Job Discussion Forums

[Stephen Jones]

At a certain level I can see the point of having all instruction in English.

Twenty-five years ago at a bliingual school I taught at in Spain, the speaker at the Speech Day, a Spanish University professor, announced his research which proved that Spanish students studying in the English medium did not tet any lower grades in Spanish Language and Literature than those who studied everything in Spanish. What many of us felt however was that what did suffer was their prowess in the subjects they were taught in English, such as Social Studies, or Chemistry or Biology.

There is to some extent a Catch 22 though. Those countries that have part or all of their Higher Education in English are often those with languages into which little of the subject matter is translated. However, I still think it would be a better use of resources to pay for translations, than to pay to educate all the students in English.

And I can't, for the life of me, understand why Saudi tries to train its welders and electricians and its sailors and National Guardsmen in English.

[moonraven]

Stephen Jones,

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (online):

Main Entry: in�sure
Pronunciation: in-'shur
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): in�sured; in�sur�ing
Etymology: Middle English, to assure, probably alteration of assuren
transitive senses
1 : to provide or obtain insurance on or for
2 : to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions
intransitive senses : to contract to give or take insurance
synonym see ENSURE

That egg on your face is pretty dry now. Maybe you should wash it off.

To the original poster: I understand that there are always financial limitations to consider. However, the university administration should consider that by not providing evaluation/testing of student levels and seeing that students who take courses are capable of doing so, they are shooting themselves in the foot.

If you are going to invest the (limited or unlimited) resources in order to offer a career program in English, but your graduates come out of it without being able to speak English and without being able to understand the subject matter when it's taught in English, the program is worthless. Not only is it not worth one cent that the university has invested in it, it is also not worth one cent of tuition that students have paid in tuition with the idea of receiving a degree.

In the case you describe, the university would be better off cancelling the program and concentrating on the programs that they DO have the resources to offer.

[ImanH]

juststeven, I am not entirely sure who you mean by �them�. I deduce from your post that you are referring to Arabs, or possibly Muslims since you lump in Turks with "them"? I cannot agree with you that

[juststeven]

Iman,
"you deduce". Your deductive reasoning has failed you, and please don't throw the Muslim 'guilt-trip' my way. I referred only to where I've taught and quite clearly stated that I don't know what it's like in Turkey!

[Twisting in the Wind]

Juststeven,

I have noticed an increasing overall angry, sarcastic, contentious and argumentative tone to your posts over the past month or so.

What gives?

What is your problem?

At times you seem annoyed that the poster you are addressing does not evidence the English language skills you seem to think he/she should possess. At other times you "rant and run" not sticking around to answer other posters' legitimate questions about your attitude.

At times, reading your posts, it seems like maybe this is just a pasttime for you, that hurting people's feelings and posting strange, argumentative comments is your hobby. If it is, please do us the favor of telling us so we can be informed.

If you are a troll, please identify yourself as such so we will cease taking you seriously.

If you are having personal problems causing you to act out on this forum, maybe you should cease from posting for awhile.

Maybe you need a session with TalkDoc.

Maybe you need a vacation...

A loooong one.

Twistie

[ImanH]

juststeven
What you initially wrote regarding 'them' and 'they' I found offensive, to say the least. However, I did not attack you for your orientalist views, merely pointed out why I did not agree with them. Your response was even more offensive on a personal level than your initial post.
How precisely I threw the Muslim guilt trip your way I am at a loss to understand. I also fail to see how where I was educated is of relevance but since you ask no I was not educated in Turkey, but yes I do live there and yes I am a teacher.
You are also correct that I have never taught in the areas you mention. However, as I find it OFFENSIVE when someone makes such sweeping generalisations as yours about "them" and "they" - whether they be Arab, American, black or whatever.
Maybe I should have just said that what you'd written was a load of bollo.cks - that you might have understood. For my part I shan't take the trouble to help you understand again.

[Twisting in the Wind]

[juststeven]

Subtlety, never works!

[ImanH]

[Twisting in the Wind]

[juststeven]

I have NEVER cried foul, and never will. You don't KNOW me! All of the negative words came from you; not from me! You ask people to view my previous posts, OK, no problem. All of the critical, sarcastic, hateful words came from you! If I want teachers to be professional and instruct their studerts proper English, am I wrong? If, when they leave (teachers) the students speak English like they are in a skit on Saturday Night Live, have they done them a favor?

[Guy Courchesne]

[PAULH]

[Twisting in the Wind]

Would you like his PM that he sent me?

[PAULH]

PM has been sent