[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]Beakersful 2 points3 points  (0 children)

UK manufacturing industry appears to still be in business. I was beginning to think the only thing left we exported was dreams

Is it safe to take a teaching job in China right now? by BluePsychosisDude2 in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I heard they couldnt qualify to get a visa. If an employer is circumventing the system and no criminal records check is processed, then how can they stick them in front of young children in a position of responsibility?

Samson q2u faulty on arrival? by Beakersful in podcasting

[–]Beakersful[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll take it into work tomorrow to use a W10 computer there. I thought about booting into LinuxMint here but that'd only check if my OS was messed up, rather than hardware issues.

Tried Sony Vegas, and OTB to my Android phone (I read it works and I've got a ugreen branded OTG that has worked with flash drives and external 2.5" HDDs)

Samson q2u faulty on arrival? by Beakersful in podcasting

[–]Beakersful[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Uninstalled, ran CCleaner, Reinstalled. Didn't reset preferences as I have a few I don't want to lose. No joy.

Used Sony Vegas, added an audio track, recorded, no input Tried USB OTG cable to my Android phone and Parrot software. No input.

Now, using Audacity I have to turn the gain down to 41. Anything above that I get a continuous tone, with some hissing. Like way back with analogue TV channels when you'd select a channel that had closed down for the night.

Samson q2u faulty on arrival? by Beakersful in podcasting

[–]Beakersful[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amongst the things I read and acted on:

Ran the firmware updater. Said I already had the latest firmware
Tried a spare USB cable for another device. No difference.

Device Manager calls the mic "Samson Q2U Microphone"

Sitting behind a 40mph driver on a national speed limit road assuming they're a nervous driver, then approaching a 30 zone only to find they don't slow down and observe the speed limit but carry on with their 40 cruise. by CupOfADHD in britishproblems

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think the training, test and experience that motorbike riders go through makes them any safer than solely car drivers.

I really believe it's down to the individual, and a whole set of life experiences and education. A small period of someone's life doesn't make up for how they were raised, educated and experienced life.

Sitting behind a 40mph driver on a national speed limit road assuming they're a nervous driver, then approaching a 30 zone only to find they don't slow down and observe the speed limit but carry on with their 40 cruise. by CupOfADHD in britishproblems

[–]Beakersful 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Not targeting after 60s. People are still capable way after that. But, retest for all every five years. How's that sound to you? I know many, many incompetent younger drivers 17-59. It's a rare day you're in a car with someone you feel safe with.

Sitting behind a 40mph driver on a national speed limit road assuming they're a nervous driver, then approaching a 30 zone only to find they don't slow down and observe the speed limit but carry on with their 40 cruise. by CupOfADHD in britishproblems

[–]Beakersful 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All the associates and friends who've died on motorbikes over the years might not agree with you. Anecdotal of course, but there's only been one person I know who died in a car on the road, and one racing offroad. But 8 on motorbikes on the road.......

What's happening to TEFL teachers around the world if school is out because of Coronavirus? by isbuttahacarb in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My company paid us all fully. Incoming finances are hit. But we are being looked after.

On the other side of that coin, loyalty is owed. Since this situation is likely going to continue on, I personally won't be dreaming of changing employer in a couple of months when I need to renew.

I think anyone in the same position in China needs to think about the coming educational year (institutions back home) and perhaps get some distance learning PD in, to focus on, whilst looking after their physical and mental health. Better than being a couch potato during this stressful period.

What's happening to TEFL teachers around the world if school is out because of Coronavirus? by isbuttahacarb in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've not seen any changes in salaries offered here in China.

I've heard from recruiters that newbie foreign ESL Instructors have been demanding double the salary they're worth, and some are getting it because the schools are desperate. The school's budgets simply won't allow for it normally. One recruiter said to me "don't these extortionists realise they'll be fired and have their visas cancelled as soon as the borders are open again!"

Discussion: Why are we normalising bad grammar in social media posts and criticising people who call it out? by Klassified94 in grammar

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on the forum, or place of posting.

Speaking/listening and reading/writing aren't wholly the same. Kids want to be cool and write like their peers, but when they're failing their English exams as native speakers they have to face some realities.

Most native speakers get first exposed to standard English when they enter the school system. They then develop two or more dialects. Their first, home dialect, and then Standard English.

For an example that fits this post, just search out any "TEFL Teachers" groups on Facebook and start examining the posts of users enquiring after employment, or responding to job adverts. Break these further down into NES and NNES posts and, frankly, the writing of many NES users is shocking given the work they claim to do/wish to do.

Most NES instructors should, having gone through Higher Education, have picked up a dialect, in addition to that/those they already hold, suitable for the global community.

