Education 4 - Overseas Teaching Qualifications

The other day, I received an invitation to register for an IELTS course (No doubt my address was found from a simple Internet search, regardless of my wish to become a student or not).  Having recently returned from Bangladesh, and just about to go back, I decided to investigate this course.

This is how it was described to me:

IELTS Writing Preparation Course

Certificate Course

No. of Classes/ Sessions: 13

Total Hours: 16

Days: SUN-MON-TUE of every week

Time: 5:00PM - 6:15PM

Registration Fees: Tk. 5000.00/Participant (US$61.00)
Get 5% discount by paying online

This unique course aims at developing English writing skills for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The writing section forms an important part of the exam as it judges the candidate's ability to communicate in the written form. It evaluates how well the candidate is able to structure and frame his/her thoughts and how clearly he/she is able to express his/herself. This is especially important for individuals appearing for the Academic module as their ability to write well matters a lot in their professional lives.

Candidates appearing for the Academic module are the ones who are applying for admission for higher education or for professionals who are looking to get further training in English speaking countries.

By the end of this course the participants will learn Planning of Writing, Organization of Thoughts, Quality of Arguments, Sentence Structure, and Time Management.

Now this seems well and good, but my cynicism makes me wonder which IELTS book it is copied from.  Because, out of curiosity, I asked for details of the teacher, and received the following reply (Certain details deleted to protect the innocent):

Trainer Details: MBA ...., BBA ....  He is working as an outworker in both Academic Institutions and in Local Organizations.  Former Lecturer of  ....  Worked as a HR associate at the HR Department of ....  He attained Trainee worked at “Housekeeping, Purchase, and Laundry Departments” at ... Hotel, from March 01, 2010 to May 31, 2010.  As an Intern he worked at “Customer Care and Sales Department” at ... from 12th September 2006 to 4th December 2006.  He also Participated in 2 (two) weeklong “Live in Field Experience” (LFE) Program, January 2006, conducted on 25 families at Village: ... under total supervision of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development ....

I wrote back saying that I could not send my students to this course as the Bangladeshi teacher not only had no teaching qualifications, but there is no evidence that he has an English language qualification either.  The frequently used phrase, "No experience necessary", seems to be taken too literally in this case.

This course, although well-meaning, is an example of the urgent need for foreign teachers to work in Bangladesh, but it is a very poor country, and other countries, for example, Thailand, China, or Korea, can offer much better financial incentives.  Nevertheless, the rewards for teaching in underdeveloped countries from the diligent students and grateful faculty make up for the small financial gain.

Music - Emotional Observation

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven Portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler, 1820 (Beethoven-Haus, Bonn, Germany)

Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 2 in G Minor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh1qk_kgIc0

It's an interesting observation that, when listening to some of these video recordings, where we can watch the musicians playing, and we can see their facial expressions and emotions — if the music is happily romantic or sad, it is easy for the eyes to become moist ... this also happens at live concerts (Of course,  I'm just a silly emotional person).  Does it mean that we share the emotions of sadness or happiness with the musician?

On the other hand, when the same music is accompanied only by wonderful photographic images of nature, etc., then, I find that I'm not tearful.  Does this mean that the visual images are a distraction and, thus, I'm not listening seriously enough?

Also, if I watch the musicians a second time, I'm just as emotional (if not more) whereas the natural images become a little boring.

Therefore, perhaps, we should always close our eyes.

If emotions are concealed, then, one's character is suppressed.

Food 7 - Dinner Table Etiquette

A few years ago, while in China, I wrote a series of articles for a magazine regarding European table manners which has, surprisingly, just appeared from an old cardboard box.  Knowing that some foreign students are occasionally reading this blog ... and because I would not like to lose it again, I have edited it into the following digest version.

Imagine that you have been invited to an important dinner.  When I say, ‘important’, I mean that your boss or future father-in-law will be there.

You arrive, sit down, look in front of you and ... Knives! ... No chopsticks!  But, even if you are a European you may think ... Wow, three forks, knives, spoons, and wine glasses!  And no one to explain.  Read on.

Unlike most Asian countries, Europeans order their dishes separately.  Thus, you may start by ordering a salad — usually, salads are recognizable by the main ingredient in the name.  However, one popular salad, Caesar Salad, cannot be identified by its name (unless you are from Rome) it comprises a lot of lettuce and some croutons (small pieces of toasted bread) and some bacon bits, and the vital Caesar salad dressing.  Imagine my amazement at one restaurant when I ordered Caesar Salad to be asked my preferred dressing.  With some amusement I replied, “Caesar please.”  I became speechless when the reply was, “Sorry, we don’t have that one”!

Another unforgivable error, made by many Asian Western-styled restaurants, is the serving of various dishes in random order, or not allowing time between courses.  I have often thought about refusing to even order the main course until I have finished the appetizer ... just to observe the nervous expression on their face.

