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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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 Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| People, give the guy a break. I don't see any reason to think the OP is a troll, there are regular posters here who make worse typos, and I definitely came across worse in the teachers' comments when I was teaching eikaiwa. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| Apsara wrote: |
| People, give the guy a break. I don't see any reason to think the OP is a troll, there are regular posters here who make worse typos |
Sure. When you're in a rush and can't be bothered to check what you are writing, you make mistakes. That's my point. He thinks his time far too valuable to spend checking his own English, but he wants me to use my time to help him find a job checking others' English. Either he's rude and dumb, or he's a clever troll. |
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yangyoseop
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 47
Location: #1 Sandra Bullock fan in Tallahassee, FL
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Bread wrote: |
| yangyoseop wrote: |
| Bread wrote: |
| yangyoseop wrote: |
| Anyone who thinks that there is such thing as "correct grammar" has quite an antiquated way of thinking. There's a little thing called "descriptive grammar" that most of you are missing. I think OP has the right to express himself in whatever variants of English he wants. |
Hahaha, you're so precious. |
Reported. |
edit: Nice edit |
Well I was going to report you but then I decided to report the OP instead. Don't wanna snatch two wigs in one day, gotta pace myself. |
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Bread
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 7:35 am Post subject: |
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| I'm still not sure why people are hating on this guy's English when Wonder83's was significantly worse. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Bread wrote: |
| I'm still not sure why people are hating on this guy's English when Wonder83's was significantly worse. |
That's a good question, and I'm happy to share my thoughts.
I consider Wonder83's English far superior to the OP's. She diverges from Standard English, not out of ignorance or carelessness, but because she is using Internet Slang. Internet Slang is an informal dialect used for social communications via keyboard-based media. You may prefer more formality but, notwithstanding the occasional slip, Wonder83 does demonstrate consistency and accuracy.
Furthermore, Wonder83 understands that Internet Slang is not always appropriate. If you read the posts you linked to carefully, you will notice that, when she wishes to make a polite request ("I was wondering if anyone knows of any good books/websites...") she uses something closer to Standard English. Then she reverts to Internet Slang to talk about her social circumstances ("You get the idea??? Ill be a lone white woman when Im in Japan...").
The OP was not using Internet Slang. He was attempting to use Standard English, which was entirely appropriate, but he was too lazy to even glance at what he had written before clicking the Submit button. Such off-handed laziness when begging a favour is just rude.
If you want to know more about this, try Language and the Internet by David Crystal (who, incidentally, is also Patron of the International Association of Teachers of EFL).
And my apologies to Wonder83. I hope my analysis hasn't embarrassed you too much. |
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Bread
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| That's actually an interesting point. I never really made much of a distinction before. I'll check out that book if I see it at a bookstore. |
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Shawn Taylor
Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Most of you people are nuts on this website. That is the impression I have so far from asking the most basic of questions.
For all of you I didn't finish even year 10 so that will i'm sure consolidate on your pre-supposed notions with regards to my insufficient ability.
Like I said previously I am new, so a school willing to take someone on who has the desire to become a great proffessssional "like you guys" would be great.
All of those with your heads so far up your Ass' relax.
Thanks for the constructive feedback/information if there is even any in this post... |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Shawn, I'm sorry that some people got on your case about spelling etc- I'm not sure why they all decided to pick on you suddenly.
What visa are you planning to come to Japan on? Sorry if you've already posted that and I've missed that info somewhere. You probably know that you need a bachelor's degree for a working visa. If it's a spouse visa or working holiday visa you'll have permission to work, but not having finished high school is likely to be a major stumbling block I'm afraid- there are a lot more people applying for a lot fewer jobs these days, and most employers want to see some tertiary education before they'll employ you as a teacher.
You might want to focus on jobs teaching little kids if you think you might like that kind of thing, as those employers tend to be less worried about educational requirements. |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| Shawn Taylor wrote: |
Most of you people are nuts on this website. That is the impression I have so far from asking the most basic of questions.
For all of you I didn't finish even year 10 so that will i'm sure consolidate on your pre-supposed notions with regards to my insufficient ability.
Like I said previously I am new, so a school willing to take someone on who has the desire to become a great proffessssional "like you guys" would be great.
All of those with your heads so far up your Ass' relax.
Thanks for the constructive feedback/information if there is even any in this post... |
Shawn, reading this thread, I can totally understand why. Relax.
I have no idea why people consistently have such a level of hostility in these forums - aren't we all here to help each other? Isn't that the whole point? Seriously.
