Category Archives: TEACHING

It’s not all for dummies

A letter to any listener

A letter to any listener

Hi there

How are you? How’s tricks? How’s the family, or not? How now brown cow! Any news? Well, apart from the usual nonsense…

[Blah blah blah]

Anyway, as for the teaching regulations I seem to have avoided their web for another while and am still in the white as far as invoicing goes but it’s becoming more and more difficult. If the companies are spooked then rather than jump through the legal hoops they’ll just jump ship. As far back as 2011 there was a change in the law which meant that companies to whom I issued invoices had to cover my health insurance payments. A funny thing about it was that in some cases this seemed not to be true, while others, believing the initial rumours, wanted instead to pay me in black. Two years on the companies that stayed with me have had no trouble so whatever shadow had passed over in those dark ’11s had dissipated…only to loom much larger as of Sept 1st this year…when, indeed, the law stated much more specifically that people of my disposition, the idiots-for-honesty, were most definitely dis-entitled to issue invoices with the trademark “nyelvoktatás” code. Instead in a frantic scramble for legitimacy another existing code was sought out and came in the guise of “egyéb oktatás”. That there is a clear distinction between the two is obvious in the way of spelling, and may even be supported semantically, but to say that what I actually do has gone from being “language” teaching to “other” rings of something sinister. I see myself in a coutroom some time down the line pleading innocence in the light of allegations of some newly contrived perversion as distinguished by an ever-enlightening-ruling-elite (the word government ringing too much of communist ideologies by that time). That my case will hinge on the ominous term “other education” will certainly be my downfall and as I am dragged away by my oppressors I will rage loudly and invoke the honest Hungarians now resident in Slovakia (and other Trianon treated regions) who at once in a darker past woke one morning to find themselves strangers in a strange land, and note that in my own demise I may take heart that I am not alone. A man made criminal, a man made foreigner, in my case to the profession that I once purported to be be qualified to do.

For now I do bid you adieu.

Martin of the Magyars

©TheHairyTeacher2013

The Library

As of February this year I will be starting up a library section as part of my service and students are free to choose from a list which I will publish online and which I will then deliver to them at our next meeting. The books will include, mainly, fiction but there are also some course books and grammar books which I will be pleased to offer. A comprehensive list will follow shortly.

Thanks

Martin

Skype Lessons


Skype lessons are an essential part of the service I provide as they allow for the busy student to keep in contact with the target language within the comfort of his own home, or office, at a time that is suitable, and without the need to be presentable!

What does a Skype lesson consist of?

Well a Skype lesson is usually 30-45 mins due to the demand on students but some students do opt for the full hour.

Students are given the option of a video or audio call depending on what key area of their language skills they wish to develop, e.g. phone English.

Students will be expected to maintain a conversation during the allotted time and where requested Skype conversations can also be recorded by both parties for further individual review. The text messaging box can also be used during the lesson as a means to clarifying spoken errors, spelling, or as a means to providing quick links to relevant webpages etc. Skype keeps a record of all these messages so again they can be used as a good reference for later study.

Feedback

Firstly, why is feedback essential?

Well, basically because it gives me the service provider the chance to see what does and does not work for particular students and to improve upon my standards all the time. No business, or business model, is successful if it fails to cater for its customers, and whereas a relatively new concept may gain initial popularity only time will tell the real story. As the Budapest English Teacher I not only offer a language learning service but also a fully adaptable model of business for a wide range of students with a wide range of tastes. And because people’s tastes are changing all the time so too, I believe, must any successful business! So please, as much as possible help me to develop further and always for the better.

 

For you, the student.

  1. Did you like the class, course, excursion? Why/ why not?
  2. What would you change about it, if anything?
  3. Would you take part in another course in the future? Why/why not
  4. Would you be interested in taking part in another course, or activity, provided by the BET? Why/why not?
  5. Would you recommend the BET to a friend? Why/why not?
  6. Was the price to service ratio acceptable? Why/ why not?
  7. How did you find out about the BET?

 

 

Excursions

Rocky shore
Come with me

 

As part of the service provided by the Budapest English Teacher half-day/day trips will be organised for the more active, and willing, students.

These will take many forms but will include hiking, cycling, sight-seeing, and all within the framework of an English language experience.

Each location will be discussed beforehand and the activities will be formulated based upon the provision of the area, eg in Pilis hiking will be optimum whereas in Kopaszi Gát anything from canoeing to frisbee could be “on the cards”.

On the cards

An example then of a typical day would include:

8.30 am Meeting at a centrally located fixed point.

9am Departing either by bus, train, tram, bicycle, on foot or whatever…even the river is not to be ruled out, especially now that BKV have provided the river boat service.

10am* Arrival at destination of our choice. * This will vary depending on destination.

10.30am As a group we will take part in activities and during this time only English will be allowed. Advanced students who would like to act as group “invigilator” will get a price discount!!!

12.30pm Lunchtime

1-1.30pm This will either be the end of the end of the excursion and the returning time (half-day trip) or the start of the afternoon activities.

4pm This will be the end of activities and time to return home.

 

All students will be provided with a feedback sheet or if they wish they can go online at:

http://thehairyteacher.com/?p=1107

All feedback is welcome and will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

 

The Italian Retail Story

Overview:

Why does the author use present simple and continuous alternately in this first paragraph?

Why does he use the word  „continue” in its simple form?

Why is „growing” in the last sentence continuous?

Vocab1: remarkably  flagship stores   notably    nerstone      stock piling

 

Retailer demand:

Explain the choice of Present Perfect Simple in the first paragraph.

