by Bahman Abdulrahman
Well, I will try to avoid any confusion. Unlike, my writing “instructor”, I will try to differentiate between simple and simplicity. I adore him because he is philosophizing (this term in AUI-S means misleading and Stupidizing students) some times. He is the author of comments like “readers don’t care” and “do not study hard”.
He is a good destructive criticizer. He welcomed us first day in class by saying “I will send many of you back to EWPLI” I (Bahman) don’t want you understand as he was inelegantly saying “I don’t care if you understand” Let’s set Mr. Composition, the producer of so many Chomsky, Baxtyar Ali and well know former Malaysian Foreign Minister Kishore Mahbubani, aside for a while. Since we are blessed with studying Geometry (many say math), I would like to prove a point by using Axiom I (Euclid Book 1, P18)
Proposition XXXXII. Theorem
In a university (any university) where tutors are luxuriantly paid and teaching various subjects “carelessly”. May they all be equal?
Let’s say, R, S, and G are the given tutors. (Cont)
The American University of Iraq-Sulaimani is the given university. (Cont)
We must prove that each of R, S, and G are respectively equal. (Thesis)
Therefore, we must consider two different possibilities.
I. They may not be qual.
II. They are equal. ( R, S, and G)
First, if they are not equal. Each of the(R, S, and G) would have some wider knowledge of their topics. And they (each) would have a “Goal” and a “Method” to approach their goals. If we say they are not equal, we make a regrettable mistake. Therefore, not just they are equal; they live on three different planets where Facebook.com is not very famous.
Hence, because no straight lines can be produced from any of this three given points, they are equal. And according to Axiom I which stats “Things which are equal to the same things are equal to one another” and because,
· Each of them is teaching, at AUI-S.
· Each wakes up at 6
· They noticeably miss their “female companions”
· Students don’t know what they are talking about
Therefore, R=S=G (regardless of, age, nationality, and area of expertise) and this theorem can be expanded and applied to other instructors if you wish to. Q. E. D.
My day around AUI-S may hardly pass with a useful sentence. Ordinary days start at 8, first 50 minutes of the day is “mercifully” dedicated to Geometry. We spend minutes to solve problems like the one above. After, tough 50 minutes of Axiomizing and postualizing, we grab our bags to find a place to take a breath. Where shall we go, there is no space, students are everywhere and they shout some out of “Blessing Stupidness” some out of the fear of a “certain failure” (my English composition instructor).
People passing by insulting in Kurdish, Arabic, Persian and few adorable English “F words” I wanted to ask, why they are so rude, there must be a problem. It turns out there are “Problems” which no one could address them and tell their origins. Problems like studying math, religion and computer science all together carelessly and purposelessly. Don’t bather brother I have heard the bluetoothed answers”This is a liberal Arts university; this is how we do “Business”. But my encouraging English Composition instructor polished this answer with his artistic touch and added “If you don’t like it the door is open” I ponder, will my AUI-S fellows leave the university like the Drama Group did at the Student Party few days ago?
Second class I attend after Math is English Composition. Oh man this is awful. By now you must have an idea of my instructor. I’m not sure; whither he will send me back to EWPLI after this post or get crimson and start attacking me. I go to class doing nothing, perhaps because I don’t know anything. We spent hours on explaining what the thesis statement is, yet when it comes to writing we fail to write one. My Composition class is sort of a relaxation room, where people are quite and sometimes you hear some unintelligible words from a shadow sitting on a brown chair and hiding behind a desk. Whenever, the instructor asks us to say a word, he always end up with silence from all and clear internal anger. I guess, we are quite sanctified as we don’t have so much homework. We have a lot of time so we spent most of it repeating what we were doing in EWPLI. He sometimes gives us a piece of paper (Printed from the Internet, I started to doubt what will happen if there was not the internet!!!) to read and he will go back to read his favored novels forgetting about the class and wasting our time and investors’ money.
Let’s move on, the third section is really great. It is Western Civilization or the well known W.C. class. We do far better in this class. We don’t much like the book; we follow the instructor’s preferences. Now we all love Greeks, soon we will have some Hebrew and Greek experts. We criticize whoever his name is mentioned. Most students have enough time to sleep and relax in class. Many are complaining that this class is not intelligible and they may fail. We usually ask a question and dig the Arab desert for an answer, as soon as the class is over the desert expedition team will come back and the sleeping students wake up.
Finally, since no one speaks up, we like this stupidizing chaos. Why is this happening. According to my W.C. instructor we must be skeptical even radical skeptical. None of the answers given by radical Skeptical tutors could persuade me because I’m “Skeptical”, too. Skeptically I would like to ask few questions. Do these fellows really know what they are doing? Do they have a slandered at all? What is their goal (s), making money or making money and teaching us? Remembers I can’t be persuaded easily. I would like really hearing your answers. Or I can wait until you (plural you) leave the university and publish an article answering our question and criticizing your bosses.
