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I got off the plane from Barcelona at London Stansted. I opened up my phone, took out my Spanish SIM card and replaced it with my British one. I turned my phone back on. Beep beep!
Here is the SMS that welcomed me back to the United Kingdom (click on pictures to enlarge):
It says:
Our records indicate you may be entitled to £3250 for the accident you had. To apply free, reply CLAIM to this message. To opt out text STOP.
What accident? I’ve been pretty careful ever since I went off piste at Hillend and broke a finger. Why would I be entitled to compensation for my own stupidity?
Of course there is no accident to speak of. This is a random text from an unscrupulous law firm soliciting potentially lucrative legal cases. The mantra of such people is ‘someone is always responsible for your accident.’
If we wanted to use a pejorative or derogatory term for professionals like these, we would call them ambulance chasers. And although I would normally feel annoyed about an unsolicited text message of this nature, at least I’ll be able to make use of this one the next time I do the Say that grammatically lesson plan on Lessonstream. This requires teaching students about ambulance chasers and compensation culture in order for them to appreciate exactly what Marcus does for a living and why Anne Robinson gives him a hard time in this clip from the Weakest Link.
Nice one, Jamie!
great idea for a lesson about a thoroughly unpleasant bunch of people. I actually saw Anne Robinson’s demolition of that man (I watch The Weakest Link at the gym, he added in am embarrassed tone of voice), and she was brilliant, although to be fair, she’s pretty awful about people, whatever they do.
Glad to see you back blogging,
Ken
Thank you Ken
Nice to see you here!
By the way, if you are embarrassed about admitting that you watch weakest link, I am embarrassed about showing the world my old bashed mobile phone.
Jamie :)
Now, there’s a job I wouldn’t like!
Loved Marcus’ response “I just said it” when told ” You can’t say that”. Think my Ss will find this amusing and plan to use.
Reiterating Bethany’s request @burcuakyol @brad5patterson Wow. Some real star power headed to #TESOLFR please please @cheimi10 ! please please! #fingersandtoescrossed
Maybe we could even introduce “The Weakest Link” to the funtime activities and collect enough for a new mobile for JK!
Hello Julie.
I reckon that Marcus isn’t the worst ambulance chaser in the world! After using this clip a number of times in the class, I have warmed to him a bit. Let’s see what happen re. TESOL-France. Nothing’s impossible. Well, actually a lot of things are impossible but not that :-)
Jamie, I agree! I think Marcus is probably a good guy. The job is not the best and if someone has to do it, then let it be Marcus.
Will be delighted to hear if you accept Mission Not Impossibleand appear at Tesol France!
:)
Another great lesson Jamie! Too bad the semester is over, but have bookmarked it for the next one! I feel another “ba – ba -ba – ba – ba -ba” hit ;-)
Thanks for sharing!