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oneofthesarahs
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Location: Sacheon City
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 Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:33 am Post subject: Gift for a coteacher |
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I am wanting to buy a Christmas gift for a coteacher of mine who has seriously been a godsend to me. He's helped me adjust to living in Korea and has generally been a very good friend to me. I'm helping him improve his English because he eventually wants to study in an American university.
I would like to buy him a book in English that will be easy enough for him to be able to understand, but that won't insult his intelligence (so no Charlotte's Web or Harry Potter or something like that).
Any suggestions? I really want to do something nice for him. Don't worry about availability of the book in Korea, I'll either order it online and have it delivered or have my family mail it to me. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:46 am Post subject: |
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Wants to study in America?
Ya Gotta Know It!
A Conversational Approach to American Slang for the Esl Classroom
Optima Books
ISBN: 187944027X |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:34 am Post subject: Re: Gift for a coteacher |
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| oneofthesarahs wrote: |
| I would like to buy him a book in English that will be easy enough for him to be able to understand, but that won't insult his intelligence (so no Charlotte's Web or Harry Potter or something like that). |
Most of the English-speaking Korean adults I know here have read Harry Potter in English, and there's a course at the university's language center (for adults) on reading Harry Potter. I don't think that would be considered an insult to his intelligence. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:48 am Post subject: |
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Please don't buy Harry Potter, that is a shelver....good for show but no action.
I know, I asked most of the Korean students.
I'd go with something that you like. Yeah, a gift should be "from the heart". But use the criteria that it should be assessible -- meaning in EFL lingo , it should be well below the seeming level of the student. Books are meant to be savored, NOT WORKED!
I'd go with something like "OLd man and the sea" (Hemingway is a very straight laced, adroit writer) or if more adventurous, maybe even something from a writer in a similiar vein (very unadjectivated), say, Elmore Leonard, "Get Shorty"....as he said himself about his own writing,
| Quote: |
| "My most important rule is one that sums up the 10: If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." |
DD
PS> but it all depends on the personality of the teacher. Just make sure the book doesn't become something on a shelf, the worst experience a book can ever have. |
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wowser
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Location: Kyonggi do
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject: books as gifts |
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| I have given 'Tuesdays with Morrie' and 'The Alchemist' as gifts. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:18 am Post subject: Re: books as gifts |
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| wowser wrote: |
| I have given 'Tuesdays with Morrie' and 'The Alchemist' as gifts. |
Koreans seem to really like The Alchemist although it's the most stupid pap. |
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Muramasa blade
Joined: 26 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:18 am Post subject: |
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I'd go with a good cookbook. They can be as simple or complex as you want them to be. Nanny Ogg's cookbook by Terry Pratchett is an interesting book. It has recipes, humour and stuff. Of course this might be a moot point with those that don't like to cook or are lacking in culinary skill.
Another option is to buy a book about sports, biographies, etc. Guys like sports, facts about sports, etc. Many Koreans seem to enjoy soccer, so....
If all else fails, go with the classics. Dickens, Hemmingway, Twain, etc. 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, Miyamoto Musashi's 'book of five rings', and 'The Prince' by Machiavelli might be considered required reading for all teachers, especially if he plans on teaching in America  . Sorry, that's all I can think of off the top of my head. |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| One of the "Chicken Soup" books would probably be a good bet. I'm sure I've seen them at the major bookstores here. They've even got one for the "Teacher's Soul",which would be appropriate! |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Gift for a coteacher |
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| oneofthesarahs wrote: |
I am wanting to buy a Christmas gift for a coteacher of mine who has seriously been a godsend to me. He's helped me adjust to living in Korea and has generally been a very good friend to me. I'm helping him improve his English because he eventually wants to study in an American university.
I would like to buy him a book in English that will be easy enough for him to be able to understand, but that won't insult his intelligence (so no Charlotte's Web or Harry Potter or something like that).
Any suggestions? I really want to do something nice for him. Don't worry about availability of the book in Korea, I'll either order it online and have it delivered or have my family mail it to me. |
Dear Sarah,
It is obvious that you're a kind, intelligent, and sensitive person.
Michael Breen's first book, "The Koreans," is thus not a work that would fit your persona.
What about giving him a book about, say, The History of Gyopos in North America or Europe? This might be an interesting read for the guy.
Anyway, he's a lucky guy because he has a sensitive and intelligent co-worker who's name is Sarah.
R |
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