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TOPIC: ESL expression: I have to get this off my chest
#552
ESL expression: I have to get this off my chest 1 Month, 3 Weeks ago Karma: 1
ESL expressions
To get something off your chest means to talk about something that has been bothering you.
To put something to paper means to write about something.
Not a big deal means not a serious problem or issue.

ESL vocabulary:
Pet hate: Something that you really don’t like.
Glaringly: Obviously

Culture note: My post today is related to a very important cultural difference between Western speaking countries and Japan. It is about studying English with private English teachers.
I have been thinking about this for a long time now. It wasn’t until some other teachers mentioned it that I decided to put it to paper. Most people think that the Japanese are very polite. I don’t disagree with this, but I have found times when this is glaringly not true. I am going to write about one such thing today.
I guess over the past 6 years since I began teaching in Japan, today’s topic has become my pet hate. So you must be wondering what am I talking about? What is my pet hate? My pet hate is students who suddenly disappear; Students who stop taking lessons, but never bother to tell their teacher. You don’t think this is a big deal? Think again, because it is very impolite.
As a teacher, I become fond of my students whether I like it or not, so when a student suddenly disappears I think, are they ok? Are they sick? Are they dead? Imagine a friend of yours suddenly went missing, what would you think? This is not too dissimilar to what a teacher might think of a missing student.
So the question is, why would you stop and not tell the teacher? Are you afraid to hurt the teacher’s feelings? Are you lazy? Or did you just forget? In Australia, it would be considered cowardice.
A Japanese friend told me, “Don’t worry about it, it’s normal in Japan.” That may be true, but it doesn’t make it any less rude to me. I am not Japanese and culturally for a Westerner this is extremely rude. There is no good reason for stopping without telling. It is not hard to say that you will stop taking lessons. As a student you have a duty to do this, if you cannot then don’t study privately.
Teachers understand that students aren’t going to study forever, so stopping isn’t a problem as long as you tell your teacher you will stop. Just let your teacher know! Make excuses if you need to, but just let your teacher know.
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
anthony
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Last Edit: 2010/01/20 11:24 By anthony.
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#598
Re: ESL expression: I have to get this off my chest 3 Days, 10 Hours ago Karma: 39
I would like to get something off my chest here today.

I am actually at work now. So let me tell you about my pet hates/peeves at work.

There are some guys near my desk. One of them often hums or sings to himself, I think, when he starts concentrating on something. If you do that in your room or in the shower, that's totally acceptable. But come on! You are at work. People are around you and they can hear you!

Another guy is the one who always makes weird noises out of his mouth or nose. Probably it is a "leftover" symptom from a cold or something but please go to see the ear, nose, throat doctor! And stop make me irritated!

I've had it with those people at work! But more or less I've had it with the current situation. 'cause I am not busy at work lately and I have almost nothing to do. I pretend to do something at the pc like this. But I know the busiest month "April" is approaching, so I deserve to be not busy right now and do what I want at work!!!
mariko
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Last Edit: 2010/03/11 09:24 By mariko.
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#601
Re: ESL expression: I have to get this off my chest 3 Days, 2 Hours ago Karma: 1
I'm glad that you could get that off your chest!

I've edited your English a little. I have assumed that you wrote this as if you were saying it, so I haven't edited 'cause. Please compare this to the original.

There are some guys who sit near my desk at work. One of them often hums or sings to himself, I think he does this whenever he starts concentrating on something.

Another guy always makes weird noises out of his mouth or nose. It is probably a "leftover" symptom from a cold or something but please go to see the ear, nose, throat doctor! Stop making me irritated!

I've had it with these people! More or less I've had it with the current situation. 'cause lately I am not busy at work and I have almost nothing to do. I pretend to do something at the pc like this. But I know the busiest month "April" is approaching, so I deserve to not be busy right now and to be able to do whatever I want at work!!!

Great effort! I really liked finding out about your job!
anthony
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Last Edit: 2010/03/11 17:39 By anthony.
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#603
Re: ESL expression: I have to get this off my chest 2 Days, 23 Hours ago Karma: 39
Cheers! Now you understand how bored I am at work. Pathetic, huh?
mariko
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Last Edit: 2010/03/11 21:07 By mariko.
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