Seanus
25 Jul 2011
Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]
There are 2 Carrefours here. Maybe I just haven't looked closely enough.
There are 2 Carrefours here. Maybe I just haven't looked closely enough.
Seanus
25 Jul 2011
Seanus
25 Jul 2011
Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]
1715 is very good :) Ukrainian beer is excellent :)
Polish beer? I like many. Żubr was formerly my standard beer but Perła or Goolman are great value beers :)
1715 is very good :) Ukrainian beer is excellent :)
Polish beer? I like many. Żubr was formerly my standard beer but Perła or Goolman are great value beers :)
Seanus
24 Jul 2011
Seanus
24 Jul 2011
Love / Testing habits of Polish women [32]
Life needs a bit of intrigue and that's the way of some to get it.
Life needs a bit of intrigue and that's the way of some to get it.
Seanus
24 Jul 2011
Feedback / Why are there so many on here, who do not like Poland [150]
Many are not qualified to comment having not been here and others are focussing in on the negative aspects. Ask yourself, what is the purpose of my stay here in Poland? If you can't answer anything other than money then you may well be negative.
Many are not qualified to comment having not been here and others are focussing in on the negative aspects. Ask yourself, what is the purpose of my stay here in Poland? If you can't answer anything other than money then you may well be negative.
Seanus
24 Jul 2011
Love / Sigh... Polish girls have such pretty eyes. [51]
I have ocean blue eyes :) Radiance is key :) Let your soul shine through them :) You can communicate so much through your eyes alone :)
I have ocean blue eyes :) Radiance is key :) Let your soul shine through them :) You can communicate so much through your eyes alone :)
Seanus
24 Jul 2011
Love / Sigh... Polish girls have such pretty eyes. [51]
Usually blue, yes :) Many keep their radiance until they reach a certain age.
Usually blue, yes :) Many keep their radiance until they reach a certain age.
Seanus
24 Jul 2011
Love / Sigh... Polish girls have such pretty eyes. [51]
Simplicity is genius. Over simplicity is crap ;)
On-topic? Some young ones have highly seductive eyes, it's true.
Simplicity is genius. Over simplicity is crap ;)
On-topic? Some young ones have highly seductive eyes, it's true.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
Travel / Traveling around Poland - our photo stories with very personal commentary [225]
Fair point, Marynka. Here in Gliwice, some flats with nice interiors are marred by the spraying of KSG on the exterior walls. It's criminal and depreciates the value of the property unfairly. KSG is the local football club btw.
Fair point, Marynka. Here in Gliwice, some flats with nice interiors are marred by the spraying of KSG on the exterior walls. It's criminal and depreciates the value of the property unfairly. KSG is the local football club btw.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / "Callan Publishing" sues Polish copycats [15]
Plus, they have no comeback in the event that they find you are teaching them 'useless' things. They specifically requested sth or to work from a book so it's their call.
The promises they make are laughable. English in 3 months. English 4 times faster etc etc. They are all lies due to the fallibility of both teachers and the methods.
As for Callan, well, they will lose their grasp if they don't monitor closely as I know individual teachers wanted to work with their central concept and adapt it to make it more student friendly.
Plus, they have no comeback in the event that they find you are teaching them 'useless' things. They specifically requested sth or to work from a book so it's their call.
The promises they make are laughable. English in 3 months. English 4 times faster etc etc. They are all lies due to the fallibility of both teachers and the methods.
As for Callan, well, they will lose their grasp if they don't monitor closely as I know individual teachers wanted to work with their central concept and adapt it to make it more student friendly.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / "Callan Publishing" sues Polish copycats [15]
That's what I actually insist on, clarity of purpose and objectives. A student who doesn't know what they want, waiting for a magic wand, is a thorn in your side as a teacher. There's no sense that you are aiming at anything.
Teaching schools don't hide their drive for profits too well. It really cheapens the process of learning. Playing to lame statistics rather than other ascertainable yardsticks of progress doesn't help either. It's all a game. I mean, what does 'lacking in vocabulary' really mean? For communication in a given level? If so then many aren't lacking in vocab at all.
That's what I actually insist on, clarity of purpose and objectives. A student who doesn't know what they want, waiting for a magic wand, is a thorn in your side as a teacher. There's no sense that you are aiming at anything.
