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Post by Nate M on Aug 27, 2004 2:16:26 GMT 7
So a couple days after I had inquired with my school as to what textbooks we'd be using for the school year, I recieved a call last night from the deputy director of the college I'll be teaching in at the Civil Aviation University, (the College of Cabin Attendants, and no, I'm not making this up!). She wanted to ask me which books I recommended using, as (and here's the ironic part), I'm the most experienced teacher they'll have! (I guess that TEFL Course and 4 months of Substitute Teaching really helped out!).
She said that while they have textbooks for the class, they aren't really up-to-date, and she recommended that I buy some here in the states that she would reimburse me for. I don't really think I have time to do that before I leave on Saturday, and so I'll probably have to get them once I'm in China. I think I've heard people here recommend New Interchange before, any other suggestions? Given that it's a flight attendant's school, maybe I should just steal the pamphlets they always leave in the pouches on the seat in front of you when I fly over here and use those to make lessons.
Also, any good places near Beijing or Tianjin to buy teacher's books? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 27, 2004 3:04:34 GMT 7
I think you're going to be hard pressed to beat New Interchange for an off-the-shelf book that's widely available in China. Students should have access to the audio materials that can be bought where the books are sold. Easier to recommend books to stay away from....Modern English, of course, and the dread New Concept English (aka 'No Concept English'). No Concept is big here and much loved by school owners...allegedly because the publisher pays kickbacks to school owners who specify it. As I mentioned on your site, feelings are mixed about Side By Side...pretty sound structurally but not terribly exciting or relevant.
There's an enormous multi-story Foreign Languages Bookstore on one of the walking streets in central Beijing that had a pretty good stock of teacher's materials. Unfortunately I've long since forgotten the name of the street, but it shouldn't be hard to find. Sadly, unlike Shanghai's big WaiWen they only had a really miserable stock of English-language reading materials.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Aug 27, 2004 7:44:39 GMT 7
Nate, if the students at the College of Cabin Attendants look like the attendants we had on Korean Air, you are in for a good year. Oh, I forgot, you have a girlfriend, don't you? No harm in looking, though.
Be grateful that your new school recognizes you as an experienced teacher. Being only window dressing can be rough on the psyche.
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Lager
SuperBarfly!
Posts: 1,081
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Post by Lager on Aug 27, 2004 11:13:41 GMT 7
The best is if you can get to a bookstore before leaving..Think they might have mentioned this SOONER eh?
A couple of things that MIGHT work. Credit cards are getting more common here and maybe they-or you-can go through Amazon....My last co-worker ordered stuff with his Bank of China card and had it pretty quickly...
Getting a printer can help. My 1st school now supply these (after I left.) You can even buy one . I think a no-frills one is quite cheap but I'm not positive.
By the way they sound like good people you will be dealing with....There are some here that care....
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Post by con's fly is open on Aug 27, 2004 22:05:53 GMT 7
Let me get this this straight: you're teaching stewardesses?
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Post by Nate M on Aug 27, 2004 22:22:07 GMT 7
Cabin Attendants, my man... Cabin Attendants... ;D
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 27, 2004 22:46:55 GMT 7
So, he gets paid to teach a bunch of Chinese girls, specially chosen for their youth, beauty, grace, and health, and specifically trained to attend to one's every need. What's the big deal? (You BASTARD! )
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Post by Nate M on Aug 27, 2004 22:57:41 GMT 7
So, he gets paid to teach a bunch of Chinese girls, specially chosen for their youth, beauty, grace, and health, and specifically trained to attend to one's every need. What's the big deal? (You BASTARD! ) Well, in fairness to me, I already have a girlfriend. Thus, such a teaching assignment may amount to torture, although I'll have to read up a bit more on the Geneva Conventions to be sure.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 27, 2004 23:20:29 GMT 7
A girlfriend very, VERY far away, whom you will not see for a year. Ohhh, those nights get SO lonely and long for a foreigner here. And those Stews are SO sweet and SO friendly, and they like foreigners SO much, especially when the foreigners look like a big German "bratterpitter" weenie thing. I think we should start a betting pool.
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Post by con's fly is open on Aug 27, 2004 23:30:00 GMT 7
192 days.
