Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marlow]

Who's responsible for a question asking students to use "barbs were literary" in a sentence?

Came out of a CDI textbook.

Perhaps a bit obscure? If I hear students running around saying my barbs are offensive or my barbs don't pierce I'm going to shit my pants. Come on.

[Ya-ta Boy]

A bit obscure? Please. Don't you speak regular normal run-of-the-mill English? It's a normal conversational gambit for those of us who speak English as a native language. What is your native language? Yanomamo?

If 'My barbs were literary until Mr. Jones sobered up and was able to quote Hamlin Garland showing how illiterately incompetent I was' doesn't mean shit to a tree or you and lacks literary comprehensibility, then I am sorry for the amount of money your parents paid for your 'education'. Maybe you can sue the school for a refund.

The quality of 'teachers' lately. Sheesh.

[bogey666]

I have a bit of a problem with the adjective of literary in conjunction with barbs.

the only e.g. I can think of is writers hurling insults at each other in print?


ergo, the "barbs" were published?

typically such barbs are traded or exchanged.

they're most certainly NOT a "normal conversational gambit"

definitely an obscure reference for an ESL class or textbook. That had better be a VERY advanced class.

[michaelambling]

[marlow]

[harlowethrombey]

obscure and useless archaic terminology.

I think I'll just start teaching my kids latin or reading from 'Finnigan's Wake' as long as we're going for the 'pointless phrases you will never use/encounter the rest of your life.'

[samcheokguy]

My teacher today had
"An Elephant is ON the desk."
To which I said "That is one strong desk, or one small Elephant."

[Scotticus]

[ekul]

I always thought 'rolleyes' was universally understood as sarcasm?

[some waygug-in]

I have to admit that the sarcasm was completely missed by me as I first read YBS's post.

I was all ready to fire off an angry retort, but then thought I'd wait and see what others thought.


The rolling eye's don't really help clarify at all. They could just as easily mean he's serious and annoyed at the OP.

Anyway, good to know I wasn't the only one who didn't get it.

[marlow]

[marlow]

Do a Google search and you get the only known internet instance of "barbs were literary". The essay it's from is the one CDI's question is about. The guy who wrote the question book just picked that out of the essay and asked students to use it.

I mean literary sass such as, "Every word she wrote is a lie, including and", is cute, but not really necessary for middle school students.

[Draz]

[moosehead]

Draz your avatar ROCKS!!!!

very funny!!

uh what was this thread about again??

[moosehead]