Seanus
28 May 2009
Love / Are Polish Women cold and aloof? [249]
Cold and aloof to who? That's another dimension of this.
Cold and aloof to who? That's another dimension of this.
Seanus
28 May 2009
Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]
True enough :) Besides, the weather is pretty dire and changeable, not a good time to be outside.
True enough :) Besides, the weather is pretty dire and changeable, not a good time to be outside.
Seanus
27 May 2009
Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]
I think I have cut down ;)
The social scene is too boring here. I was part of it for quite a while. Now that I have a fiancee waiting for me a home, I have a good reason to go home after work.
I think I have cut down ;)
The social scene is too boring here. I was part of it for quite a while. Now that I have a fiancee waiting for me a home, I have a good reason to go home after work.
Seanus
26 May 2009
Work / Are you teaching English in Poland? [120]
Well, it doesn't work that way unfortunately. They find ways of justifying those profit margins and keeping it for themselves. Look at trends, teachers actually lost money whereas average incomes went up.
Inflation rose and we suffered.
Well, it doesn't work that way unfortunately. They find ways of justifying those profit margins and keeping it for themselves. Look at trends, teachers actually lost money whereas average incomes went up.
Inflation rose and we suffered.
Seanus
25 May 2009
Seanus
25 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
I've been here for 4.5 years but I've never heard of him.
I've been here for 4.5 years but I've never heard of him.
Seanus
25 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
Jamie, when was he around? A broad repertoire helps. If there's one thing that Callan did right, it was to shortcut the grammatical explanations. You simply don't have the luxury of fully teasing out all the strains of it. A few letters, a couple of teaching signs, and away I went.
For example, teaching transitive and intransitive. I used S V O and S V. Teaching passive voice, S V O in the active voice and the object becomes the subject in the passive voice, so, inversional arrows. Also, keep it visual when doing this, e.g I kicked the chair, label the parts, and then say the chair was kicked by me and show the switching. Show that the action passes from the subject, through the verb, to the object. Very easy.
Jamie, when was he around? A broad repertoire helps. If there's one thing that Callan did right, it was to shortcut the grammatical explanations. You simply don't have the luxury of fully teasing out all the strains of it. A few letters, a couple of teaching signs, and away I went.
For example, teaching transitive and intransitive. I used S V O and S V. Teaching passive voice, S V O in the active voice and the object becomes the subject in the passive voice, so, inversional arrows. Also, keep it visual when doing this, e.g I kicked the chair, label the parts, and then say the chair was kicked by me and show the switching. Show that the action passes from the subject, through the verb, to the object. Very easy.
Seanus
25 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
A facilitator is more what I see myself as now (in my main school). I was a mere mouthpiece most of the time at Callan. Profi-Lingua, well, a bit more of a regular teacher but still not as much of a teacher. Britam is the school at which I feel best as I am a teacher who makes their own lesson plans there and has to adapt articles.
A facilitator is more what I see myself as now (in my main school). I was a mere mouthpiece most of the time at Callan. Profi-Lingua, well, a bit more of a regular teacher but still not as much of a teacher. Britam is the school at which I feel best as I am a teacher who makes their own lesson plans there and has to adapt articles.
Seanus
25 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
Just like a politician, I do the same on occasion. That's good advice, make it out like a kind of assignment for the students to check for themselves.
Just like a politician, I do the same on occasion. That's good advice, make it out like a kind of assignment for the students to check for themselves.
Seanus
25 May 2009
Seanus
25 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
My graps of English grammar before October 2001 was not ideal but it doesn't take long to pick things up :)
Sticky, I dunno :(
My graps of English grammar before October 2001 was not ideal but it doesn't take long to pick things up :)
Sticky, I dunno :(
Seanus
24 May 2009
Life / Reasons for moving to Poland [291]
A bit of Sharia? How about a bit of Monika and Rita? (Mumbo no 5)
Polygamy is keeping your options open ;0
Nothing quite like choice :)
But about reasons for moving to Poland...?
