Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Life / Price of beer in Poland [90]
Crown lager, nah, haven't heard of it. Fosters is not bad really
Crown lager, nah, haven't heard of it. Fosters is not bad really
Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Love / New in Warsaw - can't find girlfriend. [12]
That makes for some good quartet action ;) Creativity required :)
That makes for some good quartet action ;) Creativity required :)
Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Love / What do you think....is he serious? [37]
WB is an international man of mystery. Hats off to him for having a kid :)
WB is an international man of mystery. Hats off to him for having a kid :)
Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Food / Menu suggestions for a Polish/Scottish night. [89]
Coat taken? What, like Clouseau? He enters the hotel and the man asks for his hat, his coat and his gloves. He takes them, thanks him and walks off, LOL
Coat taken? What, like Clouseau? He enters the hotel and the man asks for his hat, his coat and his gloves. He takes them, thanks him and walks off, LOL
Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Food / Menu suggestions for a Polish/Scottish night. [89]
Wee sausage rolls would go down well, PD. Pastry is appreciated here.
Wee sausage rolls would go down well, PD. Pastry is appreciated here.
Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Food / Menu suggestions for a Polish/Scottish night. [89]
It sounds more like competing claims. Try Young's Admiral's Pie, heavenly.
The Poles like meatballs too. Can't go wrong with the old Campbells
It sounds more like competing claims. Try Young's Admiral's Pie, heavenly.
The Poles like meatballs too. Can't go wrong with the old Campbells
Seanus
14 Mar 2009
Food / Menu suggestions for a Polish/Scottish night. [89]
How about some Fisherman's Pie or Admiral's Pie, PD? I dunno how that would be received amongst Poles.
You are right, PD. I gave my Dad bigos and he found it to be so similar to Scottish fare.
The Poles are not that big on pies but why not try? They are meat eaters after all.
Forfar Bridies would be quite popular.
How about some Fisherman's Pie or Admiral's Pie, PD? I dunno how that would be received amongst Poles.
You are right, PD. I gave my Dad bigos and he found it to be so similar to Scottish fare.
The Poles are not that big on pies but why not try? They are meat eaters after all.
Forfar Bridies would be quite popular.
Seanus
13 Mar 2009
Food / What to eat in Poland? (we like rice, spicy food, and chicken) [20]
My condolences for what happened in Mumbai!! Welcome to PF. I adore curry, almost any type.
Polish food, well, try bogracz. It's actually Hungarian in origin but the Poles eat it as a national dish. Try leczo too (also Hungarian). I suggested these 2 as they can be spicy. If they aren't spicy enough, you can just add some chili. Tasty stuff!
My condolences for what happened in Mumbai!! Welcome to PF. I adore curry, almost any type.
Polish food, well, try bogracz. It's actually Hungarian in origin but the Poles eat it as a national dish. Try leczo too (also Hungarian). I suggested these 2 as they can be spicy. If they aren't spicy enough, you can just add some chili. Tasty stuff!
Seanus
13 Mar 2009
Food / Menu suggestions for a Polish/Scottish night. [89]
Actually, I learned from an American that they call it Hunter's Stew. I think it was dear old Zgubi that posted that. We just call it bigos.
I'm not a hunter but that's the kind of food hunters eat I reckon.
Actually, I learned from an American that they call it Hunter's Stew. I think it was dear old Zgubi that posted that. We just call it bigos.
I'm not a hunter but that's the kind of food hunters eat I reckon.
Seanus
13 Mar 2009
Food / Menu suggestions for a Polish/Scottish night. [89]
What a cracking idea, PD. I can imagine Scots liking Hunters's Stew (aka bigos). Given that our respective countries may well be no1 and no2 in the world for soups, you have to go with a range of appetising little numbers.
Neither of us can lay claim to clam chowder, but hey, nobody's perfect ;)
What a cracking idea, PD. I can imagine Scots liking Hunters's Stew (aka bigos). Given that our respective countries may well be no1 and no2 in the world for soups, you have to go with a range of appetising little numbers.
