Thread: What is wrong with these...

My daughter came home this evening upset because she got low marks for her English homework (P6)and was confused by the teacher's correct answers. It was a reading exercise on pets. The 3 that she got wrong are below.

What are the most common pets?

My daughter's answer:
Dogs, cats and parrots are the most common pets.

Teacher's correct answer:
The most common pets are dogs, cats and parrots.

Do you think cockroaches are pets?

Daughter:
No, because they are dirty pets.

Teacher:
No, I don't think so.

Give examples of unusual pets.

Daughter:

Alligators, snakes and mice are unusual pets.

Teacher:

They are alligators, snakes and mice.


For the second one, 'dirty pets' should have been 'dirty insects' or just plain 'dirty', but the teacher stating that the only correct answer in the negative is 'No, I don't think so' and totally disregarding my daughter's attempt is a disgrace.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why these answers are wrong?

Her answers are certainly not wrong, in the second question she should have put "No, I don't think so because they are dirty" as the question was asking for an opinion.

I prefer her answer to the teachers in the third question as I don't quite understand who "they" are.

If they were marked as completely wrong then the teacher is an idiot

Teacher's a wanker

All marked wrong, I'm afraid.


Oh, BTW I know the title should be "what are wrong" not "what is wrong" but I'm on my 3rd longneck... maybe the teacher was on her 3rd beer as well...

Now let's guess if the teacher is Falang, Thai, or Filipino.

Originally Posted by NickA

I don't quite understand who "they" are.

unusual pets

I feel rather sorry for your kid.

No matter what the nationality of the 'teacher', he/she/it is not very good.

She's at a fee paying school and it's the best in the province (apparently). I'm actually barred (by the family) from accosting the teachers anymore.

The teacher is actually a native speaking Westerner and an institution at the school.

My daughter's in her last year there then off to BKK.

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

I'm actually barred (by the family) from accosting the teachers anymore.

Accosting would be justified in this case, never mind the family

I'm writing a strongly worded letter as we drink...

I really can't go there anymore because I have lost it with some of the teachers before and it's backfired on my kid.

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

Oh, BTW I know the title should be "what are wrong" not "what is wrong"

shit. i liked the way you said it.

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

it's backfired on my kid.

Oh, explains the anal attitude of her teacher then for this test.

Still a wanker.

I'm going to play Devil's advocate.

I think the answers are good - so please don't bash me - but if they are wrong, they are wrong. I am assuming the answers are grammatcally incorrect & this is what she was marked down for? I, personally, don't see much wrong with them. If this is the case then the teacher has only done what's right. If it is a top school & such you would expect students to give top answers, wouldn't you? Not answers that are nearly right.

I wouldn't go writing to the school over this unless I have assumed wrong. If the teacher is a strict bastard who only accepts top-of-the-range answers then this, in the long run, can only benefit your daughter, who will be minded to give the 'right' answers next time to achieve that top mark & will undoubtably end up a lot smarter than most of us here.

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

Alligators, snakes and mice are unusual pets.

so, what is the grammatical error here?

You misunderstood me. I said I'm assuming the answers are grammatically incorrect. I wouldn't know if they were or not.

I would say

Q1 Both answers are equally correct

Q2 The teacher is right

Q3 Your daughter is right.

With regard to question 2 -

IMO it's a simple yes/no question, therefore a simple yes or no would suffice at the bare minimum, although as NickA stated, adding 'I don't think so', rounds it off as an opinion. However, is there not an implied 'why?' or 'why not?' in the question? Surely the teacher should be encouraging her students to give more information rather than penalizing them!

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

Oh, BTW I know the title should be "what are wrong" not "what is wrong" but I'm on my 3rd longneck... maybe the teacher was on her 3rd beer as well...

Nope. You were correct with the title, too.

^
This is why there shouldn't be a teacher forum - satart tink too mut if english good or english no good

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

satart tink too mut if english good or english no good

Excellent Thai impression. I'm...uh...impressed.

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

They are alligators, snakes and mice.

I would be asking the teacher to explain this answer. Although it is not wrong grammatically, it is not the way a native speaker would answer. I would put a bet that the native speaking teacher did not mark this homework, it was probably marked by a Thai assistant.

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

This is why there shouldn't be a teacher forum

Just one of many reasons...

Originally Posted by NickA

I would be asking the teacher to explain this answer. Although it is not wrong grammatically, it is not the way a native speaker would answer. I would put a bet that the native speaking teacher did not mark this homework, it was probably marked by a Thai assistant.

I want to answer, but t*e aitc# button on my keyboard is fukked.

anyway, I agree, tai assistant probably ad a marking ting to follow and tougt tere was only one correct answer.

^
These answers are from the horses mouth. No assistants involved. The teacher wrote her 'correct' answers in my daughter's book.

I'd march straight in there tomorrow with a big stick and brass knuckles.

Unless your little pretty was traumatized by the poor score, water off a duck's back. Explain to her that you think the teacher might be wrong and encourage her to do her best.

End of bout.