He went to Turkey for 51 moments.
He explored a 4,000 year old Roman city on the Black Sea. Citizens were hospitable. Strangers came and went.
He wandered to Sumela, a Greek monastery (386 A.D.) in the mountains. Murals covered fall changing colors.
It reminded him of Mesa Verde (600 A.D.) in Colorado. Cliff dwellings. Isolated. Peaceful.
He returned to Trap A Zone, photographed street life and attended an English teacher training class.
You have to complete a unit in 53 minutes, said the female administrator. Ryhmes with see you later alligator and procrastinator.
The economic fact she did not enunciate was the language school's objective:
PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE
We enroll them, take their money, give them a textbook with a fancy CD and their class time. Your job is to push them through. One class means finishing 3 units in 3 hours.
After nine weeks, presto! they complete one level, we take their money and they advance toward a higher standard of living filled with past continuous verbs, fresh tomatoes and black olives garnished with hazelnuts.
Does Hazel have nuts? To be evaluated.
A native speaker from O-Zone asked a question. Are students all the same level?
Close enough, she said. They know grammar rules like nobody's business. They lack vocabulary. They are afraid to speak. They are robotic victims of the educational system well trained to keep their mouth shut, read and memorize. You have no freedom to create fun, interesting, student-directed activities.
Just do the book. Everyone's happy, especially the accountant.
Thank you for your attention.
Share Article 