Neither of us can lay claim to clam chowder, but hey, nobody's perfect ;)
Seanus
13 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
There is some truth to that. As a trainer of the method, I was expected to somehow make the higher levels work better for students. It was all just too random for me. There was very little of practical utility for the students. I can't imagine how they'd use such structures in real life, especially if they are not going abroad.
To me, language acquisition is, first and foremost, about what you can meaningfully use in a variety of contexts. Callan just didn't allow for that. In the earlier stages, subject-verb agreement was very well taken care of. Matching auxiliaries is the main strength of the method in stages 3,4 and, to a lesser extent, 5 and 6.
For me, university really taught me to think out of the box. Extrapolation etc etc. Callan's learning parameters are just too restrictive. Avalon sought to change that but wasn't entirely successful I gather from those that use it.
There is some truth to that. As a trainer of the method, I was expected to somehow make the higher levels work better for students. It was all just too random for me. There was very little of practical utility for the students. I can't imagine how they'd use such structures in real life, especially if they are not going abroad.
To me, language acquisition is, first and foremost, about what you can meaningfully use in a variety of contexts. Callan just didn't allow for that. In the earlier stages, subject-verb agreement was very well taken care of. Matching auxiliaries is the main strength of the method in stages 3,4 and, to a lesser extent, 5 and 6.
For me, university really taught me to think out of the box. Extrapolation etc etc. Callan's learning parameters are just too restrictive. Avalon sought to change that but wasn't entirely successful I gather from those that use it.
Seanus
13 Mar 2009
Food / MARMITE IN POLAND? [96]
My mate, Marmite. Marmite is better on bread but Bovril is better with pies in drink form.
My mate, Marmite. Marmite is better on bread but Bovril is better with pies in drink form.
Seanus
13 Mar 2009
Love / Chatting up Polish girls in the street. [60]
They are not likely to take you on and chat to you. They will likely see that you are a foreigner and turn away. If you are in a group with other people, that may be a different story. They dislike uncomfortable situations.
They are not likely to take you on and chat to you. They will likely see that you are a foreigner and turn away. If you are in a group with other people, that may be a different story. They dislike uncomfortable situations.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Life / Price of beer in Poland [90]
Flavoured water is fine once in a while. I've heard that the microbrewers there are going from strength to strength.
You must admit, for the average Aussie, VB is better than Castlemaine XXXX and Fosters.
McEwans does a great pale ale in Scotland.
The Zywiec in Zywiec is legendary, especially served ice cold on a warm day as I had it. What topped it off was sitting at a lovely wooden table overlooking a cracking lake there. The pension is called MEGA and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Flavoured water is fine once in a while. I've heard that the microbrewers there are going from strength to strength.
You must admit, for the average Aussie, VB is better than Castlemaine XXXX and Fosters.
McEwans does a great pale ale in Scotland.
The Zywiec in Zywiec is legendary, especially served ice cold on a warm day as I had it. What topped it off was sitting at a lovely wooden table overlooking a cracking lake there. The pension is called MEGA and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Life / Price of beer in Poland [90]
That's not true laddie. I've tried VB and many microbrews from OZ. I lived with Aussies for over a year. They had some great stuff, I forgot the names.
I like the crispness of the Asian beers that I tried. Tiger is good too.
That's not true laddie. I've tried VB and many microbrews from OZ. I lived with Aussies for over a year. They had some great stuff, I forgot the names.
I like the crispness of the Asian beers that I tried. Tiger is good too.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Life / Price of beer in Poland [90]
Czech beer is streets ahead. British ales too. No Polish beer comes close to 1698 from Faversham, Kent. Many Asian beers are better too. Tsingtao, Kingfisher, Singha, Chang and Kirin Ichiban are all tastier.
I like Polish beer but I'm looking forward to trying out beer from the Balkans.
Czech beer is streets ahead. British ales too. No Polish beer comes close to 1698 from Faversham, Kent. Many Asian beers are better too. Tsingtao, Kingfisher, Singha, Chang and Kirin Ichiban are all tastier.
I like Polish beer but I'm looking forward to trying out beer from the Balkans.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
Stranger things have happened, ukpolska.
Over 4 years, geez. 3 years was a strain for me. True, Callan is speaking focussed and, even then, looks more at parroting than having fluent discussions.
