Guardian video debate on whether schools should ban slang

An interesting 5 minute debate on whether schools should ban street slang, debaters are Lindsay Johns, a writer who mentors young people in London, and writer and professor of children's literature Michael Rosen on:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2013/dec/09/should-schools-ban-slang-video-debate

Teaching in Thailand - May 2014 onwards

The following request was received on the 18th November 2014:

　
Experience Teaching Abroad Ltd, www.experienceteachingabroad.com UK Company Registered in England & Wales, Company No. 06877086 Registered Office Address: 13 A John Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3JF Phone: 0208 1 333 885, Email: info@experienceteachingabroad.com

　
Experience Teaching Abroad Ltd. are looking for enthusiastic English teachers who are available for the new semester starting in May 2014!

The Job

Teaching jobs pay 30,000 Thai Baht. You will be required to teach conversational English to Thai students in secondary school. Teaching is usually done through using songs and games to encourage learning English as being fun and engaging. Teaching hours are 25 per week (50 minutes classes).

We have positions available all over Thailand and we suggest to apply as early as possible in order to secure your favourite locations – please note that locations on the beach or on islands are rarely!

Benefits
 Salary of 30000 THB per month
 Visa assistance
 Work permit
 Accommodation assistance
 Bank account
 3 sick days per semester

Requirements

 Native English speaker
 Bachelor degree holder
 TEFL certificate OR experience teaching English (at least four months) OR both

The new semester will start on the 15th May 2014. Please note that you have to be open-minded and flexible towards the location.

How to Apply

Please send your CV/ resume and a smiley picture to jobs@experienceteachingabroad.com
Once successful on this stage we will set up a short skype chat with you.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email info@experienceteachingabroad.com or telephone +44 (0) 208 1 333 885.

Adapted from the article: Speaking it in the family

by Harriet Powney in The Guardian, 19th July 2013

Familects – home dialects in which words are given private meanings – reveal that everyone has a creative and playful linguistic story

Hearing a couple I know ask each other to pass the "splinkers" – their word for sweeteners – reminded me of the English Project's collection of family slang, Kitchen Table Lingo, the blurb of which asks: "Does it sometimes seem like your family speaks its own language? Whether it's a slip of the tongue that becomes a permanent part of the family vernacular or a word invented when all others fail, Kitchen Table Lingo is part of what makes our language so rich and creative. After all, what other language has 57 words for the TV remote control?"

David Crystal, who wrote the book's afterword, expanded on what he described as these dialects of the home, or familects, in his blog: "The book has collected a fascinating group of the private and personal word-creations that are found in every household and in every social group, but which never get into the dictionary ... Everyone has been a word-coiner at some time or other – if not around the kitchen table, then in the garden, bedroom, office, or pub. The words in this book are the tip of an unexplored linguistic iceberg."

If, as is often suggested, the use of jargon confirms its speakers' insider status, I suspect family words serve a similar function. Unlike jargon, however, family words are usually playful, creating both a sense of belonging and somewhere to let your hair down. Although that doesn't mean serious territorial issues aren't at stake. A friend reported how his girlfriend's use of his best friend's nickname for him, in front of the friend, was met with a chilly silence broken only by the rustle of passing tumbleweed.

Although family words are often funny, they're also shorthand for moments from a shared past and as such carry an emotional resonance. In another friend's house "Geoffrey's" means it's time to get ready for dinner. It's a long story that I won't recount, but it's known to most branches of his wife's family and helps keep alive the memory of an uncle who's no longer with them. Indeed, relationships often involve learning each other's family shorthand and creating a new, joint one. I still remember the jolt I felt, after a long relationship ended, when I went to use one of "our" words to someone new but realised it had been emptied of meaning.

