Job Discussion Forums

[mcloo7]

This is a question that I just thought to ask, but is essentially something Ive been wanting to know. Where does a beginner, or anyone for that matter, have the easiest time teaching? Not feeling intense pressure from bosses, parents, etc? Has the ability to learn on his feet etc?

[vikeologist]

I'd say definitely not a Public school.

language mills or Unis can be ok, but it depends both on the school and the person.

I'm the DOS at a Uni, and generally speaking I do what you say, let beginners learn on their feet, but that's not always the best thing to do.

I wouldn't even accept that people can learn much on their feet.

Your question makes me suspicious that maybe you are unable to take criticism or advice, and that would be pretty disastrous.

On the other hand, the first year teaching is quite tough. NQTs need to apply what they learned during training, and I stay off their back enough to let them do that. A Uni can be low-pressure. The Chinese teachers are so dreadful that a first year teacher should be able to deliver far better classes, and thus there should be no problems. I wasn't great in my first year, and I was in a situation where I was surrounded by and could learn from very good teachers and fantastic DOSs. I don't mean China good. In China every single one of them would have been the best teacher the students or schools had ever seen, including the other first year.

But me; I was pretty dreadful. I was supported. I improved.

However, if a teacher can't grade their language, speak slowly and clearly and be focused on student development, then there's a big problem. There's always going to be pressure if a teacher just sucks at the basics of communication. I wouldn't make things worse for them, and I'd try to avoid their confidence being destroyed.

Anyway, my basic answer is to ensure that you have a good DOS and make sure that your mutual expectations are compatible.

[johntpartee]

[mcloo7]

I didnt mean that I cant take advice or criticism I certainly can, in fact, Im going to need it. I just meant the threat that you could be fired if the school loses students or other similar pressures. That is what I would like to avoid in my first year. Do language mills have DOS too, or by saying I should have a good DOS are you saying that unis are the way to go?

[johntpartee]

Generally at government universities you are on your own if you want to be; if you want help, ask for it.

[mcloo7]

[7969]

[johntpartee]

I only ever consider government positions. They are usually the most likely to be legal and to follow the contract. I'll send you a PM.

[7969]

[mcloo7]

[vikeologist]

Maybe you're right that private Unis are sometimes bad for students, but there's no real disadvantage for FTs because of their status, at least not where I am. They're legal and follow the contract.

Language mills have DOSs, probably more so than Unis.

There are both good mills and Unis, though it would be my guess that the percentage of Unis is significantly higher.

I'd accept that there's lots of corruption and incompetence in China, but there are good employers. You need to ask good questions when you talk to them.

I think (obviously I'm biased) that we're a good Uni to work for, and the risk of not having your contract renewed is part of that, I'm afraid. However I can't imagine many Unis would sack you during your contract, except for serious misconduct.

But these are all generalisations. I'm afraid that I think the people saying to only work for public Unis are overgeneralising. I think that the language mill I used to work for is probably the third best place to work at our city. Then again, I knew a teacher who basically just wanted to be left alone, not give demo classes or get any feedback at all, and they were better off at a school at the bottom of the pile.

Find somebody that you can respect. I almost left China after a year because I did the round of schools in my city, and they were all useless. When I found a DOS who I respected, I basically rolled on to my back and asked to be tickled on my tum.

[7969]

Further to my post above about the private college, Shengda, first let me say that's an extreme example of a problem at a private uni, so don't take it as the norm. In the end both the students and the school owner are to blame for that fiasco. The students were (according to reports) those who did poorly on the college entrance exam, which is why they were at a place like Shengda to begin with. Yet they thought that by paying the higher tuition at Shengda, they could still get a Zhengzhou University diploma. The school offered the students something they couldn't deliver, and the students expected something they didn't earn, but instead bought. Anyway it was about money and broken promises, and if a school can lie to their students they're capable of lying to anyone. I suspect these problems are less at government run schools than they are at privately run schools that have less oversight.

[it'snotmyfault]

[NoBillyNO]

[it'snotmyfault]