Job Discussion Forums

[teachingld2004]

So this semester the powers that be decided that only Freshmen and Sophomore English majors will get oral English with a foreign teacher. The Juniors and Seniors do not need it. (lovely)

I had Juniors last semester, and when they found out they will not have oral English this semester, they were not happy one bit. So, I decided what the hell, i would offer them one hour a week. 3 classes, 3 hours of pure conversation, would not kill me.

2 classes decided that they did not have the time (THEY ARE ENGLISH MAJORS)but one class was so happy that I said I would do this. (They were my best class)

So, the end result is I will teach one 90 minute class a week (free) for a class of students who really love English.

It is not going to kill me. My schedule is only six 90 minute classes.
Our boss treats the teachers like gold, and I love this job.

But I still am shocked that English majors do not want to take the time to speak English with a foreigner. And ast term they complained that they are taught English in Chinese.

Go figure..........

[johntpartee]

Every college I've been at in China has only offered oral English to first and second year students except one (and that place was a bigger joke than most of the post-secondary institutions I've been at). It's pretty standard.

Please correct the typo in your topic.

[muffintop]

They don't need it. The ability to actually speak English is not needed for them to be awarded a diploma is it?

[johntpartee]

[choudoufu]

[hilena_westb]

That original post is quite ironic.

[MisterButtkins]

A lot of the students do not even choose their own majors. Many may have no interest in English at all. Others might be too busy. How eager were you to take extra classes in college?

[rogerwilco]

[teachingld2004]

When I was in university I took extra classes. If there was a class in a different major and I was interested, I asked if I could attend the class. I paid by semester not the amount of classes. I did not ask for a grade, I just wanted to learn something new.

I have had some great students complain that their English classes are taught in Chinese. Some students really love to speak in English.

I know that some students do not choose their majors. I also know that some students pay a teacher or who ever to give them a grade. Last term one of the students told me that another students never attended any classes, drove an expensive car, played computer games, and the father paid for the grades. Lovely.

I know that school here is a joke usually. It just blows my mind, that is all.

Problem is, I love to teach,and I do have a few handfulls of students who love the learn.

Anyway, venting is done for now.

[Simon in Suzhou]

Well, to be fair to the students, I have observed a lot of foreign English teachers, and there are not many I would spend my free time hanging out with! I don't know if the OP is a fantastic teacher or a terrible teacher, but the fact that students don't want to come to the class does not necessarily reflect on their interest in English nor their diligence. There could be other factors.

[Denim-Maniac]

[xiguagua]

Why do extra work for the school and not be compensated? It's just asking to be taken advantage of.

I'm all for going to English corners, and office hours, and doing speech competitions and hanging out with students and all that because they require no preparation or additional work on my part and there is no obligation, so if I miss an event, it doesn't really matter. But I draw the line at creating a free class that I have to make extra preparations for that will probably not be appreciated by the students and ultimately have a dwindling turnout.

I try not to be negative, I try to be realistic as much as I can. If I were you, I wouldn't schedule a "class" for them to attend as they have enough classes as it is. I would instead try to organize some kind of event or activity for them outside of classes that would be much more fun and engaging.

I'm all for hard work, I only have 12 classes and I often wish I had more, but i'm not about to start making free classes for the school, then whats the point of them even paying me since i'll work for free? Salaries are low enough as it is.

[wonderingjoesmith]

[wonderingjoesmith]

[it'snotmyfault]