the id, the ego, & the single misfiring brain cell - Latest Comments on teaching summer academics

Peachy [Visitor] in response to: teaching summer academics

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 20:38:19 +0000

Kudos to you Diana! Always keep in mind that you’re not just sharpening their grammar and thinking skills, you’re molding their characters as well. I hope they’ve learned to give their all in whatever they do because everything they do has ramifications and reflects on them.

As for Don–I hope he was playing Devil’s Advocate. I really do. But, somehow I doubt it.

admin [Member] in response to: teaching summer academics

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 03:26:33 +0000

Incidentally,

Yesterday was the last day. All of my students got their act together. Lowest grade: C-. Highest, A-. A couple told me on their way out of the class that they’d learned a great deal about writing in a mere three weeks AND that they’d spent far more sleepless nights in the last three weeks than they had the entire last (spring) semester.

yessssssss

Aunt Bann [Visitor] in response to: teaching summer academics

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 02:28:50 +0000

Diana, you are a TEACHER!!! You have my highest regard, not only as my niece, but as a teacher who CARES and who HELPS her students! My hat is off to you!!!

Roberta [Visitor] in response to: teaching summer academics

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:30:39 +0000

In my two previous AF jobs it was my responsibility to edit the writing of allegedly educated officers. Obviously, you were not their English instructor. I thank you and my red pens thank you.

Hinermad [Visitor] in response to: teaching summer academics

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:31:45 +0000

Diana,

When you said “the implication is that they are simply incapable,” my first thought was “no, they haven’t been held accountable.” Then I saw you’d beat me to the idea. Great minds think alike. but some do it faster than others.

My experience is very similar to Ric’s. Many engineers I’ve worked with had atrocious writing, and it seems to have gotten worse over the past 30 years. But again, I think it’s because they don’t have an incentive to write well. We’ve gotten good at figuring out what’s being said in spite of the poor writing.

Dave

Ric [Visitor] in response to: teaching summer academics

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:52:29 +0000

Speaking as a science/engineering guy, I applaud your efforts to teach the cadets how to read and write effectively. These young men and women will be leaders one day, and it is imperative that they can communicate ideas, orders, etc.

As I read through various technical documents, I am amazed at the spelling and grammar mistakes I find on a regular basis.

What I didn’t learn in English classes in school, I picked up from you and others online.