Aw shucks, turnip brain, y'all just hurt me to the core.

Never the less, my linguistically challenged friend, though I do enjoy the repartee so very much, the truth would shock you right out of your false perceptions; therefore, I will allow you to wallow in your own muck a bit longer before setting the record straight for you. I will give you a clue though. I am a specialist and those specialized skills I possess are appreciated and I am well paid for having done the necessary work to achieve those skills. No, I don't consider myself overly bright - just motivated enough to study and learn. And pardon the digression, but that's one of the things that irritate me the most about so many "teachers" I've met in China; they rarely show an inclination to improve their skills as teachers, and while not doing so are full of complaints about the Chinese side of the education system. Go figger. (Don't hurt yourself trying to figure out "go figger" - it's an Americanism and since you hate us Americans, I'm loathe to explain it to you.)

As has been noted recently in this forum, the Fish must have really damaged your psyche by besting you on so many occasions. However, you should let the past go and try to move on. No need to lump us all together in your hate for Americans just because he exposed you as the fool you so often appear to be. Oh, and you best be careful about attacking Americans. BAB, in his "New York state of mind" may not take so kindly to you labeling us Americans as big mouthed, ignorant fools. He will, of course agree with you that I fall into that category, but I won't lose any more sleep over his comments than I will yours.

It's too bad that you can't read English a little better. If so, you would have realized that I made a clear distinction between teachers of Oral English and teachers of writing for college level English as a Foreign Language students. Also, you seem to believe that just anyone could teach writing in such an environment. What a far flung notion that is, especially in light of the fact that you don't even consider yourself qualified to teach kindergarten. Actually, and please don't consider this a compliment, I'd say that you're more capable of teaching writing than many of the native speakers I've seen in this forum.

As usual, Turnip, you want to put all the blame on the Chinese side for hiring pretend teachers rather than recognize that said teachers should shoulder at least half the blame. What right minded individual would pass themselves off as a teacher and potentially do more harm than good? Sure, in some instances, a person's innate abilities allows him to move seamlessly into such a position and they will actually perform adequately or even do an exemplary job; however, you know as well as I that this is very rarely the case in China. Therefore, your faith in pretend teachers is far from justified and you only argue the point for the sake of argument and for no other reason.

Finally:
I don't deserve any credit for turning the other cheek as my tongue is always in it.
Flannery O'Connor (American writer 1925-1964)

Sincerely:
Jerome, aka riddlemethis, aka who cares, aka James McCallister, aka casual observer, and aka several others over the past few years that I've forgotten about but that may pop up unsolicited at any time as I deal with my multiple personalities. Hell, I may even call myself Eve one of these days. However, I'm not USMC, nor am I Fish, though I'm honored that you thought so. Moreover, I may be a little skitzed out but at least I never have a conversation with myself - as far as I know anyway.

(And, as I've said before, call me anything you want, just don't call me late to dinner)

P.S. As my father used to say, "people have more fun than anybody!"