Titan Castle Pub

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:07 am

@Maharlika: Oh, so your family is at the Philippines? You must miss them a lot

How long are you planning to stay in Thailand? Are they going to move over to you?

I tell you, traditional Thai food is generally VERY SPICY! Like, FLAMIN' HOT!!!

I know - when I came to Thailand, I realised the food was nothing like the Thai food you get in European restaurants - it's 1000 times more hot! I had it with a lot of rice to take off the edge. First time I bought some food at a local market, I was jumping around like crazy, trying to explain to the non-English speaking people that I was in flames and needed rice! They laughed like crazy when they understood what was wrong with me

The Ministry of Education keeps on expounding the modern method of the student-centered approach. But how is this possible when you got a humongous class size?

Student-centred approach in a class with 300 students? That's ridiculous. You and the other teachers can work until you drop dead in coronary heart disease, you will never be able to make up for a system lacking in those basic aspects. Learning and education methodology IMO demands smaller groups to be optimal - otherwise the teacher will always have to give a "regression to mean" teaching, the "one size fits none" concept if you understand what I mean.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:09 am

CE: Well, I might try to sneak into work this weekend for a bit, but I was thinking specifically about the pile of lumber in my backyard from the shed I tore down. I need to get it cleaned up and see how much can be salvaged for a new shed. That will be my main task this weekend.

Things are going fine for me, I actually seem to be meeting some of my deadlines at work these days. I'm looking forward to reduced stress for a few weeks now that the fieldwork for my big project is done.

I assume you keep your universe folded so that it fits in your pocket? I've always wanted to do that, but my universe never folds up along the lines. It ends up looking like a road map that someone couldn't fold back up!

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:10 am

Originally posted by Maharlika:
As for me, working on weekends is more as a therapy and keeps me from getting homesick.

Though a few drinking binges is definitely something I do to "calm my nerves."

I don't drink alcohol, I get soooo sick by it. I used to work a lot on weekends a few years ago, but I have reduced it since I met my present husband. When we met, he lived in the US and worked in Africa, South America and Asia, so then we both worked a lot during weekends to make time for vacations when we could meet!

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:16 am

Good night everyone!

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:22 am

@Gwally: Ah, house & garden work

Isn't it great to relax with some manual, non-intellectual work sometimes?

I love that. I live in a flat, and I don't care at all for interior house work, but I often go to my parents summer house and help them out with simple outdoor work like cleaning the roof, chopping woods etc.

Great that you have been meeting your deadlines

After this big project, you should certainly take some time to relax, be with your family and enjoy life

My universe fits nicely in my pockets. It never unfolds as I think it will, but usually it unfolds satisfactory

Not as messy as road maps, I hate maps

Hiking maps are even worse, they are equally impossible to fold back, and you have to struggle with doing it in gale force and fog

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:25 am

Originally posted by C Elegans:
Hiking maps are even worse, they are equally impossible to fold back, and you have to struggle with doing it in gale force and fog

Been there, done that, enjoyed it.

Me? Strange? No way...

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:29 am

Originally posted by C Elegans:
@Maharlika: Oh, so your family is at the Philippines? You must miss them a lot. How long are you planning to stay in Thailand? Are they going to move over to you?

Missing them is an understatement. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep.

My wife and son are coming in August. We plan to stay here for about three years --- hopefully enough time to finish my MA. Besides, I do not want my son to study here since I want him to grow up and study in an English-speaking environment. Armed with my MA, I can get back home and land myself a well-compensated teaching job. Yes, I just LOVE teaching.

I tell you, traditional Thai food is generally VERY SPICY! Like, FLAMIN' HOT

I know - when I came to Thailand, I realised the food was nothing like the Thai food you get in European restaurants - it's 1000 times more hot! I had it with a lot of rice to take off the edge. First time I bought some food at a local market, I was jumping around like crazy, trying to explain to the non-English speaking people that I was in flames and needed rice! They laughed like crazy when they understood what was wrong with me

LOL

RICE?