In a process known as relexicalisation, kitchen table lingo generally uses the same grammar as English but a different vocabulary, the creation of which falls into clear categories. Children's coinings are one of the most popular – a friend's family still use "foo foos" (her brother's word for shoes) and everyone in my family understands "bontoo" (my brother's word for broken).  Other categories include malapropisms or mispronunciations ("desecrated coconut", "Neolopitan ice-cream") or particularly boring objects, which brings us back to those 57 words for the remote control ("hoofa doofa", "doojie" or "pogger" are just three). Then there are things that are difficult to define or lack a word. I can't imagine how I managed before I adopted a friend's "poggle" (a verb or a noun) for any remnants of lunch that remain stuck to your jumper.

When I asked friends for examples for this post, I was impressed by how many they came up with and loved hearing the stories behind them. If, for David Crystal, familects confirm his belief that everyone has a linguistic story to tell, then they also illustrate how playful, creative and emotional that linguistic story, and our relationship with language, can be.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2013/jul/19/mind-your-language-family-slang  (Accessed 18^th November 2013)

 

 

 

Liverpool - Summer 2013 teaching young learners

Young Learner Residential Summer School Vacancies

Now recruiting EFL Teachers

The Liverpool School of English is seeking to recruit enthusiastic and reliable EFL teachers for their Young Learner Summer Schools to be held this summer at various venues across the UK.

The General English classes will have a maximum of 15 students and students will be placed in groups on arrival according to their level of English. The lessons will be communicative and designed to develop all four skills, with a focus on speaking and listening.

The classes will be both task-based and content-based, allowing the students to personalise the topic and themes of the day and to prepare for the afternoon and weekend excursions.

All classrooms are well-equipped and teachers will use videos, webquests and power point to ensure lessons are creative and dynamic.

Teachers will also be expected to participate in the afternoon and evening activities on a rota basis.

With many years’ experience, The Liverpool School of English knows what makes the perfect summer school programme – academic excellence, an exciting cultural, social and sports programme and exceptional pastoral care. Our Young Learner Residential Summer Schools are tailored to suit overseas students who are aged 13-17 and run between June and August.

We run these courses in Liverpool, Chester, Salford and the South-East. Each venue provides both staff and students with excellent premises and facilities where we offer accommodation, meals and sports activities.

Person Specification

Essential

·         CELTA or CertTESOL qualified or equivalent

·         IT literate

·         Proficiency in time management

·         Adaptable and hard-working

·         Excellent communication skills

·         Native speaker fluency required

Desirable

·         Degree qualified or equivalent

·         Residential, young learner experience

·         Teaching experience

·         Interest in sports, drama and/or music

·         Experience and/or an interest in working with single and mixed nationality groups

·         The Liverpool School of English is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. We are British Council and Independent Schools Inspectorate accredited. A CRB/DBS check will be requested in the event of a successful application.

Salary & Benefits

·         £350 per week

·         Accommodation and meals

·         Excellent facilities and resources

·         A full staff induction and well established operating procedures with personalised staff support

Applications

Please send your application form, CV and lesson plan to lauraowens@lse.uk.net . The first round of interviews will be between 25-28 February, the second round between the 11-15 March and the third round between the 8-12 April.

Please let us know when you are available for interview and whether you require a Skype interview or you can attend in person.

Further information

For an application form and lesson plan template please see our recruitment page: http://www.lse.uk.net/about/recruitment.aspx

Japan - Agency

Jobs in Japan for qualified CELTA teachers:

If you are looking for a great first job we might be able to help. UIC Teachers recruits for a well-established school in Japan. We send teachers there all year round and are always pleased to hear from teachers thinking of starting out in a country that is great fun to work in and and rewarding as well. The school offers excellent pay and conditions and gives good support to their teachers.

If you have any questions about finding a job you are more than welcome to get in touch with us.

UIC Teachers info@uicteachers.com

Our mailing address is: UIC Teachers UIC, Language House 76-78 Mortimer Street London, London W1W 7SA United Kingdom Add us to your address book

Grammar and punctuation quiz in the Guardian

There is a short quiz on grammar and punctuation in the Guardian, you can access it on the following link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/teacher-blog/quiz/2013/feb/04/grammar-punctuation-quiz-test