29 Comments: on "A regular day at AUI-S"
Bahman, it is a nice job. The writing instructor has to apologize all of his students for what he said. If not, you guys need to speak with him What he has said to you guys is not accepable.
Second, you will be fine with every class if you take them easy. That is a good way to pass.
actually your article is so interesting, and this is what really in going on in the university. but i want to say or show my opinion about several things in your article especially the questions.
i think that since we are new students in academic program, it is hard even for the first two months to know what is happening in some classes. in my composition class i feel that i'm lost because i just don't know what is happening and probably this because we don't have much time to study all the materials, so we sometimes feel lost in the classes. i believe, however, that your instructor has a goal of doing. he knows everything so don't worry even if you got F in an essay because that will motivate you to know what the teacher wants you to do.
well done Bahman. hope he can read it
Bahman, my brother, this is a nice work. I wish you and I see our instructor speaking about this article. Hey, I am Afan. Sorry I did not know how to show my name first. I selected Anonymous
Good job kak Bahaman.the situation that you are describing here is completely true and everything that you have mentioned is applying to the majority of students and classes. your vice is our voice.
I can't say anything more than AUI-S is a kindnygarden, teachers teach whatever they like not what they are good at. kak Bahman you will be biologist,mathmatician,historian,writer, liare, I mean they teach you this last one implicitly,IT guy, business man, policitian, enginer, I don't know whatelse to say. we will be everything, and know nothing.
Dear Bahman,
I am delighted to see that you are rising to the challenge I have presented to you, though I would encourage you to go even further. Anger is a powerful and precious energy, and is of particular use to the essayist. Consider the irony of Orwell's "A Hanging" or Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and you will begin to discover the more creative possibilities of your predicament. Whether or not I am the target is of no concern to me, as long as your writing is improving.
Let us never flinch, you and I, and press on boldly in our quest for simplicity, elegance, and clarity in our work.
Best,
Richard Gray
Senior Lecturer
American University of Iraq
Mr.Gray,
you should teach studets how to love the course and work for it, not to make them hate it. you should consider that anger make people not doing the right thing. I am not your student, but I heard a lot from them about your class, I think, you should tell them how to write diffirent kinds of essays then tell them write it. I heard you have told them that you would make them a good writer, do you know that every AUI-S lecturer have been saying that since the beginning of AUI-S. The students get As, so they must be a good writer to get As, but when they go to a another lecturer, he tells them that you haven't taught how to write, so lets start from the beginnig to make you go writer. the story goes on until they gradute. I should ask you,as a lecturer, is there any consistence between the lecturers?
have a nice time, and good luck to your students. I am sure almost none of them like the class. please do somethig to turn their anger to love, do something that make them enjoy listening to you that watching their mobiles to know the time and wishing the class would end.
I really hope you all the best and wish your students be good writers.
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for taking time from your studies to join our important discussion.
As much as I wish I could comfort my students at this point, I know this would be false, and very damaging, to their growth as writers. I treat my students as adults, and believe they are able to accept a truthful assessment of their work, based on international standards, even if that may at times be unpleasant. Of course I am not "loved" for this, but my role is not to "turn anger into love" as you suggest, but to inspire students to a higher, university-level of work. If it takes some anger to fuel this goal, all the better. Rarely have I seen such potential, and such important, urgent narratives from a group of students, and I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to let their voices reach out from the page with clarity and style.
Whether they like me or not, I leave that in God's hands.
Best
Richard Gray
Senior Lecturer
it was very brave of you to speak up as you always do. and it was a great piece Bahmman.
I defy anyone could make a distinction between AUI-S and Iraqi High schools. please don't come up with the silly answer, saying WE Learn English
Hi again.
I think everyone has thier points. Both the professor and the students might be right. If you guys, "the students", think that you are right, then be responsible of what you say. Have great arguement instead of showing your sueless anger. I mean be academic students as you really are.
None should be allowed to write bad things.
Wish you luck.
What has been written here is so true. I noticed this in the classes I attend, not all of them, but the majority is like that.
OMG, If Gray is your writing instructor, you will be tought how to write a thesis for the whoe whole smes.
Somebody said he would start collecting information about his students' past and background becasue some of them did not deserve to be there. I would say his students are the ones who are getting the lowest gardes or perhaps Fs in all of the essays. He has to better his teching skills and stop talking about thesis...........
Sometimes he says, "take out a piece of paper, and write an introducton or body paragraph," because there is nothing to do, and he starts reading in front of our eys.
