Endi
340 post s
4-Jul-2008
10:33 AM
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Warning, the links below contain rude words. Liz Regan usually produces very good worksheets at this site
but what is she doing here and here? Is this appropriate even for teaching to adults?
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TheMudge
The Real Mudge
2811 post s
5-Jul-2008
9:33 AM
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I pondered these two exercises (for a couple of minutes, which was more than they were worth), and my only reaction was bewilderment about what their point or purpose was. I can understand the value of teaching ESL/EFL students that certain words and phrases that they may commonly hear or see are offensive, but what these exercises intend to do is beyond me.
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Rich Turner (The Curmudgeon Himself)
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Endi
341 post s
5-Jul-2008
12:05 PM
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The Mudge wrote:
"I pondered these two exercises (for a couple of minutes, which was more than they were worth), and my only reaction was bewilderment about what their point or purpose was."Well, their point and purpose are clear to me - they are intended to teach swear words, the exercises are well structured (as most of her material is) and the learning outcome would be an increased understanding of the swear words of English although some of the examples given seemed a little artificial. That said, why would anyone want this as a learning outcome? A lesson like this would only serve to damage the credibility of the teacher or get the teacher fired. Also, students at the level at which it is aimed would most likely be unable to use the language skilfully enough and would doubtless cause offence at the very least were they to try to use it. It is my experience that native speakers are fairly charitable of mistakes in English from a learner until swear words are used. In any case, swear words should exist as a last resort that allow people to come to words instead of coming to blows.
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TheMudge
The Real Mudge
2813 post s
6-Jul-2008
9:23 AM
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That's exactly what I meant. I can see no point in these exercises except to teach swear words, and I can so no point in that. Therefore, logically, I see no point in these exercises.
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Rich Turner (The Curmudgeon Himself)
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Pogo
476 post s
8-Jul-2008
3:10 PM
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English speakers seem to have a different way with profanity and obscenity than most others. We use them a lot (informally) without ever meaning them literally; those who use other languages use very mild words the way we used to use euphemisms, saving the really bad ones for times they are serious. Teachers of foreign languages sometimes get things like this wrong. I remember being taught in high school German class that "Teufel!" could be used the way we used "Heck!" The word was used that way in one of the dialogues in the textbook. But when I got to college and met both Germans and folks majoring in German, I learned that "Teufel!" was not a word to be used in mixed company. Teaching students words like this can have strange results.
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Endi
347 post s
9-Aug-2008
12:10 PM
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"Teufel" means "Devil" or "the Devil" perhaps other things. "Heck" is of course a mild version of "hell" that can only be used in mildish situations ironically because it is only an invective not a noun. Compare:
Oh heck!
Oh hell!
Go to hell! I don't know how this works in German but compare also these in English: How are you, you old devil?
What the Devil do you think you are doing?
Go to the Devil! These are very much context-dependent words.
Last Edited on 9-Aug-2008 12:13 PM
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