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Posts by GabiDaHun  

Joined: 18 Jan 2012 / Female ♀
Last Post: 22 Dec 2013
Threads: 2
Posts: 152
From: Krakow
Speaks Polish?: No :(

Displayed posts: 154 / page 6 of 6
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GabiDaHun   
24 Jan 2012
Study / Recommend Me some Reputable Language Schools in Krakow, Please! [6]

So I've moved to Krakow.

I know it's full of natives, backpackers, chancres etc., and from what I've read it's pretty tricky to come by good schools here, but I have some seriously good reasons for coming here and I'm certainly NOT a backpacker.

I hold a Grade B CELTA, have a DipHE (not quite a degree), speak Hungarian (not much good here- I know), and more crucially have about 2000 classroom hours teaching experience from a British Council accredited school in London. I was employed there over the course of a year and three months and taught all levels. I really do love teaching; it's certainly not a "meh" job for me. I know my stuff, but don't want to sell myself short by taking too little money or ending up in a really bad school. I have too much self respect for that, and do actually wish to build a decent reputation here, complete a DELTA, and later study for an MA in Applied Linguistics. I didn't actually think I could love a job so much, and maybe the sheen will go, but that's the plan for now anyway.

However, not knowing where to start I'd appreciate some advice. There are so many schools here and not all of them great, so I'd like to know where the decent ones are, or how I can find out if they are decent. My boyfriend and I have a decent wedge of savings behind us, so I don't mind holding out for a decent offer. At the moment I'm not desperate and don't want to come across as such either!

There's also the niggling issue of private students. How would I go about finding them? Is it a case of getting known in schools and picking some up, or do adverts work well here?

I have a friend who is currently teaching English to teenagers in a school. He's Polish and actually makes quite a few mistakes, so I'm helping him brush up on his English, going over the finer points of article use, punctuation and grammar, while he teaches me basic Polish. I obviously don't charge for this as he's a mate and a good teacher (who knows his stuff), but it doesn't really fill my fridge with food!

I know this isn't exactly an ESL board, but Dave's ESL Cafe is taking ages to register at, and I feel that I should get the ball moving.

Advice much appreciated.

Gabi
xx
GabiDaHun   
24 Jan 2012
News / Poland now soft-pedalling ACTA signing [107]

Oh dear. Good to see the reactionaries out in force, nothing perturbs me more than a complete logic bypass.

Copyright infringement and the entertainment industry = massive LOL!

How many of you have actually been introduced to a favourite author, for example, by going into the bookshop and buying a book on the off chance you might like it. Compare this to how many of you have actually been introduced to your favourite author by a friend who leant you a book, to which you then went on to buy other books by this author.

What next? Banning the sale of second hand video games and books? How about we ban libraries for sharing books, CDs and videos?

There is NO evidence that piracy and file sharing loses big entertainment companies money. There is however, growing evidence that file sharing ENCOURAGES new artists to be discovered, introduces music and films to people who otherwise would have no idea of certain films existing. If anything it is free advertising.

Anyone remember that time home taping killed music and television? - It was a sad day, the day the music and entertainment industry died... sob!

What next? Banning the sale of second hand video games and books? How about we ban libraries for sharing books, CDs and videos? It's all COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT and the EQUALS BAD, doesn't it?

If our politicians are are seriously considering closing down sites, and siding with the draconian US government of behalf of entertainment corporations that have failed to keep up with a modern, changing media, then it is nothing but a travesty. Bad businesses should fail. The entertainment industry needs to move with the times. They're still trying to catch Del Boy at the market with his knock-off VHS videos.

The fact that the entertainment companies have themselves been hosting files, and ENCOURGING the download of P2P type software for ILLEGAL uses, and then crying about it, is even more lolable. I know reading is boring for the reactionaries, but why not go and research CNET, check out who they are owned by, have a look at what them, AOL, and disney have been doing for 10 years, and then consider why the editor - who also sits on the board of a massive entertainment company gives software like BIT-torrent 4 stars! The whole thing stinks to high heaven!

Piracy has and always will exist. I'm sure there are plenty of you who used to tape music off the radio! PIRATES!

The problem with this kind of legislation is that the pirates will find a way round. I read a while ago that the bittorrent are working on a new sharing system that masks IP addresses etc. and forces encryption. That's going to be impossible for the authorities to shut down if it happens, and is a perfect example of why harsh laws are a bad idea. The pirates will find ways around any blocks, site shutdowns and turn to other methods that are harder to track and shut down. And of course, right behind them will be the major criminals and paedophiles also taking advantage of the methods to hide themselves.

That can't be good.

But whatever, our politicians are being bought by the entertainment industry, and bullied by one of the most hostile nations in the world, but who cares! As long as we can tub thump with faux outrage! Who needs to be informed?

Time for a lobotomy.

Who made America the Internet police anyway?
GabiDaHun   
18 Jan 2012
News / Poland fines singer for bashing Bible [159]

When a country tells you what you can and cannot say = communism.

Actually, it's called fascism. Communism is a different kettle of fish, although one can be fascist and communist - like Stalin.

Agree with you on the rest though, stupid law is stupid, and fascism is baaad m'kay.

Having said that, worryingly, most of the world is veering towards more fascistic tendencies of late - including the gun totin' U S of A.

As you were.