Job Discussion Forums

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

I posted this on the General Discussions Forum but should've posted here first:.

zactherat · Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 295

i don't know.. my supervisor asks the parents way to many questions about things they know jack shit about, but they feel like they should have an opinion, and then they raise concerns that aren't actually concerns.. just crap they spout out so they can come off like an involved guardian.

you're going to ask about perceived levels of academic success?

like they look at the criteria for getting an A? or they just look at the A?

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

What would I ask parents?

How much are the fees for the children to study here?

Some schools strictly monitor/control interaction between teachers and students' parents. Some questions that the parents might have for you would be damaging for the school.

Many parents believe that the foreign teachers are making a lot of money--over 20,000 a month-- yet when they find out that they are only making a paltry 5000-8000 a month they are angry at the school for being lied to.

Q: Why would the school lie about such a thing?

A: Justify the high fees and put a higher value on the use of foreign teachers

My previous employer told the students that he paid me 290 RMB a month. When students starting finding our that I was earning only 12,000 RMB a month they simply didn't believe me. They were sure I was making much, much more.

More than one reason why some schools insist that you are not to talk about your salary...

Kysorb · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Beijing

I'd ask them why do their kids have bruises occasionally on their face.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:01 am Post subject:

Following on from a good point Zactherat touched on. As a university teacher I would ask parents:

"Are you only or primarily interested in your child getting high scores, passing exams and acquiring that sacred degree, or do you want them to really learn and develop their skills and character?"

I wouldn't word the question exactly like that, but I would seek an answer to it.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:27 am Post subject:

NoBillyNO · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 1762

Personal development is view as a parental "GPS" system with "favorite places" marked by timely achievements.

I would request home numbers so I could indicate when the offspring is under achieving in class projects. Using this info has been an asset in classroom motivation.

kungfuman · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:16 am Post subject:

Don't you think their parents also lied and cheated their way to a higher score for a better job?

What makes you think they care about how their children are learning?

Brian Hugh · Joined: 07 Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Location: China

You Good? Ni hao. No point in asking them questions. A phone number would be good not for reporting misbehavior, but incase something happens to the kid. Chinese tend to be a little slow with basic things like taking care of emergencies.

NoBillyNO · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 1762

Silent Shadow · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:14 pm Post subject:

Silent Shadow · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:27 pm Post subject:

Lobster · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:37 pm Post subject:

Look, they need you to take care of the kids because both parents are working and the grandparents aren't around. Having the kid in school with other kids let's them socialize and the parents can say they are doing what they can to move the kids along. If they actually learn something, it's a bonus. Why do you think the summer and winter camps are so popular?

RED

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

I wonder if you might be over-thinking it LSK?

A close friend of mine who is a parent to a 4 year old, and is part of Chinese growing middle class recently had her daughter in a pre-school learning English at the weekend. She just wanted her daughter to get familiar with English, and have fun. The daughter didnt find it fun, so they stopped sending her to the class. And I think that is the key for pre-schoolers - fun. And Id imagine the Disney model is doing well for that exact reason. Colourful and fun. I dont think you need to consider much more than that for that age group.

Slightly older children? Assuming their parents are under 35, I would 'guess' that most parents would have been exposed to some English, although their skills would often be rusty and I would think they would just expect their children to have some very basic communicative competence. Are tests really important for such young children?? Im not so sure they are ... but in a race to 'keep up with the Jones', many Chinese parents (I feel) want their children to have access to English learning for reasons of face, and to avoid any disadvantage their peers may have by attending training schools etc.

I would think the successful approach to this kind of business would be less focus on learning motivation and language learning backgrounds etc, and greater focus on something you can show parents which includes colour, music, interactivity and fun.

Not that you cant 'teach' - but I dont think its always going to be the most important thing in the sector you are aiming at. And this isnt something unique just to China methinks.

Brian Hugh · Joined: 07 Jan 2012 Posts: 140 Location: China

Having been in China and Korea before 1997 I think there are misconceptions about the wealth of many school owners. I helped many owners get started in China. I keep in touch but no longer teach for them.
Owners have big cars not because they are rolling in tuition money, but because they have borrowed from the bank. They have silent partners who are impressed by things like expensive cars and cell phones.
The only way to calculate is to count the students and how much they pay. Other countries you should be making half of what they are taking in. If you calculate that each student is paying 20 rmb for class you should be getting ten rmb per student. It is just a rule of thumb. Lee Yang's franchized schools would pay a teacher 100 rmb per class of 50 and they would be paying somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 rmb an hour.