If a person who is familiar and comfortable with the English language has trouble understanding the professor, what of the immigrants who aren't too good with their English? How do they manage to understand?
That's why I never understand the cons outweighing the pros here of hiring immigrated teachers. I understand equality of job opportunity for everyone, but you're also making it harder for non-first-language students to understand the course.
On October 13 2011 01:50 DoublespeakUS wrote: I took English Syntax in College with a professor from China.
English Syntax taught by anyone that doesn't have a traditional english accent is next to impossible.
Although comparing other languages as unintelligable is odd and insulting.
Most of the professors I had in college didn't care if you had headphones in, computers open, sleeping or not even show up for class. They understand it's your responsibility to get the information yourself.
Understanding the syntax of a particular language is not the same to being able to speak a language.
Its like saying I can't take a course on European history unless a European is teaching it.
Ha, that is not what I was saying at all. She definitely understood the rules of English syntax better than most people. I know she was extremely knowledgable about the subject.
But, trying to understand her English while also trying to comprehend the difficult concepts of English was quite a handful. In no way did I say her intellect on the subject was hindered because of her background.
To make it simple and in one sentence. Trying to learn english from a person who pronounces english in a way which is hard to comprehend is hard...
On October 13 2011 02:32 Torte de Lini wrote: If a person who is familiar and comfortable with the English language has trouble understanding the professor, what of the immigrants who aren't too good with their English? How do they manage to understand?
That's why I never understand the cons outweighing the pros here of hiring immigrated teachers. I understand equality of job opportunity for everyone, but you're also making it harder for non-first-language students to understand the course.
dilemma.
If you are learning English for the first time, what does it matter what it sounds like to you? Either way, it will sound weird and be difficult. I don't think certain accents matter because it will be the first time hearing the phonetics of the language, any first impressions of the language will sound strange. They would easily understand the accent, probably even more so than someone who knows the language but is not familiar with the accent.
On October 13 2011 02:32 Torte de Lini wrote: If a person who is familiar and comfortable with the English language has trouble understanding the professor, what of the immigrants who aren't too good with their English? How do they manage to understand?
That's why I never understand the cons outweighing the pros here of hiring immigrated teachers. I understand equality of job opportunity for everyone, but you're also making it harder for non-first-language students to understand the course.
dilemma.
If you are learning English for the first time, what does it matter what it sounds like to you? Either way, it will sound weird and be difficult. I don't think certain accents matter because it will be the first time hearing the phonetics of the language, any first impressions of the language will sound strange. They would easily understand the accent, probably even more so than someone who knows the language but is not familiar with the accent.
You aren't learning English for the first time, you have a grasp on the language, but if the words aren't being pronounced as you are accustomed to hearing it or he deviates from the expected pace of the language, then it may be confusing. You aren't going to the class to learn English, you're at university learning to get a degree in a specific field.
somewhat related: I hate it when people make fun of Americans for having an American accent when we try to speak their language... even going so far as to blame it on our nationality "dumb Americans" (French people especially are guilty of this) but when I hear a Frenchman try to speak English usually it's painful to hear. but I'm supposed to be polite and deal with it? While they continue to blabber on in what might as well be french?
I had a friend who was studying Chinese and he quit his classes because he went to Chinatown to practice his Chinese and he got laughed at everywhere :\
On topic, if you can't understand him just leave. I've kicked plenty of lectures where the professor didn't speak German and had terrible English skills. And headphones in a lecture are a no-go where I come from. Seems disrespectful towards the professor.
On October 13 2011 02:32 Torte de Lini wrote: If a person who is familiar and comfortable with the English language has trouble understanding the professor, what of the immigrants who aren't too good with their English? How do they manage to understand?
That's why I never understand the cons outweighing the pros here of hiring immigrated teachers. I understand equality of job opportunity for everyone, but you're also making it harder for non-first-language students to understand the course.
dilemma.
Some university departments *cough NYU Courant* only give a shit about the research these guys can accomplish. And the research accomplishments are a lion's share of national rankings. I can't tell you how many Russian/Asian/Middle Eastern professors I've had to struggle to understand. They know their subjects well but can't speak English worth a lick. Actually I have only had 2 American professors in my field of major that I can remember... and I'm a junior now.
On October 13 2011 03:23 Escoffier wrote: somewhat related: I hate it when people make fun of Americans for having an American accent when we try to speak their language... even going so far as to blame it on our nationality "dumb Americans" (French people especially are guilty of this) but when I hear a Frenchman try to speak English usually it's painful to hear. but I'm supposed to be polite and deal with it? While they continue to blabber on in what might as well be french?
I had a friend who was studying Chinese and he quit his classes because he went to Chinatown to practice his Chinese and he got laughed at everywhere :\
I'm currently doing uni in France, and from what i've seen most people find that foreign accents are perfectly acceptable. There are people from all over the world here, and not once have I seen someone discouraged to continue speaking French because they don't have perfect accent.
I had a math professor from Egypt. I've never heard an Arabian accent before in my life so naturally on the first day, I had a hard time understanding what he was saying. After a week, I then started to get used to it. Today, I now perfectly understand every word he's saying. I tried, and succeeded.
