Sat, 04 Feb 2012: Two interesting usages
Mon, 16 Jan 2012: Pentecostal, not Pentacostal
I noticed I've been spelling Pentecostal as if it were like the Pentagon, i.e. Pentacostal. I should have know better b/c the Greek word for 5 is 'pente' (pronounced 'pende' in Modern Greek), but I was glad to see the Pentagon spelled with an a (for some reason), which gives me an excuse for misspelling a word I've been using for over 50 years now.
Sun, 15 Jan 2012: Total misunderstanding
Mon, 09 Jan 2012: Review of Francis Fukuyama's The Origins of Political Order
I took all summer and and fall, after I started in the spring, to finish Francis Fukuyama's big book, The Origins of Political Order. I recommend it and found it hard to put down, but obviously did, often, and racked up quite a bit in library fines in doing so. Truly, it is well written and clear in presentation. I've debated how to write about the contents but will make this declaration up front:
The main point in Fukuyama's book is that those in a society who occupy the top ranks are driven by biology to favor their relatives (called "patrimonialism" by Fukuyama)) and that a major part of how they increase their wealth and welfare is by exempting themselves and theirs from taxation. They do this by
Sun, 08 Jan 2012: Yet another funeral and the thoughts it brings.....
Fri, 30 Dec 2011: Just a thought.......
Do teachers ever get their Curriculum Maps in late? If so, what happens to them? From my experience....... nothing.
So why do we tell students that "there is no reason to get an assignment in late"? Why do we tell them that if they get something in late "in the real world", they'll wind up sleeping under a bridge.
Fri, 30 Dec 2011: Some more about my personal language learning
Thu, 29 Dec 2011: I just want to say.....
Thu, 29 Dec 2011: Response to Wes' comment on Decoo article
Stevick crops up everywhere; he is indeed important.
My friend, Brian has encouraged me to write a blog entry with emoticons, verbal ones, such as *sigh* or "Yeah, right" or "rolling eyes". I don't see people who praise eclecticism, which is most people, as being truly eclectic. If so, then I'm truly eclectic b/c I give lectures on grammar, we practice grammar, etc. But the idea that a learner is going to take a grammar rule and use it to communicate, is nonsense. It doesn't happen in one's native language and certainly not in foreign languages. Grammar is a fascinating study in itself and that's why I teach it. But I certainly don't show students first conjugation versb and "how they work" and then expect them to use those verbs in communication.
And this, to my mind,