Dear OMG Anonymous,
Your writing is really too poor, and I think you should practice more and more. Mr. Gray is really a great professor, and I never agree with anyone accusing him by saying some lies. He has been working on our writing from zero to any point. He is the best writing professor I have seen in my life. There are many things to do in his class. The best thing he does is when he gives much time to the students to write essays and do thier work. I think he has great plans to do his job. Then after the students write thier essays, he gives the essays to the other students to check for the mistakes. He will have articles and different essays from the other students in the class, and he tells the students what is good or not in those essays. He always talks about everything in the book. He wants and tries to make the students ask any questions they have. He really gives freedom to everybody. Oh I forgot to say something else, he asks the students to give him thier thesis statements and introductions to check, in the class. If somebody is not sure about his or her thesis or introduction, he will provide him a lot. He has done the best thing in the university. If he doesn't give high grades to his students, it doesn't mean that he is not a lazy teacher. No, he is a smart one who has great ideas.
Why don't you look at his personality, man? He forgets about his life when he is in the class. The only thing he concerns about is hhis class and his students. He never wants to be a lovely one, but he always wants to be a better and more sueful one to his students. Does he angry with you when you argue with his? Does he skip your questions? Does he do something against AUI-S policy? Of course, not! So be easy and think twice.
This time, you have to ask him and speak with him to tell you exactly what writing is, brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey guy what the hell are you talk about. kaka thses Americans dont lesion to anyone! Their minds are just like iron. They think that they are always right, and thier tongues are too long. they can give you million reasons that they are right. i know them very well. Wwwwwwwwwooowwww
Dear Richard Gray,
First I appreciate your respond. Since, seemingly we are arguing, I would like to add few more comments. I am not angry and I was not angry while I was writing this article. I was drinking my special Indian tea and looking at Niki Karimi’s photo. I was logically and mentally aware of what I was writing. I believe you are angry as I can see it in your comments.
I am trying to help you. Perhaps, like my English level, your teaching method is problematic. I am not trying to assess your capability but I don’t let you under value my ability. This is my game and I have my own standards. I don’t want to challenge you in any form, and you have never presented anything, in my point of view worth challenging. You must bear me saying few facts. Regardless of the Fs I get, I will continue writing and I am sure I will not witness any enhancement in your class. You will not make me hate writing but surly you will lead many to detest writing. I am, as many out there, don’t want to be “writers” as we have to learn to assess fairly before becoming a writer.
I would like to ask you my dear Sir. What is the difference between the EWPLI writing classes and the once you guys are teaching? To what extend do you imagine your students’ writing skills will “improve”? While your students are required to “write simply” would you expect any improvement by the end of this semester? A gain, liberal arts institution produce witless skeptical but I am already one of those who can be persuaded easily. If you wanted to answer me come up with logical and “truthful” answers.
Mr. Gray, I am not an American and its normal to have “few” grammatical mistakes. I don’t think you can help through throwing contradictory comments at my face. Instructors as graders must be fair, the thing that most of you I see lacking. If you want me find to you grammatical mistakes I can find you endless mistakes even in the NY Times. Am I the first one who is making such sins? Can you give me any example of your grammatical corrections?
I believe it is not fair to ask while there is not much in your bag to give to the students. I don’t care how many more Fs you will give me, but, proudly, I do teach myself. I know that Bahman is constantly making mistake (language relating once) and he is trying to overcome it by his own. What I am experiencing now is not “predicament” and if I was into label my class, I would have far better names.
Finally, I am not angry of my last failed essay, and I will prove it in my upcoming one. I am eagerly waiting to read the result of your “research” I would like to remind you that you said “I have started a research to find out who you are people and who let you to come here, because many of you do not belong to the academy. Since you are not loved because of your shard inputs, I would love to discuss the result of your inquiry, soon. And we may sort out this mass entirely.
Mr. Richard Gray is a really good professor. he knows what the students need. it is evident that the students' standards are low in writing because we don't practice. When I was in Mr. Gray's class, i did not like to attend his classes, and I thought that the class was so bored. After a while, I really started to love his class. at first I did not like him because he does not laugh with students which is something relates to his personality and his personality taught me how to stay focusing in the class and write down every point he mentioned in the class because they were so important to improve our writing's value. even thought i was not his best students which was i wanted to be, i learned many important things in writing and how to be improved. Mr. Gray is a really good person because you can always go to his office and ask him about the materials that you do not understand. as a result, you guys should look at yourself more and see because the problem is within you.
wow, paw, your writing is really im proved. I love M. for you.....