Teaching schools don't hide their drive for profits too well. It really cheapens the process of learning. Playing to lame statistics rather than other ascertainable yardsticks of progress doesn't help either. It's all a game. I mean, what does 'lacking in vocabulary' really mean? For communication in a given level? If so then many aren't lacking in vocab at all.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
History / "I was more afraid of fellow Poles than Nazi German Officers", says Bartoszewski [130]
PHILIPEK, you didn't live in those times. Sometimes it was kill or be killed. You can't reason with an unreasonable war machine.
PHILIPEK, you didn't live in those times. Sometimes it was kill or be killed. You can't reason with an unreasonable war machine.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / "Callan Publishing" sues Polish copycats [15]
The problem with Callan is scattiness. It's a major headache to teach if tired or, for some teachers, hungover. It's very jumpy, placing far too much emphasis on TTT. In SU, I always state 3 main objectives on the board and do a lead-in. That's almost impossible to do for a Callan lesson. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to follow the likes of Harmer as he is OTT but a little methodology through guidance is, for me, a pre-requisite for having a good lesson.
What you are doing is not plagiarism at all. Look at Dave Sperling's ESL Cafe, he actively encourages teachers to share ideas and adapt them to their own visions for how the class will unfold. In an ideal world, we'd all have freer license to teach that which we wanted but life in establishments doesn't follow that logic.
The problem with Callan is scattiness. It's a major headache to teach if tired or, for some teachers, hungover. It's very jumpy, placing far too much emphasis on TTT. In SU, I always state 3 main objectives on the board and do a lead-in. That's almost impossible to do for a Callan lesson. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to follow the likes of Harmer as he is OTT but a little methodology through guidance is, for me, a pre-requisite for having a good lesson.
What you are doing is not plagiarism at all. Look at Dave Sperling's ESL Cafe, he actively encourages teachers to share ideas and adapt them to their own visions for how the class will unfold. In an ideal world, we'd all have freer license to teach that which we wanted but life in establishments doesn't follow that logic.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
Love / Testing habits of Polish women [32]
If there was only one it would be 'The testing habit of Polish women' :) :)
Anyway, thanks for the change, Wrocław :)
If there was only one it would be 'The testing habit of Polish women' :) :)
Anyway, thanks for the change, Wrocław :)
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / "Callan Publishing" sues Polish copycats [15]
I found Reward to be a bit lacking but not altogether unusable. Have you taught from Face 2 Face, Jon? It's a Cambridge publication, I think. I'm currently using it with an EMPIK student. I recommend it, the Intermediate version at least :)
Speak Up's (SU) skill is in using the 2 productive and 2 receptive skills. There isn't much use of listening, only the teacher. However, they have different teachers so there's variety.
Callan itself was lucky to get off of home base, having originally being designed to be used by the army to learn German would you believe? Having trained teachers in the method, I can say that you can see the benefits for students in the first four levels but, thereafter, the law of diminishing returns applies. Yes, levels 5 and 6 wheel out a lot of grammar but I far prefer the way I teach it at SU, putting flesh on the bones and allowing students to ask me questions at any time during the lesson. It's not wham bam, thank you mam as Callan tends to be. Teaching needs the personal touch.
I found Reward to be a bit lacking but not altogether unusable. Have you taught from Face 2 Face, Jon? It's a Cambridge publication, I think. I'm currently using it with an EMPIK student. I recommend it, the Intermediate version at least :)
Speak Up's (SU) skill is in using the 2 productive and 2 receptive skills. There isn't much use of listening, only the teacher. However, they have different teachers so there's variety.
Callan itself was lucky to get off of home base, having originally being designed to be used by the army to learn German would you believe? Having trained teachers in the method, I can say that you can see the benefits for students in the first four levels but, thereafter, the law of diminishing returns applies. Yes, levels 5 and 6 wheel out a lot of grammar but I far prefer the way I teach it at SU, putting flesh on the bones and allowing students to ask me questions at any time during the lesson. It's not wham bam, thank you mam as Callan tends to be. Teaching needs the personal touch.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / "Callan Publishing" sues Polish copycats [15]
That's true! However, if their PR departments were worth their salt, they'd come up with a Unique Selling Point (USP). Speak Up has been able to do that through their multimedia rooms. It'd be interesting to know how Speed were able to get the rights to teach Callan here in Poland. Surely they couldn't monopolise the whole method!
That's true! However, if their PR departments were worth their salt, they'd come up with a Unique Selling Point (USP). Speak Up has been able to do that through their multimedia rooms. It'd be interesting to know how Speed were able to get the rights to teach Callan here in Poland. Surely they couldn't monopolise the whole method!