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Post by Nate M on Aug 27, 2004 23:39:37 GMT 7
Hey y'all, have a little faith! If high school has taught me anything, it's that I have an innate ability to endure long periods of time without sex.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 28, 2004 0:39:18 GMT 7
Nate, I admire you for this and would like to encourage you. Personally, I think you shouldn't so much as lay a finger upon these sweet, trusting, nubile young stewardesses. You should stay true to your girlfriend, and force these girls to go somewhere else to try and stem their seething, insatiable lusts. Shanghai would be great for this.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Aug 28, 2004 7:20:08 GMT 7
On our Air Canada flight from Toronto to San Francisco we had a balding guy with gray hair to serve us our meal and drinks. And the female flight attendants were NOT in their 20s, or maybe even their 30s. Bet Nate won't have any students like that here.
Not knowing either Nate or his girlfriend, or anything about their relationship, nor understanding the insatiable urge some of you guys have, my money is on Nate remaining faithful. He seems like a fine, upstanding young man, in spite of hanging out here at the bar with the reprobates.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Aug 28, 2004 8:31:57 GMT 7
And the man is a professional experienced teacher, no way would he use his position of authority to take advantage of young impressionable, anxious to please, students who are desirious of good marks. Back off you bad guys and respect his integrity, professionalism and innate survival sense if not his rampant hormones!
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Post by Hamish on Aug 28, 2004 10:07:50 GMT 7
Hey y'all, have a little faith! If high school has taught me anything, it's that I have an innate ability to endure long periods of time without sex. Reminds me of what an old Oregon cowboy told me around a fire one night during my rutting season. "Sonny," he said to me,"pooing is more important than sex. If'in you don't think so, try going a month without pooing."
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Post by Steiner on Aug 28, 2004 10:39:18 GMT 7
I believe it was Mark Twain who said something to the effect that fornication is one of life's most overrated pleasures, while defecation is one of the most underrated. There's an enormous multi-story Foreign Languages Bookstore on one of the walking streets in central Beijing that had a pretty good stock of teacher's materials. Unfortunately I've long since forgotten the name of the street, but it shouldn't be hard to find. It's WangFuJing.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 28, 2004 11:39:52 GMT 7
That's the street! Thanks, Stein, for the refresher. Mark Twain was a wonderful writer and a great wit, but not always right. I agree with his second premise but not his first. As for Nathaniel, just because we think he can do something he wants to do doesn't mean we can't tease him mercilessly, does it?
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Post by con's fly is open on Aug 28, 2004 22:40:57 GMT 7
And since when is bitter, lonely, frustrated envy, channelled into rancorous teasing, considered in bad taste? I'm calling my union.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Aug 29, 2004 1:56:24 GMT 7
Bloody blokes. We women have the reputation of gods police or whores. Not fair!!
Sorry - one too many pijiu or one too many gin and tonics!
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Aug 29, 2004 8:13:24 GMT 7
In this land of young things ogling all the foreign people! I give him 18 days 11 hours 4 minutes and 34 seconds.
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Post by con's fly is open on Aug 29, 2004 11:55:04 GMT 7
Bloody blokes. We women have the reputation of gods police or whores. Not fair!! Sorry - one too many pijiu or one too many gin and tonics! Bu shi, madam: We think of every one of you as goddesses, police AND whores.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Aug 29, 2004 20:17:32 GMT 7
yeah - but I'm always in the wrong mode at the wrong time.
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Post by Nate M on Aug 29, 2004 23:27:29 GMT 7
Well, my flight got here at 8:50 PM, and it's 12:33 right now. Start your pocket watches, ladies and gents!
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 29, 2004 23:44:10 GMT 7
Nate, welcome back to China. Hope it's an amazing journey! Ooooh, an omnipotent hooker in a police uniform. I'm tingling....I'm tingling....
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Post by con's fly is open on Aug 30, 2004 0:17:51 GMT 7
Yes, welcome to the Meddle Kingdom! Keep your eyes open, your hide thick and your patience thicker. Discreetly spy the pretty women, firmly dismiss the hawkers and hustlers, smile at all the children, try a hundred different dishes, wash your hands at every opportunity, don't show weakness when negotiating, see loud, gorilla-like posturing from the menfolk for what it is, don't buy anything in a small shop before you've seen the prices in the big shops first, and never carry your passport or green book where it could fall victim to a pickpocket. Did I mention washing your hands at every opportunity?
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