Job Discussion Forums

[LongShiKong]

I've worked with many Chinese teachers over the years and have even hired them. But what bugs me is when Chinese management hires them on a first come, first served basis as if they prefer someone not too bright or whose English isn't very good. Such is the case where I am now. The school doesn't even properly train them--they're simply handed manuals and told they'll be tested on the contents--so typically Chinese. Needless to say, there's quite a turnaround as they make so little, and yet are far more responsible for the class than I am.

But my real question is how well do you work with them? Do you sideline them altogether or have them up at the front with you co-teaching? Are they bright enough to know when to interject with a translated explanation or instruction or do you have to 'wake them up'? Are they proactive enough to know what to do during pair practice activities or do you have to give them explicit instructions? Do you go over your lesson plan with them prior to class or is everything you do as novel for them as it is for the students? Do they offer suggestions and how receptive are you to these?

[Brian Hugh]

What I found as a result of working in teaching universities is that there is an over supply of English teachers. I have taught thousands in classrooms sometimes of 100 students. Many have very low level English. So a few times when I have been teaching children they sit and watch me and talk while I am working. After the class they critize what I have done. They criticize in Chinese because their English is not so good. I don't mind this but I find it very rude to talk during my teaching. I have also found that there is this type of teacher who is well liked because she holds the little girls hands while the boys are going crazy in the back of the class. You must remember that the Chinese education system is teacher centered and for me anyway, classes are student centered.
Your right the boss has no idea about the quality of the teacher and usually hires anyone. The boss knows they won't be around long and another will show. I sat with bosses while they hired the beautiful girl over the boy with good English. When asked why they would say because, she came from the better university.

[GeminiTiger]

The last three FAOs I have worked with all came from families with uncles and fathers already working in the University. How is that for qualifications?

[Denim-Maniac]

I've never worked with a Chinese TA - so just consider this a bump on your thread LSK!

I read this thread and was thinking quite a lot about the TA scenario though, hence posting. I dont think I would ever accept a job that included a Chinese TA, and if I did accept that type of position, my personal approach would be to maintain extremely tight control over any input he/she gave, and appropriate timing for said input.

I tend to do a mental walk-through of all my lessons, I tend to be very clear in my head on patterns of interaction, and exactly how each lesson stage will work. Sometimes this is written down in a plan, normally it is something that I kinda daydream about, making sure it's right in my head before I enter the class.

If I had a Chinese TA, I imagine that a 60 minute class would probably need a 30-45 minute walk-through with the TA, ensuring they understood what I was doing and toed the line!

I dont think that type of job would be a good fit for me somehow!

[Lobster]

I just treat them like any other student.

RED

[twilothunder]

Only worked with four.

Two were fine - great, in fact. The students were more scared of them than they were of me (or their parents)! Did a job of providing the stick while I could concentrate on using the carrot method of motivating, so to speak.

One was appalling. Always used to f*** up my photocopies. Used to show up before my classes and still be addressing the students in Chinese as I entered the room. I could speak more Chinese than she could speak English. Complained about her, the powers that be must have thought she was useless as well, she got moved to a non-academic role.

One was largely useless but pleasant to have around (even used to make me milk tea) so I cut her a lot of slack.

[LongShiKong]

[Denim-Maniac]

LSK - for my walk-through, Id be giving strict instructions. 'At this stage, you can sit at the back of the class and remain silent. At stage II you can monitor and note mistakes which must be passed to me without speaking to students. At stage III you can speak to individual students and translate specific TL if required' etc etc etc.

Like I said...probably not suitable for me really. If I had a TA translating things I didnt want translated, or assisting in tasks that required peer learning only....Id be gone from that job in a week I think.

[LongShiKong]

[doogsville]

I've had quite a few in the last year and a half working in a language mill. They're useful for the children�s classes where the kids speak very little English, and the TA can translate and also translate and explain games and activities. You have to be very proactive though, and let them know from day 1 exactly what you want them to do. Also make it very clear they can't use their cell phones etc. My TA's usually do all the registration paperwork and mark the homework while I'm teaching, and only translate when I specifically ask them to. I�ve never had one in an advanced or adult class though.

[LongShiKong]

My Chinese is good enough to teach adult beginners without a TA but they provide me one. With younger kids, it's a different matter. As I do a lot of task-based activities, I need to effectively model a task (preferable to instructing in L1). Classroom management would be virtually impossible without a TA or parents in the room (which most schools don't allow).

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Don't require one in the context of teaching.

I hired my own, but she mostly cleans the classroom for me, does my wife's paperwork, and answers parents' questions and stops them from interrupting my classes all the dang time. Occasionally will be used as a good-cop/bad-cop routine to get the kids to stop horsing around.

[kungfuman]

I have a TA. I use her for copies and to get the students to complete their assignments on time.

I'm nice to her and always thank her for her help but only use her for menial tasks and she has her own office where she is usually sleeping or playing QQ or watching movies on her computer when she has nothing to do.

She lives at the school and usually after lunch goes to her room for a nap for an hour or two - has no effect on me.

She's a nice girl and I would say she works hard for her money as the students have to do self-study in the evening and she has to watch them.