Well done Bahman, you have done a great job mentioning the history class as a place for relaxation. I call it the bedroom class because all the students fall asleep during this class. I am really bored with the history class or I can say the philosophy class. Indeed it is a philosophy class since Mr. Bryan Smith is really interested in philosophy. When in class, I never feel that I am in a history class, on the contrary, it is a perfect philosophy class. All questions that are asked by Mr. Smith have a philosophical form and are not easy to answer. During the class, I look at my watch every minute hoping the class to finish as soon as possible, and this applies to all the students not only me. I hope Mr. Bryan to consider this.
Whilst reading the writing itself and comments, we observe some sort of prejudice and intolerance. Persons are vehemently chastised, and I see no constructive criticism. When we want put somebody down and, we have got to bear constructive in mind, constructive criticism. As I mentioned earlier, there are two kinds of criticism, constructive and un-constructive criticism. Dejectedly, I see no constructive criticism, and there are hidden agendas and obscured grounds at the back every word. When we criticize somebody, we have to be in a healthy relationship with them and have no disapproval and feeling of rejection.
Bahman, I see a smidgen of exaggeration and embellishment in your writing. As objectionable as it may be, we all notice and even know a kind of detestation and hatred towards every instructor. When it comes to teaching, every instructor (professors) has their own vulnerabilities and flaws.
There has to be postulate 5 in order to prove your hypothesis sine we can’t do so without the postulates. When we try to prove that in step five, we realize that there is no life science, but we have to study though. In the last step, we find out that Dr. HEMN LATIF outsmarts very single instructor in the university.
Bahman, the next time you choose to debate with an English Composition instructor, you might want to check up on your English composition.
Bahman (and all three of your supporters),
It's hard where to begin. You insult Rick Gray, even putting "instructor" in quotes. He responds supportively and professionally. The response is more personal insults.
Where does this spoiled sense of entitlement come from? Is it because you have survived war and oppression, and you think every outsider should get down on their knees and just pass you? There are scores of students in countries who have seen just as much blood and trajedy as you. Our faculty has taught them, from the Ukrainians to the Sudanese, and right now, those students are beating you. They're beating you because they're working while you slander and whine. They're working right now while you play dress-up revolutionary in a way that shames your truly revolutionary parents.
Anger might be an energizing force, but it will never get you where you need to go. You need to read more, write more, and put the two together. Someday, if you graduate, your insults toward a sincere, hardworking instructor will be a cold comfort. When you can't do business with foreign investors, when your disastrous English letters are never returned, when you can't get an article published in any respected journal, by all means keep personally insulting your teachers. See how much that helps. Most students here will never be in that position because they work. But you're just too brilliant to be one of them.
Dear Anonymous, the last one,
I really enjoyed your comment. While I know you are not one of my fellow “too brilliant” students, I modestly want to know you more than an Anonymous. I am not ashamed of my past, and I really feel blessed that I am from a revolutionary family. I don’t want to talk about past, but let me give my opinion on what you have just posted.
Don’t hesitate it’s not that hard rebuffing me, you are on the right track. I respect your devaluation and really wish to see more from you. I want to know where you got all this motivating ideas. I am really into arguing with you for you are one of the in quote instructors. Since you are asking “where” this “spoiled sense of entitlement” come from, I would say it comes from discomfort and unfairness. It has nothing to do with past wars, as you are suggesting. I don’t care where my in quote instructors are from, as I do respect them as Humans. And, I asses, If you may, them with their barely existing measurements. Meanwhile, your “Our faculty” must work harder to stop my “dressed- up” revolutionary temptations.
Thanks for your suggestion, I was not angry and I know where I am heading to. I admit that I am a good “loser”, may be more than my in quote instructors. I do read like ten hours a day, I wrote and got published for in “respected journals”, as well. I did not launch any personal attacks, yet I believe you don’t want me to write my in class “instructor” lethal attacks, mostly personal and misleading. Your last statement needs real examination. Who are the “working students? Why I am one of them? Why you launch covered “simple” insults on me? What is my position” why even you insult me at the expense of “Rick Gray”? Then I am not the one who is insulting. Let me give you a hint here. Would you call an “instructor” a “sincere hard working” one, while he dedicate 50 minutes of class “time” to insult “his” “too brilliant” students
I hope you “bless” me with your corrections. And here is my E-address, as you may feel ashamed to be more than an “Anonymous” here.
Bahman2008@hotmail.com
who are the 3 supporters of Bahman??? we should know them, because seem too bad.
Bahman your writing is so bad, why have you permission from this blog? Come to Ewpli please, welcome!
"I do read like ten hours a day, I wrote and got published for in 'respected journals,' as well."
HAHAHAHA Oh Bahman. What are the names of those journals? Writebad.com? Blamebook?
hhaaaaa, he was grading our papers in class, that is really shameful and interesting............
A university student using "shameful and interesting" is shameful and not interesting.
You all have a great taqat bo nwsiny aw shta be manayana. So, pleas zip your dam and study.
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