flash Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 i have just found out that at school our new english teacher is an american. how ironic is that, we are learning english but being taught by an emerican, they dont even spell and pronounce all the same words as us. the worst part is that we get downmarked for 'spelling mistakes' such as colour instead of color. i just think that you should be taught english by someone from england with the right qualifications. if you were german and lived in germany they wouldnt expect to be taught german by a brit or a frenchman.im not trying to be racist it is just what i think. and what i have written is only my opinion and nothing to do with the site. rant over :yp: cheers flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 Sorry Flash, but you'll find that there are many very clever Americans about. The schools interest is in finding the best academic available to fill the postion. (no offence but i'm sure your teacher is far more qualified than you) I don't think they should be marking you down for the color/colour issue. I say tomato you say tamato etc etc. You'll have to get use to it if you want to go to uni, i don't have a single english lecturer which doesn't surprise me as some of the stuff is mind bogglingly difficult. :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il cacciatore Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 There are immigrants that probably have a better grasp of the English language that me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted May 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 im not saying americans are stupid(bush dicluded), nor am i saying that she is stupid, im just saying my opinion cheers flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 Agreed Flash! that goes for anything.. you should only be tought by somone who knows what they are teaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 I'm sure punctuation and the use of capitals is the same in America, hopefully you'll learn somthing P. If only I could type :yp: P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il cacciatore Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 I'm sure punctuation and the use of capitals is the same in America, hopefully you'll learn somthing :yp: :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerman Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 i don't think flash is suggesting there aren't intelligent americans, and in a way i too can sympathise with his feelings about an american teaching english what with differences in spelling, but the fact is that we desperately need more teachers in this country especially in english and maths, so there's not a lot you can do. plus i'm sure she's up to the job. just my thoughts, :yp: BM p.s poacher, my philosophy lecturer is italian with a really strong accent, that can be a bit tricky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 My english teacher from school was a german she got loads of stick i can tell ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 i find it hard to beleive an american teacher running/teaching to an English sylibus would intentionaly mark you wrong for a spelling mistake such as you've indicated, if in your position i would query the mistake with said teacher before making a judgement, obviously there are differences in pronounciations and spelling, i find the same problem here in Canada, there are those who use the " English" spelling and those who use the "North American" , here's where it gets fun, i live with a teacher who struggles daily to instill the art of speech and spelling into the "next generation" of student, the level of ability is sadly falling where as the school system will allow children to phoneticaly spell the words and mark them right where is the sence, now i also have a very good friend "Canadian" living in "England" teaching English (just south of the thames,near southwark ), she was last here in april this year disscussing the same issue with my girl, this where students are "allowed" to - but not "encouraged" to make mistakes, the feeling that they can be corrected at a later date :yp: , i think personaly overall the standards to which we strive or hope to maintain are falling across the board, not only in schools but industry as well, how many of you see the lack of skilled workers in your area, the noticable decline in hands on manufacturing manpower, the fewer people being apprenticed into a skilled trade, all i see kids today want is top dollar for little work, no dirty jobs, all clean office stuff, 9-5 no weekends 6 weeks off paid hols ,,,,,,,,,,, wouldnt we all eh just my opinion Flash :yp: Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 American is the world standard scientific language, not english. Get used to it flash, they are taking over Ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 That just about sums it up . Flash, if you are be robbed of marks down to a difference in spelling then you should stand up and be counted. Approach the teacher and / or the department head. It is as you say 'ironic' for an american to be teaching english, but if she is educated enough to do so, I don't see a problem with it. Things have changed alot since I went to school (no comments gentlemen) as I compare it to my daughters schooling. For instance, I would never have got away with can't or won't but I find not only do my children read this in books, but they are actually encouraged to write this too. I have made feelings clear to the school who appologised and said I "wasn't" the only one to complain. This said my children are getting a fantastic education and although things have changed I "can not" help think that they make better progress because of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 In my day it was 'cannot' Grammar School Boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Looking at the standards of educational prowess that are churned out of our comprehensive system now! perhaps an influx of different nationality teachers is long overdue? cheers KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Luckily we live in one of the few counties in England that still has State Grammar Schools, and we are in catchment for 3 of the best, BUT it is **** or bust, if you don't pass the comprensives are dire. So every kid who's parents give a damn is privately tutored to get through the 11+ and into decent FREE education. It is all very competative, but I must say my son's education is as good as, if not better than, private - so I for one, am not complaining at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Stuart, as you know i'm from Bucks and the schooling was great up to the point where I had to sit the 11+. Unfortunately I didn't make the grade and had to settle with Stoke Mandeville secondary and that is where the problem started. As I had attended Middle School the final year overlapped with the first year of secondary. The result is that I attended my first year at Stoke in the 2nd year. Because of this I was treated like an absolute idiot, as all teachings were based on the second year. This was particularly tough with French and German as the pupils I sat with had already had a whole year of the basics and I was left to pick up the peices. Suffice to say, to this day I can barely speak 1-10 in either language. So while the system may work if you get to grammar, kids are well and truly scuppered if they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 I know what you are saying Axe, it is do or die in terms of education. The 'streaming' thing works well if you are in the top 7%, but not so well for the rest, my son would not survive in those comps as his is far too easily distracted (as was I) but in his school, which is one of the best, he is joint top in the class, and a straight 1A student in some subjects - so being totally selfish, it works really well for us/him - but I do see the bigger picture I am just very glad we are not part of it. If he had failed his 11+ Mrs stuartp says we would have sold up and moved house, so I can sympathise with anyone in that situation as well BUT loads of people do very well for themsleves without a decent education, or any qualifications, so there is also an arguement that is doesn't even matter that much anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Don't get me wrong Stuart, I don't regret my schooling, nor do I have a bug bear with those that succeed. Its just a shame that the same system is allowed to fail people, particularly children at an age when they have no real understanding of how the 11+ will actually affect thier future lives. As for me well it mattered little as my family up rooted and moved to Brighton 3 months in to my move to Stoke Mandeville and thats whole different kettle of fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 if i had a penny for everytime is was called an idiot :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted May 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 same here george. cheers flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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