Ah well, off to teach a lesson on crime now. Should be fun.
Stranger things have happened, ukpolska.
Over 4 years, geez. 3 years was a strain for me. True, Callan is speaking focussed and, even then, looks more at parroting than having fluent discussions.
Ah well, off to teach a lesson on crime now. Should be fun.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes. They don't really pay teachers a fair whack, that's just it.
I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes. They don't really pay teachers a fair whack, that's just it.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
The maximum at any time is 12. I found 6 to be a good number. 2 to your left, 2 in front of you and 2 to the right. 12 with a beginner group is a nightmare, so exhausting it was. You cannot take the foot off of the gas pedal for long with them.
With higher-level groups, 4 is quite ok. You can discuss things a little more with them. Thank God that is behind me now. I'm more of a listener at present. The TTT at SU is significantly less. At Callan, you are the conduit through which everything flows.
The maximum at any time is 12. I found 6 to be a good number. 2 to your left, 2 in front of you and 2 to the right. 12 with a beginner group is a nightmare, so exhausting it was. You cannot take the foot off of the gas pedal for long with them.
With higher-level groups, 4 is quite ok. You can discuss things a little more with them. Thank God that is behind me now. I'm more of a listener at present. The TTT at SU is significantly less. At Callan, you are the conduit through which everything flows.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
That's strange. We had to teach grammar as a matter of course. If it came up as part of the new work, we couldn't just skip it. It's not that hard to teach really. Callan will teach you how to shortcut the teaching of it.
When I teach in my other schools, I use the whiteboard. In Callan, I taught them letters or showed them briefly at the lectern with a bit of paper. For example, a transitive verb is S V O whereas an intransitive verb is just S V. The same with passive voice, I just inverted the sentence. The verb stays in the middle. Quite simple and a quick way, suitable for Callan method learning.
That's strange. We had to teach grammar as a matter of course. If it came up as part of the new work, we couldn't just skip it. It's not that hard to teach really. Callan will teach you how to shortcut the teaching of it.
When I teach in my other schools, I use the whiteboard. In Callan, I taught them letters or showed them briefly at the lectern with a bit of paper. For example, a transitive verb is S V O whereas an intransitive verb is just S V. The same with passive voice, I just inverted the sentence. The verb stays in the middle. Quite simple and a quick way, suitable for Callan method learning.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
Very true, delphi. My advice would be to go with the book initially. Stick with the answers given until you become relatively familiar with them. This will help you when you come to be observed. After that, you can experiment.
You have very little latitude when it comes to contractual negotiations. Things are relatively fixed, increments included.
Very true, delphi. My advice would be to go with the book initially. Stick with the answers given until you become relatively familiar with them. This will help you when you come to be observed. After that, you can experiment.
You have very little latitude when it comes to contractual negotiations. Things are relatively fixed, increments included.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]
Everyone makes choices in life, Mr Bubbles. If my schools choose to fire me, so be it. It doesn't appear likely given my observation results and general feedback.
This is a discussion about gays, not about me
Everyone makes choices in life, Mr Bubbles. If my schools choose to fire me, so be it. It doesn't appear likely given my observation results and general feedback.
This is a discussion about gays, not about me
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]
Callan will keep you focussed, it's very hard to teach hungover. It will give you some practice in interaction with students of various levels.
It will keep you amused.
Callan will keep you focussed, it's very hard to teach hungover. It will give you some practice in interaction with students of various levels.
It will keep you amused.
Seanus
12 Mar 2009
Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]
Exactly right. I've been to a couple of gay bars with friends and I didn't feel put out at all. Yeah, I didn't like the guys who tried to push themselves on you but that didn't happen often.
There were quite a few straight girls there. They really flirted with the gay gays. It's all about comfort.
Exactly right. I've been to a couple of gay bars with friends and I didn't feel put out at all. Yeah, I didn't like the guys who tried to push themselves on you but that didn't happen often.
There were quite a few straight girls there. They really flirted with the gay gays. It's all about comfort.
Seanus
11 Mar 2009
Seanus
11 Mar 2009
Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]
It's not a medical condition, Randal. They are just different.
It's not a medical condition, Randal. They are just different.