Job Discussion Forums

frazerorr · Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 7

This is new from BBC NI. If any Irish TEFL teachers are out there they might like to check it out to keep themselves up to date on what's happening at home.

enjoy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/expats/

double agent · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject: you mean British � or N. Ire

Just wondering, your link is for Northern Ireland.
I understand that this is now a British colony....

so are you Irish or British if you are from Northern Ireland.

Let me say, this is not intended to offend. I really just don not know.
promise! Embarassed

dangermouse24 · Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Mexico

Thanks for the link frozrorr. I'll have to add it too my list. Always nice to come across new ways to keep in touch with what's going on back there.

Double Agent you ask a question I'm faced with quite a lot. That is, when I don't get blank faces, looks of confusion, huh? or asked (Northern) Ireland that's somewhere in Australia? Canada? near Boston? (just a few examples of the many I'm asked). The whole situation over there can be confusing enough at the best of times, even to those who actually live there...

Personally I travel on a U.K. passport, my work visa here states the same, though I consider myself Irish. I could have an Irish passport through my grandparents though for various reasons I have less problems when I travel with my U.K passport.

In most cases it really depends on who you ask and their family, dob, political and/or religious beliefs. If you were to ask people there you'll likely get equally mixed answers of both Irish and British and even Northern Irish-which is really considered by many to be the more politically correct answer. Although Northern Ireland is and has been an English colony for many a year it isn't actually part of Great Britain. Great Britain is made up of only 3 countries...England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is however a member of the United Kingdom hence the full name-The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Hope that helped clear it up a wee bit for you.

dangermouse24 · Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Mexico

opps sorry Frazerorr for misspelling your name Embarassed

ibasiram · Joined: 24 Mar 2003 Posts: 107

Hi guys,
Well, when I tell my Ukrainian students that I'm from 'Ireland' they say 'Which one?' That baffles me quite a bit..but then I realise that they think I have just said 'Island'. so, they barely even know it exists, and when I explain, they always think it's Scotland, but then I say no again, and we go through a rigorous training system in which I teach them all I know about Ireland and bring it into my classes. So now, my students know all about my lovely home country.......
....now, if only I could teach the present perfect as well as that......

Cheers,
Ibasiram

double agent · Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:16 pm Post subject: Thanks

Perfect answer. Thank you.

At least now I don't have to embarass myself when I meet someone
from Northern Ireland, or insult them by misunderstanding the issues.

Thanks to all.
And yes been to Southern Ireland and the people are the cream of the crop. The bees knees.

That means TOP ! The best, and really kind.
Cool

Dazai · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 74

double agent:

texastmblwd69 · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 91 Location: Seoul, South Korea

texastmblwd69 · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 91 Location: Seoul, South Korea

benno · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 501 Location: Fake Mongolia

when I get asked if i am from the south or the north i always say neither!!!!
i am actually from the heart of ireland, the midlands!!!!!!!

if you are from the north i thought you could get an irish passport if you want, remember the good friday aggreement!

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

According to my sources, 99% of Americans claim to have at least 3 Irish grannies.