Adult ESL teacher fired for explaining how NOT to swear.

[elbales]

ESL Teacher Fired -- Holy S***

An ESL teacher from San Anselmo was dismissed after translating obscene language, according to the Marin Independent Journal. The saga all started when Tamalpais Adult School students asked Jack Liberman for a lesson on words that might not go over well after, say, missing a putt on the 15th green.

German student Brigitte Brockmann told the Journal:

Whenever I am playing golf, if I make a bad shot I always would yell 'sh--!'" Jack had to tell me that I can't say 'sh--,' that I have to say 'shoot' instead.

And for this they fired him? Jesus. I've taught a lesson like that myself. Shame on TAS for not backing their teacher.
 

Comments

[akk]

And now the court has to define what is appropriate conduct:
a) not translating cussing and insisting on "cussing in your mother's tongue, because the other assholes "Arschlöcher" then don't get what you're saying (and of course, what happens if they do understand and whether you ought to obtain written agreement first) or
b) translating the cussing in a strict "not to do" context, so people might know when they are being offended / act offensive in an English-only context (I'm sure "b" is out of the question, because it actually makes sense to me.) and
c) define what is cussing in the first place. Do both parties have to understand what is said (see "a")? What about words that have a neutral (or even good) meaning in one language and is offensive in the other? What... *g*

But frankly, I can't see myself remember to say "shoot" instead of plain German "Sch...", when something heavy drops on my foot. But I sure as h-- well, prefer to know when I might have to apologize for it. So: Go, teacher! :)

[elbales]

Word. With a slice of word pie on the side. The whole thing is just so distasteful.