Job Discussion Forums

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 12:43 am Post subject:

Big egos? I think you'll find that's more those who never sublimate their "thinking" to what the language is showing and should be telling them, even when the errors they seem intent on peddling or steadfastly ignoring have been pointed out, analyzed, and referred to several times on the forums already (and I have no reason to expect those analyses would be paid due respect or consideration were I to cite them on this very thread).

Let me be absolutely clear: I for one simply will not be fobbed off with rhetorical tat from trainers or anyone else who claims to "know better" when it goes so completely against (my) linguistic instincts and is demonstrably and factually wrong. What use are such types telling (or still trying to cajole!) you "how to teach" when they seem almost willfully unaware of how people actually speak? I want norms, not pawns or even BBQ prawns.

It would be a complete abrogation of my responsibilities as a language teacher to listen to such "advice". CELTADELTAland is thataway, and this here is the Freethinking State of Hamster, thanks all the same.

All Spiral can ever seem to ultimately say is 'CELTADELTA is only a start'. Judging by some of the tripe peddled by trainers, who really should know better, it would be more accurate to say 'It isn't even a start'. I'd be embarrassed to use such activities at any point in a teaching career, but certainly as a trainer (with a hallowed DELTA or higher blah blah blah). Which is why I continue to warn people, especially those with MAs already, about what they might be letting themselves in for by enrolling on such courses.

bograt · Joined: 12 Nov 2014 Posts: 331

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:44 am Post subject:

I don't think anyone minds learning from genuine colleagues. The problem is when you have to massage the egos of trainers to the extent of never calling any of them out, even indirectly on forums such as these. Yes, there are good and bad trainers, but they're all qualified, right? Meaning there's no problem at all with the quality of the qualifications process when it can produce and pass apparent numbskulls? Answers on a postcard to Spiral please.

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

Re: doin' da Delta

I am always in the market for adding qualifications and enhancing my skills.

All along I had been interested in ultimately jumping into a doctoral program, but lately, and as time goes on, my interest in throwing my hat into that ring has diminished.

I do consider M.Phil/M.Ed. advanced Master's degree options that I could complete in 2 or 3 semesters. That is now more attractive to me than doing a doctorate.

I look to the Delta mainly for personal reasons. I welcome the challenge of doing the intensive and completing all three modules in three months. I would like to write a substantial paper for it, be observed regularly and get feedback, re-evaluate my teaching and knowledge, and pick up a thing or two or several along the way. I am also looking at it as a work vacation type thing--it would give me the chance to live in Greece or Spain or Thailand for three months in a greater than tourist capacity.

I do like the idea of going back into the classroom but on the other side of the teacher's podium; I am always looking for study and training programs to get into.

It all boils (haha, cooking word!) down to Chef Hod's anecdote above in this thread. As I establish myself further and line up more freelance teacher training gigs, I feel further qualifications will only add to my cred. M.A. + Delta can keep my skills sharp and help me manage and appease the loud teaching masses in any conference room from Morocco to Mumbai to Macau.

twowheel

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

twowheel's credible and will clearly become even more so. Good on ya! Smile

A CV from a hamster with no quals beyond a 20-year-old CTEFLA and a bad attitude towards training (not to mention an extremely cumbersome prose style) wouldn't get past a great many scrap bins in the world of hiring in Europe or North America. Bottom line.

As an aside (maybe a new thread needed?) it looks like the ME is laying off great numbers of its highly qualified EFL teachers. Wonder where they are heading next.........?????? I 'spect the hamster's going to be facing more and more competition from teachers with actual qualifications.

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I suspect that's likely why his CTEFLA trainers rightly gave him a hard time and thus a complex about training that has fluffed his thinking and mood for 20 years so far, Hod. Wink

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:12 pm Post subject:

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:18 pm Post subject:

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:34 pm Post subject:

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:40 pm Post subject:

The problem Sheihk is that I'm having to reply to several people who think that the pinnacle of discussion is intoning the word 'DELTA, DELTA' like the Thuggees in Temple of Doom. It should come as no surprise then that my prose is slightly denser, especially as I like to raise (and possibly keep raising) an actual point every now and then.

Kalimaaa DELTAAA! Rolling Eyes

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:48 pm Post subject:

By the way, good luck with the DELTA, twowheels. (Bullwhip optional Cool

).

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Fluffy, bluster on as you will, sending out a CV with a 20-year-old CTEFLA and nothing else isn't going to impress many reputable employers. Even if you include a densely worded letter explaining why you're a far better teacher than you would be if you'd actually pursued further quals

From this thread, it's clear that newbies aren't listening to you, thankfully. It's quite obvious to anyone with half a brain that qualifications matter on a CV. Clearly people who aim for better-than-entry-level-jobs need to have something on paper to show potential employers.

Basically, no-one's listening to your fluffy logic. And for good reason. Rolling Eyes

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 9:45 pm Post subject:

You seem to be labouring under yet another misapprehension, Spiral LOL. I don't apply for jobs that state that they even ideally require a Dip or MA, and like I say, I'm not really that interested in anything other than chalkface teaching (though I have a few dictionary and grammar-related projects bubbling away on the backburner, who doesn't?!). Give me some credit!

Can I (re-)ask you a (that) question though? Why do you "disagree" so much with my analyses of clearly iffy contextualization? My findings are rooted in pretty solid research and are correct - or at least as correct as they will assuredly remain unless refuted, and simply saying that you have an MA and that I only have a cert is no refutation, is it. And while I find it hardly incidental that these iffy contexts and activities all stem from CELTADELTAy trainers and writers, I've never said anything too bad about MAs, have I? I respect your MA (Aston, wasn't it?) and wouldn't accuse anyone of dumbing down or whatever anywhere near as much at the university level. Sincerely, kudos to you that you have a job in a sector that I am not qualified to apply for (and if I do ever want to work in that sector, I recognize that I will have no option but to complete a [good] MA). All that being said, I still reserve the right however to occasionally "go on" about general methodology that is clearly incorrect (as it serves nobody to let errors stand unchallenged - it would be nice actually to be able to discuss the grammar involved with you or whoever, even if it seems an implicit if not explicit criticism of CELTADELTA or whatever!), or that I consider inappropriate for what I personally am trying to achieve: greater learner competence in as near actual conversation. That is my focus, and what my students want, and both should IMHO be respected. I am after all not some rudderless rube teaching in a completely unprincipled manner, nor I suspect is anyone who completes at least a cert and(/or LOL) has decades of experience, thinking, and reading guiding them.

I hope that this finally helps clear the air somewhat.