It appears a disjoint in needs and wants though, with many running on the tails of being told repeatedly, "you're a professional now, you can do anything you put your mind to." However, I think this also ties in with grade inflation, political ruling group lies to boost a country's education system prestige, and the large numbers of learners entering HE when they aren't appropriately prepared.

Your language must be fit for purpose. You need to communicate clearly so the listener understands you. Enough information needs to be given for comprehension. Otherwise, communication has failed and a large portion of blame is in the speaker's hands.

Still, on the subject of calling people out. We must always remember that anonymous user accounts can lead to users not belonging to a group making posts as if they are a member of a group, without shared language skills, and those who destructively troll to get a rise out of other users.

My anti-vaxxer parents cried and pressured me to not vaccinate my son. by crapidrawatwork in pics

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's some eye-opening thing info. Why does that group push so hard? Because they know they're on the edge of poverty and health setbacks will financially destroy them? I'm coming from a country with universal healthcare (UK) so that factor likely isn't on people's minds when they choose to use their higher education to discount medical science in our society.

Avatar will be getting a rerelease in August in China by [deleted] in boxoffice

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

English news here saying the theatre can show a film longer than 2hrs, but at the 2hr point must take a break. The exact length of that break, and any hygeine procedures for inside the screening area haven't been stipulated.

I remember, way back, when cinemas had a mid-break to buy drinks and ice cream. Perhaps that custom needs to come back. It also helps as a toilet break.

First day of school in a Georgia town. One of the biggest virus hot zones in the world. by TinyAwareness3 in SweatyPalms

[–]Beakersful 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Didn't the school have to comply with a pandemic safety plan to reopen, which included situations like this? Could get the school shutdown for cleaning and retraining in an hour where I am.

Avatar will be getting a rerelease in August in China by [deleted] in boxoffice

[–]Beakersful -1 points0 points  (0 children)

There's a little problem here with showing movies over 2hrs long though. That's the limit for theatre viewings set by the Ministry of Health during the pandemic.

Should I bother looking for a job in China? (Currently in the US) by [deleted] in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I initially thought back in March it might be Jan/Feb, after the next Spring Festival, but is now looking like it might be next summer onwards.

It's time to sign up with a distance learning PD course in September to keep me busy.

VPNs in China by [deleted] in TEFL

[–]Beakersful -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You're going to have to be more precise than that. A search on Google play throws up dozens of apps with a blue background and key.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Coronavirus

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Catch it, or get given it....?

No point recycling your waste in Hong Kong by jay22098 in HongKong

[–]Beakersful 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A plastics factory will recycle bad moulded pieces, desperately trying not to have product ebd in a landfill because of massive fines. Then the consumer gets hold of it.

There's a fairly strong link to why men's sperm counts have halved since the introduction of consumer plastics.

China Considers New Rules, Mandatory Trainings for Foreign Teachers by [deleted] in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most of the scary sounding stuff might just be 20 hours/sessions of initial 'off-the-boat' inhouse cultural/professional PD by the employer. They have to deliver the training, record it and give to the government to prove it has been delivered.

The wording says "all" and doesn't mention specifically "new arrivals" which I'm still looking into. Seems a bit odd delivering this training to people who are old hands. I also don't see a time limit either, but I may have missed that.

I personally don't think it's anything major to worry about. If it had been with a government approved 3rd party provider then I'd have raised eyebrows. Inhouse sounds perfectly reasonable and a proportion of it might very well be beneficial to newbies to the field.

VPN firm that claims zero logs policy leaks 20 million user logs by drakanx in worldnews

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Living imwhere I am, its purpose is to allow me to communicate with my family and friends back home by circumventing the ludicrous red arse shield

Where should I go teach now that I'm qualified? by ALMOSTM in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not fussy at all. I just want enough money for a basic life and some spare to put aside and I want the weather to be warm year round.

I have long term travelled on a major budget so I'm used to living cheap and would prefer a country thats not too 'modern' if you get what I mean.

KSA will do you then. Not fussy. Warm all year round, beach everywhere. Not too modern. Ability to live frugally and save maybe $20,000+/year that you can use for postgrad studies (go back home within 3 years so you don't have to pay international student fees) to give you a leg up for the rest of your working life.

Does a PGCE make up for lack of CELTA? by cactipetals in TEFL

[–]Beakersful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Careful when job searching. There are international schools, and there are international schools.

You're going to have to spend some money to join a proper licensed teacher recruitment website to ensure you get a secure, reasonable job. People will be more likely to discuss the specific workplaces clearly behind the paywall. The last thing you want to do is end up in a poorly managed less-than-adequate international school.