If you have questions, please ask - I'll try and answer them seriously rather sneering at you from my forum high-horse as so many people here frequently do.
Really guys, what's the issue? |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:13 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Everyone shut up, take a deep breath, go away and do something not related to ELT for a while and relax. Then shut up.
I've seen far worse English from people sending me CVs. I've even had one applicant end her cover email with a kiss (... x).
The basic point is that you've all wasted far more time flaming this guy for his poor English than you would have by either not responding or (gasp!) answering the question. Time you'll never get back. Time you could have spent doing something constructive rather than displaying the kind of snobbery you would, I'm sure, profess to hate and find incomprehensible, were you on the receiving end.
If it's such a waste of your time to respond to the thread, DON'T RESPOND. Did your parents not teach you that if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything?
You're English teachers, not grammar police. If you think you're grammar police, you shouldn't be English teachers. |
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Shawn Taylor
Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:26 am Post subject: |
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Yes, forum politics got to love it..!
As i said previously, and after being asked, my exprience is very limited due to me only providing basic english lessons to troubled youth etc.
However, I would love to make a career of this if possible. I beleive that I have the ability and yes, of course, making an attempt the learn the fundamentals of english use in modern day english is a good start. Although, at the same time, I do wish to partake in my english teaching career as soon as possible - as I am not completely incompetent.
I don't mind the negative feedback if we are to call it that. As long as it's done in a constructive manner yes. Needless to say, I have taken on onboard the information given to me thus far and greatly appreciate it.
I'm not to fussed on whether I am in the CBD or country, I have a BA in Psychology along with TESOL certification. So surely, there is some hope for me yet as I am sure you were all at this stage at one point in time. Or, alternatively you were a born genius.
Thanks again,
Shawn |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:12 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| Shawn Taylor wrote: |
| Most of you people are nuts on this website. |
You're not going to win any sympathy votes with comments like that.
| Quote: |
| For all of you I didn't finish even year 10 so that will i'm sure consolidate on your pre-supposed notions with regards to my insufficient ability. |
Your initial post was pretty sparse. You didn't even say whether you had a degree until I asked. We can't read minds.
| Quote: |
| All of those with your heads so far up your Ass' relax. |
Again, let's not escalate things here.
| Quote: |
| Thanks for the constructive feedback/information if there is even any in this post... |
If you would take the time to go back and read the messages, you'll find precisely that sort of advice here.
Now, I have been distracted a while, but let me offer what you seek: constructive criticism and advice.
1. You have a vanilla degree, but in these days of flooded market in Japan, you may need more than that just to get your foot in the door. You'll certainly need more if you intend to make TEFL a career. Start with either a CELTA or similar certification, or consider a master's degree.
2. Most newbies in Japan have little to no teaching experience, so your comments earlier about "people like us" are moot. These are going to be your peers in the biz, by the way, perhaps even personnel managers. Keep that in mind when you network.
3. Network. Get out as much as you can. Read FAQs and ask insightful questions instead of just general "help me" things. When I started out, there was almost no Internet, and certainly few of these sites, so I lurked and compiled information for 6 months before posting much. Now you have far more info available. Make use of it.
4. You are Aussie, so if you want to delay the CELTA or master's, you can get a working holiday visa and give TEFL a go for 18 months. That means you can get PT work right off the bat, unlike other newbies who don't qualify for the WHV. Might want to do some research on that.
5. Have you even put together a resume at this stage? Wouldn't hurt to do that and run it by people, or at least figure out what is expected on one. Start with the search function.
6. Many positions will require a demonstration lesson of 5-15 minutes. Get some idea of what is involved now, so you won't be asking a day or two before the interview, like some people here do.
7. Same goes with grammar tests that some employers give to candidates.
8. Have you decided what sort of TEFL you want to do? Kids only? Public school? Business English field? Get cracking on that research to discover what is entailed in the goal you want to pursue.
9. Geography. Where in Japan have you thought to live? Urban vs. rural, north vs. south, coast vs. inland. If you've never even been here, find out what you will face before leaping into the deep end. Many jobs will not promise any location until 2 weeks (or less) before you are actually posted, and you have no choice on it.
10. Start thinking about how you will answer some interview questions, beginning with, "Why Japan?"
*Look at my original reply. You never answered a question posed there, so I'll put it to you again:
Are you able to come here and look around for work, or are you only able to look for jobs from the security of your homeland?
I'll also add this: when do you want to start work here? |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Jesus Christ. I'm going to get a life now. Ridiculous. |
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