Vocab2: to let    lack   empirical   counterfeits

 

Supply:

What is the grammar structure in the first sentence?

Vocab3: u-turn    tight     discrepancies

Rental movements:

„As observed in Spain” By whom? What?

Vocab4:   tourist flows    heterogeneity (My Site)     broad     uplift

 

Investment market:

Tactical Asset Allocation Strategy? Huh?

Vocab5: lease      oriented      dampen     pace     yields      conversely     regime     allocate

 

Outlook Summary:

Rewrite in your own words, and in no more than 50(!) what is being said here.

Vocab: virtuous     enhance      spurred     in the wake of       hike       dissipation       stagnation       stance       pivotal       curbing

 

PDF file available on request!!!

Advertising and gender roles

My Site

In what way does this advertisement reverse the perceived male/female stereotypes?

Explore the themes of adoration and degradation in terms of this ad?

What is the difference between a sex symbol and a status symbol?

On the idea of brains or beauty which would you prefer to have? Or have in your partner?

Does confidence outweigh intelligence in business, in everything for that matter?

 

  1. What do they always do?
  2. Why does he feel used?
  3. Does he always want to do what they want?
  4. What would he like to do sometimes?
  5. „Women are pigs.” Discuss.

Put these expressions in sentences: to take advantage/to feel used/ to be seen as/cosy

My Site

  1. Before watching the video make a list of the stereotypes/ characteristics most often associated with women and men.
  2. Watch/ listen to the video and try to list as many of the personality traits/ stereotypes as possible that you hear.
  3. Compare your first list and that of the video. Did they differ greatly, or not? Why? Why not?
  4. Below are a list of some of the words used in the video. Which would you usually associate with which sex?

Promiscuous   Determined   Feminine   Permissive   Dominant   Hot-headed   Sensitivity   Timid   Hegemony   Nurturer

Apathy   chaste   forsaker   intolerant   hesitant   subservience   easy-going   brave   masculine  minor

 

 

 

 

 

Intensive course advertisement

Finally, this is, what lots of you were asking for – Intensive 2 day English course with Native Teacher

This a chance for you to:

• Learn to communicate at the most effective level.

• Learn to think (and dream) in English.

• Never be afraid to use all the English that you know. The biggest mistake you can make is to not speak.

• Be more comfortable in groups of English speakers, either native or non-native.

• Be able to understand the English language in a variety of contexts.

• Be able to understand English in different media, for example newspaper, radio, TV, internet etc.

• Never be afraid of your pronunciation again!

Remember that the best to way improve is to constantly use your English so get a head start here with my intensive courses.

Grammar will feature on the course but will not dominate. Speaking communication is a priority!

Homework activities will focus on class work and will be a requirement (where applicable).

The four skills of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking will be dealt with capably on these courses.

You will be required to use English at all times as this helps to create a truly intensive English experience.

You will have a 4 hour morning intensive class each day which will include aspects of grammar, vocabulary building, listening and speaking.

There will also be a 2 hour afternoon session which will be a more activity based lesson with students being able to avail of roleplay, debates, etc, all centred on the communicative method.

There will be a 1 hour lunch break between the morning and the afternoon sessions.

These courses will take place in a City Centre location in Budapest* (and other cities where applicable).

All course locations will be within walking distance of main public transport locations.

As I already give very competitive prices on individual courses I would like to extend this philosophy into my group intensive.

 

The breakdown is as follows:

Per hour intensive (morning) – 2000 HUF

Per hour intensive (afternoon) – 1500 HUF

Early bookings get a 10% discount.

Group intensives in my experience helps students to see exactly where they stand in terms of their general capability in a target language. Being in an environment in an intensive language structure always pushes a student that little bit further in order to keep up with the pace of the class.

Whereas group classes are level based as a teacher it is my job to make sure that each student, regardless of learning speed, will get the full benefit from these courses.

Group size: 8 – 12 students maximum!!!

*As this particular course (18-19 August) is in Budapest it is going to be much cheaper!

http://thehairyteacher.com/?p=613

A ‘road’ by any other name

Pitypang utca…on 29 bus line

Why this street in particular caught my attention has nothing to do with what’s nearby, not even that a famous writer took up residence here (if there was one I’d like to know), but that to an English speaker’s eye the actual street name could, in certain circles, and for reasons of mere hilarity, take on a whole other significance.

You see in English both the words ‘pity’ and ‘pang’ exist and to put it briefly they, in concert, would seem to suggest a physical discomfort caused by a rush of sorrow for somebody. What, if anything could this mean? Come with me!

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pity

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pang

In fact, placing these two words together in English can make a lot of sense and where a person is particularly sensitive this could even be considered a physical, emotional, or on a greater scale, a psychological condition. A pitypang could cause a physical manifestation with a display of fresh tears, not unlike women (me never! just dust in my eye) weeping to every romantic comedy ever made. The emotional reaching deeper could put one’s spirit off tilt for a period of time, one to an immeasurable number of days, not unlike…! However, the final disposition, itself entering the realm of madness could make certain people a lot of money even if the final prognosis is no more enlightening than it was some thousands of dollars, pounds, euros (remember them?) before.

We can of course have pangs of hunger, pangs of guilt and maybe having pangs of hunger on a medium income can cause pangs of guilt when we realise that we are, regardless of our immediate state, a lot better off than 90% of the world.

Anyway on a bus one evening coming home from work, looking up from my book, the sun nearly in my eyes, I managed to glimpse this sign and from that moment this moment ensued. “And that has made all the difference.”

P.S. Pitypang is the Hungarian word for Dandelion…by the way

Back to top