| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
JMO
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Daegu
|
 Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:08 am Post subject: |
 |
|
You know what, having done honors English all through High school, being Senior English student of the year and studying English Lit in university, I remember little emphasis on spelling. If I am submitting a paper, I spell check and weigh word usage carefully. Online why should I bother. Really why would anyone care about spelling? If you think being able to spell is a big factor in teaching then you are way off base. My sister who is 8 million times the teacher I am, single handedly got me high grades in high school leaving exams. She can't spell for her life. Luckily she has a dictionary for that. Her other skills that are essential to her teaching ability are not so handy to aqquire.
Any spelling, punciation or grammar mistakes above or in this sentence are entirely intentional. To point them out would be to label yourself as a fool. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
crusher_of_heads
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Location: kimbop and kimchi for kimberly!!!!
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
Which digit of your left hand do you hit the 'e' key eith, Einstein?
Which digit do fyour right hand do you hit the 'i' key with, moron?
Discuss. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| JMO wrote: |
| You know what, having done honors English all through High school, being Senior English student of the year and studying English Lit in university, I remember little emphasis on spelling. |
That's exactly the problem. People think English majors are experts on English and writing and literature. Not true. They're experts on reading literature and churning out boring formulaic essays.
I've seen a lot of jobs I was qualified for unavailable to me because they required an English major. Never mind I have more experience with writing and the ability to analyse things other than Chaucer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Politics and Religion, please meet Syntax. Wow! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Rediculous |
|
|
| superacidjax wrote: |
No wonder kids in Korea have such a tough time learning.. Many of the teachers can't spell themselves....simply "rediculous." |
I can spell myself : "P-E-S-T-2". What's even worse is how people get lazy with punctuation. Geez... I hope these people wont be teaching a writing class. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Rediculous |
|
|
| Ozabout7or8 wrote: |
You are arrogant. If you are offened by peoples mistakes point it out and they may take more care when writing to you. But do not infer that they cannot spell/puctuate etc. You are wrong.
You should read up a bit on the literature of the line of work you are in buddy. |
Spelling ridiculous with an "e" isn't a mistake due to casual communication.. not when the error is repeated. I also said that I don't care about minor typos.. I am complaining about people that really don't know how to spell, yet calling themselves teachers.
Yes, this is a general discussion forum, but shouldn't people at least preview the message before posting? This is supposed to be a community of English professionals, is asking for at least some attention to detail that much to ask?
Your suggestion that people don't worry about spelling, etc, because this is casual communication begs the question... when dealing with low level students, are teachers not worrying about spelling and grammar simply because the students are not at a high enough level to understand? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| JMO wrote: |
| If you think being able to spell is a big factor in teaching then you are way off base. |
If you're teaching math, of course spelling is immaterial, but teaching ENGLISH!! How can someone teach English and not be able to spell? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.
It's like a violin teacher not knowing how to play the violin. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| That's exactly the problem. People think English majors are experts on English and writing and literature. Not true. They're experts on reading literature and churning out boring formulaic essays. |
Right! A more relevant degree is Journalism. In J-classes, the emphais is always on spelling, punctuation, style and presenting arguments. English majors, as you said are focused on literature (usually) or creative writing. An English major is less concerned about practical language and more about lit. theory or creative writing.
Teaching EFL is about functional and practical language.. exactly the aim of a Journalism degree. Psychology or obviously education are also much more relevant than English degrees (in the context of EFL.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Right! A more relevant degree is Journalism. |
Applied Linguistics is the most relevant to English Language Teaching. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ozabout7or8
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: NZ
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| superacidjax wrote: |
| It's like a violin teacher not knowing how to play the violin. |
I agree with your concern but please take better care with your use of analogies Super. English Language Teaching is not 100% made up of spelling, you could teach someone to speak fluently without even spelling a word.
I agree that people need a basic level of spelling but don't over-dramatise things with false analogies. |
|
| Back to top |
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
