Job Discussion Forums

[JZer]

patrykt

[patrykt]

JZer we should meet up with Volushin for a couple Zywiec and maybe a Tyskie or two so we could talk. This is hardly the place to really get into such discussions. If I didn't have a newborn son I would maybe actually persue this, but all I can do now is blather on in Dave's.

[JZer]

patrykt the irony is that without America as the world power English might not have become the world language and the result would be that only teachers with credentials would be teaching English around the world and not just everyone with a BA. If America had not become the world power then Volushin might not have been able to get a job as an ESL teacher. There would be young French guys teaching French all over the world and not English speakers!!! Remember French was the language of world trade and politics about 150 years ago.

[Alex Shulgin]

I do so love the way that citizens of the USA love to boast of how they come from the land of the free and the home of the brave. But if one of their number decides to actually be brave (to raise their voice against the herd) and to make use of the freedom (the right to free speech), that individual is to be criticised and labelled as "un-American".

[Wearjak]

[JZer]

[JZer]

[JZer]

I also would like to add that my problem with the Americans who go around bashing America is the way they do it!! I have no problem if someone has another opinion as mine. To me these people go around saying �all Bush sucks�!!! ahh America this, that, bla blaa bla!! They are just using stereotypes and are not making any arguments. Also these people just throw in how bad America is when American politics are not even being discussed. It is one thing to disagree with American politics or lifestyle but another to go around saying America sucks for no reason. Many of these people just do it because it is trendy. It is like when I was in the school, sometimes kids would go around talking like rappers and using the F word because they thought that it sounded cool.

So, to me it is about presentation and appropriateness of being anti-American. I have my own problems with American but I do not go around every chance I get saying, " America sucks, ha I did not vote for Bush." Just 20 minutes ago I was talking with some friends in Germany �non-Americans�. I am flying back to America tomorrow and they asked me if I was happy to return. I told them that in some ways yes and some ways no. I said that I think many Americans are superficial. I expressed negative points about America but I did not just start an anti-American tangent. This anti-American tangent is what I find to be childish.

All I can say is "context"!

[patrykt]

It's too hard to write about this topic and besides, I think this is an ESL site and not a political boxing ring.

[Michael Gaylord]

Sure, Poland is a great place to get some experience teaching English and to experience a fascinating and mostly generous culture, but "one of the greatest countries in the world"is stretching it a bit, in my opinion. I don't think that availability of cheap alcohol, a "partying" populace, and the perceived physical attractiveness of the women are the best qualities by which to judge a nation's character; why don't we try things like promotion of peace, human rights and justice world-wide and at home, percentage of GDP given to developing nations, and a pluralistic, open attitude on the part of both the government and its citizens? (Last time I checked, Poland's government had committed troops to the "Iraq cause" along with the U.S. and Britain, right from the start)
Granted, I realize that Poland does not have the wealth and international clout to directly benefit other nations, but my perception of many of the people here is that they are fairly insular-focused and relatively unaccepting to divergent attitudes and true openess. (I'm thinking of the Church's, and the society's, condemnation of gay rights, the lack of tolerance shown towards those of Non-European ancestry, poor environmental standards, etc.)Of course, there are many acceptions to these attitudes, but the blatant materialism, and lack of respect for the environment here, IN COMPARISON WITH some other western nations, would have to change for me to put on my "top 10" list of countries. Hopefully, these things will change.

Mike

[Nauczyciel]

[XXX]

What I found great about Poland was the love of freedom in almost all of the people I met. I also found the almost complete lack of PC very refreshing. It was nice to see a country that still remembered it's Christian roots, where a padre is a respected member of the community and where the churches are full on a Sunday ( no, I am not a Catholic). While some might not think these traits to be positive things, I found them to be some of the things I liked best. And any people who, after more than 50 years of oppression by the Nazis and the Soviets, still retain a zest for life even if they are dirt poor are OK by me.

[Khrystene]

[Khrystene]

[XXX]

Actually, Russians and Korean are much more prone to use too much makeup than Poles. Most Russian and Korean girls apply their makeup with a spatula.