Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:05 pm Post subject:

Dear HLJHLJ,

So, what you're really talking about is bad teachers and cheating students, right?

I don't get this: "Finally, when you get them at university level and you are trying to teach a writing class, it helps if they can compare a few different texts when thinking about writing styles. It's pretty depressing when the only book 90% of them can even vaguely remember is Of Mice And Men, especially when the other 10% can only think of My Booky Wook."

Are you assuming that only one book is taught all through high school English?

Regards,
John

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:45 pm Post subject:

Dear HLJHLJ,

But according to your post, one book would be changed to one other book. Not much variety there.

Regards,
John

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:18 pm Post subject:

Dear HLJHLJ.

I have my doubts just how far my personal experience can be generalized, but I know that WAY back when I was in high school, almost all of my reading was "extra-curricular." We'd get "reading lists" for the summer, and I'd reluctantly get around to doing the minimum required. But most of my reading consisted of my own choices.

So, I have to wonder if it isn't a case of those who get bitten by the reading bug discovering their own variety versus those who are not (and may never be) bitten not doing so, no matter what is in the curriculum.

Regards,
John

MuscatGary · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:56 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject:

Peter Carey (won the Booker Prize twice) Patrick White (offered a knighthood, but declined) and, since 2008, J. M. Coetzee ( Nobel Prize, two Brooker Prizes)

Regards,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:36 pm Post subject:

Much harder seems to be New Zealand. Without checking on the 'net, how many NZ authors, prize-winning or not, spring to the average poster's mind here?

johnslat · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 4:04 pm Post subject:

Dear Sasha,

I know only one: Katherine Mansfield

Regards,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 10:34 pm Post subject:

Dear Johnslat

Point to you.

With Communist greetings

Sasha

sojourner · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 6:48 am Post subject:

sojourner · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 6:55 am Post subject:

quote - Johnslat - " Peter Carey (won the Booker Prize twice) Patrick White (offered a knighthood, but declined) and, since 2008, J. M. Coetzee ( Nobel Prize, two Brooker Prizes) "

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Although JM Coetzee became an Australian citizen , about 8 years ago, he is still widely seen as a South African writer .

Re NZ writers, someone has mentioned Katherine Mansfield. Others that come to mind are Janet Frame ( whose early struggles were vividly depicted in the film " An Angel at My Table"), Maurice Shadbolt and Frank Sargeson. And, of course, there is Keri Hulme who won the Booker Prize in 1985 for her novel, "The Bone People".

I'm not sure whether Patrick White even won the Booker Prize, but he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature ( mid 1970s, I think)

Peter

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:21 pm Post subject:

Dear sojourner,

"Although JM Coetzee became an Australian citizen , about 8 years ago, he is still widely seen as a South African writer "

WOW _ who knew?

"and, since 2008, J. M. Coetzee . . ."

"Without checking on the 'net, how many NZ authors, prize-winning or not, spring to the average poster's mind here?"

"Others that come to mind are Janet Frame ( whose early struggles were vividly depicted in the film " An Angel at My Table"), Maurice Shadbolt and Frank Sargeson. And, of course, there is Keri Hulme who won the Booker Prize in 1985 for her novel, "The Bone People"."

Jeepers - all that "without checking on the net." What a fantastic memory you must have.

Regards,
John