feel free to worship the grammar gods all you want but it will fail to help your students acquire language , in fact, it may just hinder them. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| Hah hah! This is so funny, hic! Tell us, were you bullied by grammarians as a child? |
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