Survey on Using Sarcasm to Teach English

As some of you might know, I am pursuing a post-grad Specialist Diploma in English Language Teaching at Singapore Polytechnic. Well, as part of the course requirements, I am to conduct a small research exercise, and I have decided to explore the possibility of designing lessons that incorporate sarcasm as a teaching tool.

As part of the research, I am conducting a survey to find out how many English language teachers are aware of using sarcasm as a teaching tool, whether they have done so, and, if they would consider using a lesson design provided to them that uses sarcasm to teach.

The survey is a 9-question MCQ one, and will take probably 30 seconds to a minute to complete. I would like to ask all those who have taught English Language at any level to attempt the survey and humbly request all of you to forward this email to others as well. The survey can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=qFacnnFfir_2f9cAocMYSasQ_3d_3d

I am aiming for about 100 responses at least but if I can get more, then it will make the data look that much more impressive. As part of the research I'll be creating sample lessons designed around the element of sarcasm, and I will share them on my blog (as well as the results of the survey, of course) for everyone and anyone to use as necessary. I sincerely believe a lesson that employs sarcasm as part of the design can be incredibly fun - for both the teacher and the students, whilst being very effective as well.

Thank you so much for the help, take care, and Happy New Year!

Another Act of Defiance? Images of Kangaroos Plastered Indiscriminately...

Gosh! It's been over a month since I last updated - I really need to be more regular than that. Also, sorry for the site being down for the last few days - apparently traffic had exceeded the monthly bandwidth limit (not necessarily a bad thing).

Anyway, I was out last Friday to have dinner with our friends and whilst parking at Suntec City, I saw something so vile and disgusting, it riveted me. With the latest decree being that images of Kangaroos are clandestine and representative of all things vulgar (evidenced by the persecutio.. err, I mean prosecution of the 3 activists recently), I was certainly appalled at the anti-establishment behaviour of the Suntec City Management.

Here they were, plastering the pillars of the carpark with images of kangaroos all over! This can only mean that they are implying that the pillars of our society are corrupt! How could this go unpunished? Especially when the 3 activists were jailed for merely illustrating their opinions.

Oh, the outrage...

I hope the authorities will shut down the Suntec City basement carpark immediately, cordon off the area and issue a cease-and-desist order on Suntec City so that they can do the morally correct thing and change all these obscene images to that of the Merlion.