Native English Speakers Required

Native English Speakers Required
Sep 14, 2006 04:37	#11
APAULT Points: Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	Pinetree: I think that is unlikely, but increasingly the educated class (oh, we shouldn't have classes in socialist China, but unfortunately we will) wil also speak English. This is what has happened in Scandinavia, though it seems form your earlie rcommenst that Singapore might have gone a bit too far. Teknomed: What u say is true... though I don't think slang is the real issue. The problem is that all the foreigners including many second language English speakers, are teaching their own 'English' and there are massive variations. 'The government' needs to decide which brand of English it wants. At present most students (that I have been teaching) want British English - ie London basic, but the majority of the text books are produced in the USA or by Chinese who have graduated from US universities. I object to books which say 'subway' means underground train and talk of cell phones. They are insensitive to the reality of Chinese English. Shanghai has a metro (French origin) and subways which are pedestrian underpasses (British). This is current usage. So too is the use of 'mobile' rather than 'cell' phone. All books should recognise this reality (but then Bush thought the Iraqi people wanted to be invaded, so perhaps I should not be surprised!) But if the government decides that it wants American rather than English let it say so. I can choose whether to teach it or retire (almost certainly the latter!!!). (Sorry, Pinetree, I know you've heard this before!)

Sep 14, 2006 04:37

#11

APAULT
Points:
Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
Status: Offline

Pinetree: I think that is unlikely, but increasingly the educated class (oh, we shouldn't have classes in socialist China, but unfortunately we will) wil also speak English. This is what has happened in Scandinavia, though it seems form your earlie rcommenst that Singapore might have gone a bit too far.

Teknomed: What u say is true... though I don't think slang is the real issue. The problem is that all the foreigners including many second language English speakers, are teaching their own 'English' and there are massive variations. 'The government' needs to decide which brand of English it wants. At present most students (that I have been teaching) want British English - ie London basic, but the majority of the text books are produced in the USA or by Chinese who have graduated from US universities.

I object to books which say 'subway' means underground train and talk of cell phones. They are insensitive to the reality of Chinese English. Shanghai has a metro (French origin) and subways which are pedestrian underpasses (British). This is current usage. So too is the use of 'mobile' rather than 'cell' phone. All books should recognise this reality (but then Bush thought the Iraqi people wanted to be invaded, so perhaps I should not be surprised!)

But if the government decides that it wants American rather than English let it say so. I can choose whether to teach it or retire (almost certainly the latter!!!). (Sorry, Pinetree, I know you've heard this before!)

Feb 20, 2007 14:52

#12

RIPKELLER
Points:
Join Date: Feb 20, 2007
Status: Offline

Dear Paul,

I'm interested in hearing more about the teaching positions you know of.

My wife and I have been splitting our time between the US and Chile, and are now thinking about a stint in China. We have a two-year-old daughter (never too early to start a third language--and Chinese is certainly the compelling candidate).

I've taught at all levels (high school, a bit of primary, and occasional university courses). English is my first language, but I speak and write (books and TV scripts) in Spanish with native fluency as well. And pass as French, though I haven't spoken French much in recent years. My degree is in Romance Languages from Harvard.

Any advice or leads you have would be welcome. I currently make a good portion of my living as a writer, so conceivably some kind of writing or editing work in the expat community could be a possibility too.

Our main requirement is that the salary be enough for the three of us to live on in reasonable comfort wherever we are--ideally with less than a full-time commitment, for the sake of family life, and to permit me to keep my writing and translating career active.

I look forward to hearing from you when you have a moment. All the best in the meantime,

Rip Keller
ripkeller.net|rk
US phone: (1802) 472-5230
Chile phone: (569) 8199-8625

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