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / "Callan Publishing" sues Polish copycats [15]
Avalon was another that pushed the boundaries of what constitutes a spin-off and what is downright plagiarism. I believe the test is 'sufficient originality' for a new invention. Avalon comes up well short from what I have heard. Sb who has never lived in an English speaking country should not really be writing books as serious teaching materials.
Avalon was another that pushed the boundaries of what constitutes a spin-off and what is downright plagiarism. I believe the test is 'sufficient originality' for a new invention. Avalon comes up well short from what I have heard. Sb who has never lived in an English speaking country should not really be writing books as serious teaching materials.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
Love / Testing habits of Polish women [32]
Mods, shouldn't it be habits? ;) ;)
Control games are the biggest. Some love to boost their frail egos by believing they have some semblance of control. Their own society bashes them about a bit but I see many easy going Poles that rise above it.
Mods, shouldn't it be habits? ;) ;)
Control games are the biggest. Some love to boost their frail egos by believing they have some semblance of control. Their own society bashes them about a bit but I see many easy going Poles that rise above it.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
News / POLAND HAS LOST 1 MILLION PEOPLE (for other EU countries) [30]
Hague, it's called 'dramatic effect' in writing :)
Many won't come back to Poland, it's true. Many of my students went across, came back for a visit and said that they much preferred it over there. What's the problem with having fewer people anyway? More chance for those here to get into employment.
Hague, it's called 'dramatic effect' in writing :)
Many won't come back to Poland, it's true. Many of my students went across, came back for a visit and said that they much preferred it over there. What's the problem with having fewer people anyway? More chance for those here to get into employment.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
Love / Is the Polish wife the boss? [33]
It's not black&white and it all depends on the personalities involved, simple! If you want to develop the discussion then you can talk about Silesian women as being generally tougher but, then again, it's just another attempt by some to create identity and difference.
It's not black&white and it all depends on the personalities involved, simple! If you want to develop the discussion then you can talk about Silesian women as being generally tougher but, then again, it's just another attempt by some to create identity and difference.
Seanus
23 Jul 2011
UK, Ireland / What do Polish people think about Wales and Welsh people? [191]
Walsh? Is that the family name you are staying with? ;) Some stay with Scotts up north too, you know!? ;)
Do you generally generalise or, in general, prefer not to be general?
Walsh? Is that the family name you are staying with? ;) Some stay with Scotts up north too, you know!? ;)
Do you generally generalise or, in general, prefer not to be general?
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
History / Defying Germaniztion in 1901 Polish boy writes 'German girls are ugly' [128]
German girls tend not to be the nicest in the looks dept but I knew 2 during my studies and they were really pretty. Some are and some aren't. It depends on your taste.
This is well off-topic again.
German girls tend not to be the nicest in the looks dept but I knew 2 during my studies and they were really pretty. Some are and some aren't. It depends on your taste.
This is well off-topic again.
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
Love / Testing habits of Polish women [32]
Any more examples of testing? I do feel like I am on trial sometimes, right enough. Still, be loose and shrug it off, that's the way :)
Any more examples of testing? I do feel like I am on trial sometimes, right enough. Still, be loose and shrug it off, that's the way :)
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
Love / Is the Polish wife the boss? [33]
It would appear that they have some remarkable insights in Pakistan ;) ;)
It would appear that they have some remarkable insights in Pakistan ;) ;)
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
Love / Testing habits of Polish women [32]
Almost everything is a choice. Use your bailout card :) Have a result in mind and know that if you pick the wrong strategy, you only have yourself to blame. I have always worked with the thought in mind that a woman has never truly wanted me, just for support. Many move onto the next thing so quickly (and then come back later). Believe otherwise and you may get hurt.
Almost everything is a choice. Use your bailout card :) Have a result in mind and know that if you pick the wrong strategy, you only have yourself to blame. I have always worked with the thought in mind that a woman has never truly wanted me, just for support. Many move onto the next thing so quickly (and then come back later). Believe otherwise and you may get hurt.
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
Love / Testing habits of Polish women [32]
The key is always to lower your libido. Then you stand to win :) :) Trust me, it's surefire :) Games only lead to more games so screw that for a laugh.
The key is always to lower your libido. Then you stand to win :) :) Trust me, it's surefire :) Games only lead to more games so screw that for a laugh.
Seanus
22 Jul 2011
Love / Is the Polish wife the boss? [33]
Spot on there, IKrash. It's analogous to life. Lead your life or sb else will lead it for you.
Spot on there, IKrash. It's analogous to life. Lead your life or sb else will lead it for you.