Job Discussion Forums

4nic8r · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 68

Do you ever notice yourself saying the same things over and over in the classroom?

I think I've used the words "ok", "allright", and "listen up!" way more than I have ever in my life...

The worst thing I think is when you actually start talking to your friends/family like you do to your students in the classroom.. last time I went home, for the first few days, hardly anyone could understand what I was saying, or, were telling me to stop speaking so slow! Embarassed

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

'Don't Panic !'
regards
basil

anthyp · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 1320 Location: Chicago, IL USA

Ha, I too say, "All right" far more often than I'd like. And, "Quiet down," which loses its meaning after you say it for the millionth time (so then you go to, "Be quiet!"). Everybody says you need to tape - record yourself giving a lecture, then play it back, and listen to all the things you're saying (so you know what you need to work on not saying). Sounds like a plan, huh?

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

I use "hang on" a lot, rubbish and no way. The students like to mimic me and at least they use good intonation.
They use, "interesting" as you probably know, ad nauseum, from a beautiful mountain to a freshly deposited dog turd

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Sit down and be quiet!

worth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 25

"Kind of, but" I don't like to tell them they are totally wrong...

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

"WC"

WC pisses me off (no pun inteaded)!

WC is not even English for crying out loud!

"Teacher? I want go WC"

"Wisconsin? You want to go to Wisconsin?"

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

When I was on a train from Beijing to Xian a Chinese man asked be where the WC was. I had absolutely no idea what he was saying. It got to the point where he was screaming WC at me. He became quite pissed off that I couldn't understand his English. Eventually my Japanese girlfriend helped me to understand what he'd meant.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Good answer!...wrong, but a good answer,
but most frequent has to be the,
Hmmm? followed by pause. waiting for auto -correction

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

it has to be: "ting bu dong"

followed closely by: " stop talking in Chinese"

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I used to start new topics of conversation with "So..." until my students started doing it too. Embarassed

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

I say 'great' and do the thumbs up sign...it's international!

- but I do it too much as the other day I saw a group of kids snickering at me going 'great great' and doing the thumbs up thing. Par for the course, I say.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Here's some more.
Wo shuo mei shuo be quiet
Listen to your teacher
Don't fight
Don't push
Be nice to your friends
Did you wash your hands?
Drink water
cut it out
DOn't shout.

(SOme times I feel more like a referee than a teacher Shocked

)

Atlas · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 662 Location: By-the-Sea PRC

---and so on.

Magoo · Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 651 Location: Wuhan, China

With one class,"Speak f***ing English!" (reply;"But, laoshi, you speak Chinese, so what's the problem?"). When I check the etymology of a word in my English dictionary, I do a weird hum, which everyone imitates, hilariously Rolling Eyes

BTW WC=water closet, from Old French clos, enclosure. That term really p's me off, but amuses my younger students no end. It's sad that I have an English sense of humour...