Oh, three knives and forks?  It is quite easy really;  you simply select the cutlery from the outside inwards for each course.  Wait staff may add a soup spoon on the right-hand side, if that is ordered.  Similar actions may occur if you choose to have fish or steak, by substituting the standard knife with a fish or steak knife (Often, the standard knife is not removed).  Finally, when you have finished eating the dish, place the cutlery together on the plate (A signal to a trained waiter to remove the plate).

Three wine glasses?  It is true to say, these days, that serving a variety of wines with each course is unusual.  Nevertheless, I believe that the practice can be an enrichment to a formal meal.  Actually, there could be as many as four glasses.  The first glass being a water goblet, then, continuing toward the right side there could be a champagne glass (if champagne should be served), then red or white wine glasses (according to courses served) and, finally, a sherry glass.

Ice water should be served when people sit down.  The most important consideration is that the wine compliments the food ... and the palate of the people drinking it (If red wine is not to your taste, say so).  And it is always worth considering the house wine at a good restaurant.

Generally speaking, dry white wine is served chilled in round-bowled stemmed glasses with fish.  Red wine should be served at room temperature in less-rounded tulip-shaped glasses with red meats and game.  Informally, red wine could be drunk throughout the meal.

Sadly, public education on this subject is unlikely to improve until restaurants employ a professional sommelier.  For example, some people in Asia do not know the difference between liquor, liqueur and wine.  Liquor is a strong alcoholic drink that has been distilled;  for example, whiskey, vodka, rum, etc.  It is never drunk with a European meal.  Liqueur is a strong alcoholic spirit that has been sweetened and flavoured (with fruit, perhaps) and is usually drunk at the end of a meal;  for example, Corvoisier or Harveys Bristol Cream.

It is worth mentioning that the soup bowl should not be lifted from the table, and making slurping noises is not considered an acceptable tribute to the chef (because he knows that it’s good).

Chicken legs should only be picked up by the fingers at KFC (Always popular in Asia because of the bones).  Lamb chops should be eaten with a knife and fork — only if the end is covered by frilled paper may this be held in the left hand to assist cutting the meat from the bone.  Shrimps should be eaten with one bite.  Clams, oysters, or mussels, if served in the shell, may be held in the left hand and removed with a small fork, and eaten with one bite.  Sauce or gravy may be soaked up by a small piece of bread (This would be a compliment to the chef).

Finally (and this may surprise some people), at the end of a formal meal, if one prefers decaffeinated coffee, it is polite to discretely inquire first, and decline if this is not so ... rather than asking for decaffeinated coffee.

Now, back to the restaurant reviews.

Travel 6 - South East Asia (Thailand)

Firstly, I should mention that this is not meant to be a travelogue intending to entice you to visit, it is just my personal memory of an event.  Travelling to Thailand is a wonderful experience.  Secondly, unlike Bangladesh, the immigration controls were very friendly, because Canadians do not require an entry visa.    And, thirdly, although I had travelled to the country before, to the very ancient city of Chiang Mai (which is very typical of cities in this part of Asia), this time, my friend and I flew to Bangkok (the capital) and it was a tremendous surprise.  From the huge modern Suvamabhumi International Airport to a city of high-rise buildings and good roads, we instantly noticed a comparison between the unruly traffic congestion of Dhaka with the polite diligent drivers of Bangkok.

Day Time - Lumphini Park, Bangkok

Our multi-starred hotel was great, and arriving a couple of days before the international conference, we were able to look around and relax.  During the conference, I toured on my own, and my friend became almost a stranger ... but we had the evenings together, and took advantage of a river cruise to enjoy views of the many illuminated temples, etc.

Night Time - River Chao Phraya, Bangkok

Later, we stayed on for a few extra days, and flew down to the town of Hat Yai in the southern province of Songkhla, where my friend had previously taught at a university, and met some old friends (Actually, a one hour drive further south).  They had deliberately not been warned of our arrival in order to avoid great welcoming celebrations, but the abundance of joyous tears everywhere was extremely moving, and a perfect example of Thai hospitality.  Then, we had to force ourselves away on an overnight train to Bangkok.

A final evening at a Thai restaurant was mandatory, of course.

When in Thailand, Eat Thai Food ... Of Course

Then, back to the anticlimax of Bangladesh, which lasted a few more days until returning to Canada (Another anticlimax).

Early Morning Arrival - London, Ontario

Quotation - "That's quite a lovely Jackson Pollock ...."

Woody Allen

           

Allen:      That's quite a lovely Jackson Pollock [painting], isn't it?
Woman:  Yes, it is.
Allen:      What does it say to you?
Woman:  It restates the negativeness of the universe.  The hideous lonely emptiness of existence.  Nothingness.  The predicament of man forced to live in a barren, godless eternity like a tiny flame flickering in an immense void with nothing but waste, horror, and degradation, forming a useless, bleak straitjacket in a black, absurd cosmos.
Allen:      What are you doing Saturday night?
Woman:  Committing suicide.
Allen:      What about Friday night?

From; Play It Again, Sam (1972)