A bit of Sharia? How about a bit of Monika and Rita? (Mumbo no 5)
Polygamy is keeping your options open ;0
Nothing quite like choice :)
But about reasons for moving to Poland...?
Seanus
24 May 2009
Life / Reasons for moving to Poland [291]
I'm not an English king called Henry ;) ;)
Monogamy is my road too :)
I'm not an English king called Henry ;) ;)
Monogamy is my road too :)
Seanus
24 May 2009
Seanus
24 May 2009
Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]
Quite insightful commentary. Depending on what you read and believe, the crisis is here for quite some time yet and will bite more. I have come to the conclusion that Poles have to borrow vast sums of credit. There is simply no other way to live as many often do. There will be complications for many.
Quite insightful commentary. Depending on what you read and believe, the crisis is here for quite some time yet and will bite more. I have come to the conclusion that Poles have to borrow vast sums of credit. There is simply no other way to live as many often do. There will be complications for many.
Seanus
24 May 2009
Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]
Absolutely true, Seanny. I can put my life savings on Poles doing the same. I've seen some spending here and it's staggering.
To answer the thread more, the cost of living is still disproportionate to the average salary. Most notably in car prices. Beer is an exception :) :)
Absolutely true, Seanny. I can put my life savings on Poles doing the same. I've seen some spending here and it's staggering.
To answer the thread more, the cost of living is still disproportionate to the average salary. Most notably in car prices. Beer is an exception :) :)
Seanus
24 May 2009
Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]
Well, Ireland had that bubble. The so-called Celtic Tiger led to a sea-change in thinking. People started to get greedy I heard, then came a cropper when they overstretched.
5000PLN is not as good as you think, my friend. You can swipe 2000PLN off of that easily and that's not including food or any other shopping. My fiancee now pays 1/5 of the rent to keep me paying just under 2000PLN a month.
Well, Ireland had that bubble. The so-called Celtic Tiger led to a sea-change in thinking. People started to get greedy I heard, then came a cropper when they overstretched.
5000PLN is not as good as you think, my friend. You can swipe 2000PLN off of that easily and that's not including food or any other shopping. My fiancee now pays 1/5 of the rent to keep me paying just under 2000PLN a month.
Seanus
24 May 2009
Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]
You can take 1,400PLN off of that figure :(
Still, as many Poles will tell you, it's quite rare for teachers to get over 5000PLN. Many state school teachers scramble for much less.
You can take 1,400PLN off of that figure :(
Still, as many Poles will tell you, it's quite rare for teachers to get over 5000PLN. Many state school teachers scramble for much less.
Seanus
23 May 2009
Food / Why carp for Polish Christmas? [157]
Superb, it's away from carp and back to turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and sprouts for Xmas dinner and trifle for dessert. I like the Polish offerings other than carp though.
Superb, it's away from carp and back to turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and sprouts for Xmas dinner and trifle for dessert. I like the Polish offerings other than carp though.
Seanus
23 May 2009
Life / Reasons for moving to Poland [291]
I wouldn't say that everyone hates Islam at all but it's not part of life here. I'm glad about that as they've spread to enough places and have caused enough problems elsewhere, the radicals that is.
I wouldn't say that everyone hates Islam at all but it's not part of life here. I'm glad about that as they've spread to enough places and have caused enough problems elsewhere, the radicals that is.
Seanus
22 May 2009
Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]
Others who are more intelligent earn more?? Go and join the circus, mate, you'll fit right in. Look at scientists. Super smart guys but they get peanuts in the UK. Go figure, dumbass.
Others who are more intelligent earn more?? Go and join the circus, mate, you'll fit right in. Look at scientists. Super smart guys but they get peanuts in the UK. Go figure, dumbass.
Seanus
21 May 2009
Law / Foreigners Getting Married in Poland - a Guide to Formal Preparation [54]
Super guide, raz w życiu. Pretty thorough. I'm at the preliminary stage and it takes a while to get everything in order.
