Forums > Living in Kunming > Is there anyone with a drink problem? If abcd doesn't have a drink problem he certainly has a 'think' problem. The more 'proof' (opinion) he offers against AA, the more cartoonish he becomes.
I just hope anyone weak, vulnerable and lost due to alcohol abuse still feels OK enough to get in touchnwithbthe OP if they need help. His initial offer, I believe, was sincere, and not in any way an invitation to join a cult or groom a sexual victim - just two of alphabet boy's accusations against AA.
Forums > Study > Ur experience teaching english ? Dazzer, you made a good point. I didn't mean to suggest that we are the first line of attack to conquer the gaokao, but in my experience, the few parents that do recognise the wrongs of the Chinese state school ways do seem to think that the few hours of an evening or a weekend can cure all. I've had students with just rudimentary English come on the behest of their parents, believing that 20 hours over 5 weeks will get them into a position of being able to live in England and take post 16 exams. Anyway, I'm sure we all do what we can, despite any prevailing limitations. Good luck to all of us, mad fools that we must be!
Forums > Study > Ur experience teaching english ? Teaching is never either/or, 'clown' or 'boring, self-loathing know it all' (and as an aside, Dudeson,I read some of your posts and any loathing I feel is not directed toward myself, believe me). It is infinite shades of grey.
It's all about assessing the class needs, dynamic and personalities within, and adapting the lesson style to best serve them. There are many ways to teach a lesson, from the much used and abused PPP, to task based or communicative learning, and none of them is an educational holy grail. And yes, a happy parent is good for business until they realise they have spent ten years of fees and their kid will never get through the gaokao unless the questions are on parts of the body, or animals.
Forums > Study > Ur experience teaching english ? My two-penneth is that any teacher worth his salt should be adaptable and adjust his approach based on the needs of the class, and the personalities of the students that make up the group. It's often fine playing the clown to a group of primary age who need to be laughing and learning at the same time, but not so fine with a group of middle school kids on the first step to fulfilling their (parents!!) university/career ambitions. Horses for courses. I didn't become a teacher (15 years ago) to be a performing monkey nor did I want to be a dry, elbow-patched lecturer. I suppose I've been both at various times over the years, perhaps even in the same lesson, but if the class' learning objectives have been achieved, that's OK.
