|
Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Boy Rates
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 36
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: Helping Advoca [or "What do we do with a . . ."] ( |
 |
|
PLEASE NOTE: This thread is a continuation of "This is a welcome ????" The title has been changed to "Helping Advoca", with subtitle, "What do we do with a problem like Advoca?" (with a nod to Rodgers and Hammerstein)
At the end of the previous thread, Bud and Boy Rates were trying to decide what to do about Advoca's lack of teaching skills:
| Bud wrote: |
He just never gets it. I've also shared with him that I feel sorry for his students. Unfortunately, I do believe him that he really is a teacher. The saving grace is that he teaches adults, so at least they have the choice to leave his classroom.
I think he ought to consider becoming a research biologist - one who spends years at a time out in the jungle studying some exotic animal. It sure would save us human beings who come in contact with him from an utter annoyance! |
| Boy Rates wrote: |
Advoca might just be a slow learner, Bud. We really should try to help him. We can start by taking a look at his posts so we can show him what he's doing wrong. He often tells others, "You should not object to having your spelling mistakes pointed out so that students will learn from these mistakes." He's also been known to say, "Getting rid of bad habits is very difficult when there is no feedback, no corrections," so I'm sure he'll be very appreciative of any help we give. I'll collect his posts and then we can review them to see what needs to be done.  |
Now Boy Rates will show us what he's found:
Well, I certainly didn�t have to look far! I found five spelling errors in the first two threads I checked! Let's take a look at Advoca's use of the English language:
Example #1:
| advoca wrote: |
| Meadowlark has stregth of character |
Whoops! Advoca, watch your spelling! It�s "strength".
Example #2:
| advoca wrote: |
| Meadowlark does have useful knowlege which could benefit this forum. |
Maybe you should ask Meadowlark to help you with your spelling Advoca! �Knowledge� is spelled with a �d�.
Example #3:
| advoca wrote: |
| And perhaps Dave ought to note this this passionate discussion and give thought to the Profile requirements for registrtation. |
Wow! That�s a beauty! Only one �this� is necessary Advoca, and �registration� doesn�t need that extra �t� you gave it.
Example #4:
| advoca wrote: |
| I am suprised at how seldom teachers here contribute |
And I am surprised (note the "r" after the "u" Advoca) to see that someone who's so determined to point out spelling errors made by others has displayed such "slovenly" spelling himself!
Example #5:
| advoca wrote: |
| Almost anything is possile in the internet. |
I'm glad you said "almost", Advoca. Surely you must know it's not possible to change the correct spelling of �possible� to �possile�!
Before we end this lesson, let's remind Advoca of his own advice:
| advoca wrote: |
| Are you a teacher or a student? I hope you do not claim to be a teacher, because there were spelling mistakes in your advice, which is a bad thing for a teacher to display. You should not object to having your spelling mistakes pointed out so that students will learn from these mistakes. Getting rid of bad habits is very difficult when there is no feedback, no corrections. |
Now repeat after me, Advoca: People who live in glass houses shouldn�t throw stones!
Don't worry, Advoca. It's true you're the worst case I've seen in a long time, but with patience and hard work we might still be able to make a real teacher out of you - no matter how long it takes! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Boy Rates
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 36
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| advoca wrote: |
Congratulations, Boy Rates. Your sudden burst into this forum with no other purpose than to destroy me has been completely successful. Well done.
Et tu, Bud. You have joined in and supported this vituperative attack. Thanks.
I shall bow out and never again participate in or contribute to this forum. |
Advoca destroyed himself, Roy.
You can't blame me and you can't blame Bud. He tried to be your friend, but you wouldn't listen to him. Your friends warned you and even your "enemies" warned you, but you just wouldn't listen. Sadly, you were so consumed by your need to prove your superiority that you just went blindly on, destroying anything that stood in your way. It was inevitable that eventually you'd crash and burn and someone would have to get out the extinguisher before you took this whole place down with you.
But now that the fire's out, why not stay on and make a fresh start? You know - "up from the ashes"? You do have knowledge to share and if you can try to see your fellow human beings in a different light it might even make you a much happier man. I'm sure many here would admire you for your strength of character if you were to stay on.
As for Boy Rates - He'll stay away unless things get out of hand again. He's your teacher. No one wants to see you succeed more than he does and he's willing to give you a chance to try it on your own. If you put kindness before "being right" Boy Rates will be your biggest fan.
You're a fine writer Roy, and you can be a fine teacher too - if you're willing to learn from your colleagues. There are some real stars here. I'm sorry I didn't have time to meet more of them and I only know a few of their names: Lotus, Bob S., Iitimone7, LucentShade, Lorikeet, Philo Kevetch, Brian Boyd, and let's not forget Bud. (Apologies to those I haven't named. I'm sure there are many of you.)
So at least take some time to think about it before you make a final decision.
I'll be leaving now, but I'll stop back in once in a while to see how things are going.
Goodbye Roy Bates aka Advoca.
Fare thee well!
| Quote: |
| A good teacher is one who knows that there are always ways to improve and develop. |
- Brian Boyd
| Quote: |
| I'm surrounded by teachers everyday, and believe me, they each have their own personality. But, the only personality that lasts is the one that believes teaching is a calling. Nobody gets rich by teaching. The happiest teachers are the ones who get satisfaction from knowing that they make a difference. Remember - when one enters a cause with good intentions - he/she enters cautiously, but is ready to exit quickly. |
- Lotus
| Quote: |
| "A positive learning environment is key in learning anything." |
-Corey
| Quote: |
| "I have so much affection for this forum, and it grows through time. I look out at the world and I see so much hatred, so much need. I look at my own country and I see so much venom spewed with no second thoughts whatsoever. It is great solace to embrace the little beauties that we have in our lives. For me, this is one of those little beauties. At its core, the forum is blessed with bright, extremely motivated students who ask so many challenging questions. Then come the teachers and native-speakers, who all share a love of the language and an eagerness to help others. To top it all off, we have Dave Sperling who gives us the tools to communicate. How can it get any better than that for those of us who like to hang out in here? A short time ago, Lotus wrote that this is the best English forum on the web. Since this is the only English site that I hang out in, I really had no idea. But it meant a lot to me to hear that. It made me feel proud that I play a small part in it. Or more accurately, it made me feel inspired. |
- Bud |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