Super guide, raz w życiu. Pretty thorough. I'm at the preliminary stage and it takes a while to get everything in order.
Seanus
20 May 2009
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
With great difficulty is the answer. There is a lesson at my school on this point. I plough through quite quickly, but thoroughly, and we barely scrape the surface. There are many exceptions with no rhyme nor reason.
I suggest praying, maybe divine intervention will help ;)
With great difficulty is the answer. There is a lesson at my school on this point. I plough through quite quickly, but thoroughly, and we barely scrape the surface. There are many exceptions with no rhyme nor reason.
I suggest praying, maybe divine intervention will help ;)
Seanus
20 May 2009
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Without the.
The closest we get is an area, e.g The Fens. Only 'the Vatican' I think. There are quite a few countries with 'the'.
Without the.
The closest we get is an area, e.g The Fens. Only 'the Vatican' I think. There are quite a few countries with 'the'.
Seanus
17 May 2009
Law / Bureaucracy in Poland [53]
They could do with following the Estonian approach. They favour a relatively paper-free central administrative structure.
They could do with following the Estonian approach. They favour a relatively paper-free central administrative structure.
Seanus
16 May 2009
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
That's OK, I had had 4 beers and was getting tired so may have come across as snappy. I'm happy to answer any questions here as Polish students, and many others, make a pig's ear of article use. Even the teachers have many doubts, the Polish ones I mean.
That's OK, I had had 4 beers and was getting tired so may have come across as snappy. I'm happy to answer any questions here as Polish students, and many others, make a pig's ear of article use. Even the teachers have many doubts, the Polish ones I mean.
Seanus
16 May 2009
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
I was teaching compound nouns tonight and you are wrong. A compound noun is, for example, bookcase which is formed from 2 nouns, book and case. Many people say a proof but I think it's awkward. I know that you can't use evidence with an. An evidential requirement is ok for example.
Trust me, piątek, I know what I'm doing here.
I was teaching compound nouns tonight and you are wrong. A compound noun is, for example, bookcase which is formed from 2 nouns, book and case. Many people say a proof but I think it's awkward. I know that you can't use evidence with an. An evidential requirement is ok for example.
Trust me, piątek, I know what I'm doing here.
Seanus
15 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
The key with teaching is often maintaining the attention of your students. Some of the lessons I teach are choppy as the TL isn't constant enough. It hops around and, although the students learn a broader range of structures, feel dragged a bit. Sometimes it's better to draw the most out of one point in a lesson so they feel some semblance of mastery.
The key with teaching is often maintaining the attention of your students. Some of the lessons I teach are choppy as the TL isn't constant enough. It hops around and, although the students learn a broader range of structures, feel dragged a bit. Sometimes it's better to draw the most out of one point in a lesson so they feel some semblance of mastery.
Seanus
15 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
Exactly, teachers shouldn't be in it for the money. It's not pure business as you just can't pull the figures which more ruthless businessmen can. I really do my utmost to get my points across and get the students learning rapidly. As George Harrison (RIP) said, "let it roll for all it's worth". Do your thing and make the life of other willing people better. Not all of us can be top artists and entertainers, we have to keep it lower key but respectable in our own way.
Modesty only hurts the few :)
Exactly, teachers shouldn't be in it for the money. It's not pure business as you just can't pull the figures which more ruthless businessmen can. I really do my utmost to get my points across and get the students learning rapidly. As George Harrison (RIP) said, "let it roll for all it's worth". Do your thing and make the life of other willing people better. Not all of us can be top artists and entertainers, we have to keep it lower key but respectable in our own way.
Modesty only hurts the few :)
Seanus
15 May 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]
I'm smart enough to keep my drinking clandestine :)
However, the other guy is a Scotsman :)
I'm smart enough to keep my drinking clandestine :)
However, the other guy is a Scotsman :)