The "dumb American" thing is definitely a prevalent comment to be found, but it was never about how you pronounce their language, it stems from something else, a combination of things in fact - namely the attitude of a large percentage of americans-who-thinks-the-world-starts-from-california-and-ends-in-maine have on the world.
I've never understood the need to listen to perfect English all the time. On top of that, this demand for "perfect accent" seems to only come from native-English speakers who feel that English should be the only language in the world. You, of all people, native speakers, should require the less effort to understand someone speaking your language - but you just didn't bother to try hard enough.
On October 13 2011 03:23 Escoffier wrote: somewhat related: I hate it when people make fun of Americans for having an American accent when we try to speak their language... even going so far as to blame it on our nationality "dumb Americans" (French people especially are guilty of this) but when I hear a Frenchman try to speak English usually it's painful to hear. but I'm supposed to be polite and deal with it? While they continue to blabber on in what might as well be french?
I had a friend who was studying Chinese and he quit his classes because he went to Chinatown to practice his Chinese and he got laughed at everywhere :\
Way to make generalizations lol. Who are those French people you are talking about btw ?
On October 13 2011 01:19 Roffles wrote: I'm sitting in class, and my professor might as well be speaking in a language that's pretty unintelligible. All I hear is like Ching chong ling long ting tong or some similar shit. Do I try to listen or do I just walk out?
For more info, my prof is a British/Australian/Chinese guy with a fuckfest of accents mixed into his speech. Its pretty insane.
PS: I have 60 more minutes of class
Watch a bunch of Kelly Milkies vods to train your ear.
This comment didn't get enough love, so I'm showing it some
I always hated these types of professors in school. If one of the chief functions of your job is verbal communication, and you cannot speak the language properly, you should not be holding that job.
But we did have one chinese teacher who was a total boss
At the end of the first lecture he said "Does eh, eny ofa you hahve eny proohbrem with my engerish?" with an extra thick accent Then he said "nothing i can do, much rather teach you in chinese ha ha~"
Students say Ching Chong DingDong to me when they first meet me, and ask if i'm jackie chan. I would call them racist in front of the whole class and write up a referral in front of them and then laugh. And then there were some who refuse to go along, I would call up security and says need help removing racism from my class. Fun times.
On October 13 2011 01:19 Roffles wrote: I'm sitting in class, and my professor might as well be speaking in a language that's pretty unintelligible. All I hear is like Ching chong ling long ting tong or some similar shit. Do I try to listen or do I just walk out?
For more info, my prof is a British/Australian/Chinese guy with a fuckfest of accents mixed into his speech. Its pretty insane.
PS: I have 60 more minutes of class
Watch a bunch of Kelly Milkies vods to train your ear.
Valid advice. Also, Roffles I am disappoint. This blog did not really deliver.
On a more relevant note, I've had a plenty of teachers/professors with thick accents and I just found them amusing. Not like I actually paid much attention to what was being said. Yawn, stretch, whip out your phone, and play some games.
On October 13 2011 07:11 rei wrote: Students say Ching Chong DingDong to me when they first meet me, and ask if i'm jackie chan. I would call them racist in front of the whole class and write up a referral in front of them and then laugh. And then there were some who refuse to go along, I would call up security and says need help removing racism from my class. Fun times.
People like you destroy CHILDREN'S LIVES. If I want to get close to my chinese teacher, but don't know how to break the ice, then I would utter the most common chinese phrase I know. Then you remove me from class for being racist because you're too offended by something so trivial and narrow minded, and make me hate chinese people.
It's a common thing to go up to black people and be like what up my nigga, or go up to korean people and be like what up my gook or what up sibal. They can take that thing lightheartedly as a joke.
On October 13 2011 07:11 rei wrote: Students say Ching Chong DingDong to me when they first meet me, and ask if i'm jackie chan. I would call them racist in front of the whole class and write up a referral in front of them and then laugh. And then there were some who refuse to go along, I would call up security and says need help removing racism from my class. Fun times.
People like you destroy CHILDREN'S LIVES. If I want to get close to my chinese teacher, but don't know how to break the ice, then I would utter the most common chinese phrase I know. Then you remove me from class for being racist because you're too offended by something so trivial and narrow minded, and make me hate chinese people.
It's a common thing to go up to black people and be like what up my nigga, or go up to korean people and be like what up my gook or what up sibal. They can take that thing lightheartedly as a joke.
I'm not a good person, I do it for rofls, all for my own entertainment, i am not even offended by it. Other than my own entertainment I just hope the experience burn enough of a memory in them that the next time they feel like come up to a complete stranger start saying some random racist BS trying to impress his own friends they will remember what happened the last time. Because who knows some of these dumb asses would say it to, it maybe someone who is really narrow minded and put some bullets up that racist's ass.
As for you, your ignorance knows no bounds. The most common Chinese phrase you know is "ching Chong Ding Dong" ?? hahahahaha If you don't know something then please don't say anything at all, nobody would take you for a mute if you keep your mouth shut. Please do hate Chinese people, you don't need an excuse( me for example) to hate Chinese people, hate it proudly and loudly, scream Ching Chong Ding Dong in China Town, do it man do it!. hahahaha
If it's just a lecture, you can always copy the notes from someone who understood and wrote down everything. There are always such people, so if you can't understand anything, better not waste your time. Or try to listen better, dunno -.-;;