Job Discussion Forums

[TaoyuanSteve]

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OK then, round 2. The list of things you just stated above as being the method of language learning in Taiwan is actually just what happens when a culture shocked foreigner is introduced to a taiwanese ESL school. I got over all that after the first month or so, then I really started to teach the kids English. If you are still doing that stuff, then I don't know why. I just told them where to go when they wanted me to do stuff I didn't want to do. Then I did what I wanted to. That is the difference between working at a school that you helped start, where you make your own curriculum, choose your own textbooks, and teach without interference from anyone, and teaching at a school where you are just one of many teachers, controlled by a head teacher who is there by senority, and some owner-manager who knows nothing about teaching ESL. That's what makes my experience so different and valuable - I know what it's like to teach on Taiwan when the school you work at will not interfere in your teaching, and will let you do whatever you like, so long as the kids learn English. I know this because I was there from the beginning of the school's existence, and the only person besides me who could speak english was my assistant, who was also my girlfriend (at the time). So I know a lot more about what goes on over there than many of you do. There is no teaching system at all, and the classes are what you make them.

1) No, the above listed things are not simply what happens to a culture shocked newbie foreigner (which, now that you mention it, would more closely resemble you than me). They are standard Taiwan English school practice. 2) you most certainly do not know more about Taiwan than many or even some of us. 3) Half decent schools will have at least some sort of teaching syllabus, curriculum or expected outcomes. Those without these are worse, not better.

If you really think English teaching over here is purely substance and not show, how do you explain what I wrote previously? Also, how do you explain the preference for inexperienced 20 something whites over those non-whites equally or even better qualified? Don't simply flame. Argue from from evidence, making specific reference to what I've written.

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You obviously don't have a clue what really goes on over there. Which makes me wonder why I continue to talk to you.....[/quote]

Not even your deluded little self can believe this nonsense. Pure flame bait. It proves what one person so long ago said about you: you are "an internet attention *beep*."

[km]

Thanks for all the advice and info. I didn't intend it to get so heated, but never mind.

[jason_seeburn]

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[TaoyuanSteve]

Jason. Everything you say is laughable. It would make great humour if you weren't serious. Sorry, but you DON'T KNOW what's going on over here. That has been proven many times over. I'm not sure why you think you know so much more than all of us living here when you now live in Toronto and only called Taiwan home (really more of a tourist stop for you) for only 9 months. I make legitimate points about the problems with English Education over here. You counter by asserting that, because you are such a superior individual, you rise above the system by designing course syllabii from your home laptop (would you send your kid to a school like this?). Nonsense. Sounds like the school was totally unorganized. Of course you can be the "head teacher" of a fly by night new school when you are also the "only teacher." Schools like younger people (preferable blonde and white) because, as I said earlier, show is of more importance than substance. It has nothing to do with their ability to "adapt to the culture" (what really would you know of that, you who couldn't understand what a store clerk was saying to him when he entered a store?).

You are trying to help me? In what way exactly? You have nothing to teach. "People like you will spend you years over THERE..." I added emphasis to "there to illustrate a point. Taiwan is "over there" to you. It is "here" to me. Anything you say about it now is based on your extremely limited past experiences. Anything I say about it is based on my current experiences and life over HERE. This is a point not to be missed. For you Taiwan is some far away place and a collection of fading memories. For me right now, Taiwan is here; it's my home. Don't tell me about my home if it isn't also your home. You necessarily have no clue what you're talking about.

To the poster sorry to see things so heated. I apologize. This forum, much to our detriment, will likely not improve until Jason either puts his brief Taiwan experience behind him or this site bans future posts by him.

[jason_seeburn]

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[brian]

[TaoyuanSteve]

I think another reason Jason is tiring is he has nothing of substance left to say. There are a number of legitimate criticisms to which he cannot provide an response. Members of this forum have pointed out repeatedly his lack of experience, his extremely short duration of residence here in Taiwan, the fact that he no longer lives here and hasn't for some time now, his lack of any level of Mandarin ability and that he has simply been flat out wrong on many occasions. His response to most criticisms, especially those concerning his lack of experience in Taiwan, can be reduced to one basic argument: He is a superior individual, possessing far greater powers of learning and innate knowledge than all of us put together. Therefore, he is right; he knows what's going on "over there." The rest of us are just being "duped," as he puts it by some foreigner culture which he refuses to define clearly. Of course this is total nonsense. He is no more capable than any of us. Of course, for him to accept this would mean accepting that he doesn't know everything; perhaps he IS just a short-term, Taiwan EX-expat. Perhaps he is just someone who lived and worked here for a short time-- a long time ago now. His knowledge concerning Taiwan is fallible, incomplete and out of date. He is getting tired because even he doesn't believe what he writes anymore.

I, too, knew and know many Taiwanese back home. I was an esl instructor for several years, teaching adults and kids, before I came here. My current partner is even from a Taiwanese-Canadian family. I can tell you why many of them emigrated: the quality of education. What I have written is not a "rant." This is generally known, public information. Much has been written about the problems over HERE. Esl education is just an extension of a larger education problem.

Another reason Jason may be feeling fatigued is he has absolutely no support on this forum. Most regular user have had flame-out arguments with him at one time or other. Threads have been locked as a result. A few discussion threads have even been started in complaint of him, advocating his removal. Support was near unanimous. The only ones not in support were opposed only for free speech reasons.

[jason_seeburn]

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[jason_seeburn]

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[TaoyuanSteve]

Moderators, please do something about this guy! Jason, you teach??????????????