Not water?

The Ministry of Education keeps on expounding the modern method of the student-centered approach. But how is this possible when you got a humongous class size?

Student-centred approach in a class with 300 students? That's ridiculous. You and the other teachers can work until you drop dead in coronary heart disease, you will never be able to make up for a system lacking in those basic aspects. Learning and education methodology IMO demands smaller groups to be optimal - otherwise the teacher will always have to give a "regression to mean" teaching, the "one size fits none" concept if you understand what I mean.[/QB][/QUOTE]

Erm... actually 350 kids for 7 classes = 50 per class. *embarrassed at the misunderstanding* But, yes, it IS still ridiculous.

Yeah... I do understand what you mean. My American friend who teaches Kindergarten to Primary 3 kids ends up being an "entertainer" for only 30 minutes a session. More often than not he gets mobbed by the kidlets and gets his shirt untucked by them, not to mention attempts on doing Tarzan on his dangling necktie.

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:37 am

@Gwally: Goodnight, dude!

@CE and SS: I'll call this a time out. It's 2.30pm here and I just missed lunch. No thanks to my work here, but thank God I got you guys for company anyways.

Take care dudettes, probably catch you later.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:39 am

posted by Marharlika:
 Missing them is an understatement. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep. My wife and son are coming in August. We plan to stay here for about three years --- hopefully enough time to finish my MA. Besides, I do not want my son to study here since I want him to grow up and study in an English-speaking environment. Armed with my MA, I can get back home and land myself a well-compensated teaching job. Yes, I just LOVE teaching.

That's horrible

They must miss you equally much

Good that they plan to move over to you. It's still a long time to August though - I hope you will be able to see them before that?

RICE?
Not water?

Yes, rice. You should never try to relief hot spices with water or any liquid - it just gets worse and can even cause burn damage in your throat and mouth. Rice or bread is the way to go.

Erm... actually 350 kids for 7 classes = 50 per class. *embarrassed at the misunderstanding* But, yes, it IS still ridiculous.

Whoops, sorry for the misunderstanding

But as you say, 50 is still far too much for any efficient learning. There will be no space for individual adaption at all. IMO half the size of classes would be enough.

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:41 am

Originally posted by Maharlika:
@CE and SS: I'll call this a time out. It's 2.30pm here and I just missed lunch. No thanks to my work here, but thank God I got you guys for company anyways.

Take care dudettes, probably catch you later.

Cya.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 12:42 am

Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
Good night everyone!

Goodnight Gwally!

@Marharlika: Have a good lunch - see you later

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Mon Dec 03, 2001 5:12 pm

*wakes up after falling asleep at the bar*

*yawns then grabs a bottle of Dr Pepper and starts chatting with ChibiUsa, waiting for other SYMers to show up*

nael · Post by **nael** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 12:50 am

any spammers out there? i've been gone for quite some time now gettign ready for my big move to pittsburgh. but here i am, ready to spam...any takers?

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 9:20 am

Hello Nael, how's things?

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 10:09 am

Guinness please. And one to sit on the bar for my friend, Darkpoet.

Cheers. It'll be hear waiting for you mate.

Mr Snow · Post by **Mr Snow** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 5:05 pm

Yes, a toast to Darkpoet, Here here!

Recoba · Post by **Recoba** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 12:20 pm

Hi All, hows it going? Anyone else here?

McBane · Post by **McBane** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 12:42 pm

Hi Recoba, How have you been?

Recoba · Post by **Recoba** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 12:45 pm

@McBane - Pretty good - bit tired - but just unwinding after work. Watching buffy the vampire slayer as well as surfing

McBane · Post by **McBane** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 12:53 pm

I have never gotten into Buffy. She looks great, I just never seem to actually watch the show.

Have a pint for me, as I am still stuck here at work.