Job Discussion Forums

[Zhejiang_Man]

[Voyeur]

Thanks for the links. Seems 2000 RMB probably covers apt--especially since I prefer a small, simple apartment. I might even come out a bit ahead.

I guess what I need to do now is start researching uni jobs, which seem the closest comparison, and see how they do compared to me. On the face of it, it seems like I'm about on par with a good uni. job for someone new to China and applying from the outside.

In fact, I'm surprised at how standardized the jobs that are advertised widely are--it almost seems like you really can't do much better than average for your first gig--just worry about protecting your downside. Get in there. Make a good rep and form connections. Then do better in coming years.

[Non Sequitur]

[Voyeur]

Well, at least what we can do to differentiate ourselves from overseas, for our first jobs, within the categories dictated by our formal qualifications, seems moot--not to put too fine a point on it, I hope.

The best uni job one can get seems tricky, especially in terms of exactly how much work we will put in each weak.

For example, if you have office hours, they may be specified at certain times. And so if you have say 20 45-min classes, you can't necessarily say that equals 15 hours of on-campus time. You may have 15-minute breaks between classes that are effectively wasted time, and still can't be counted towards office hours.

If you do have office hours, they may have tasks for you to do that won't let you prep the classes during that time--so maybe you will have to prep on your own time. If you don't have office hours, you still may have prep. Obviously, perfect clarity from overseas is impossible--there is a crapshoot element. But the more one can get the better, especially since it isn't just a matter of working hard. The more uni work you have or time you have to spend there, the less time for other work.

[Toast]

[Voyeur]

From what I have read, SOME Uni jobs do have office hours, even if most don't, correct? Just like some require prep, while others you can basically use the textbook, etc.... What am I missing?

[Ariadne]

To elaborate... many uni jobs do not have office hours. Most that I know of have 12-18 hours of class in the contract. You might have a required English Corner or judging a speech contest included in the contract but that would only add an hour or two a week. My contract is for 14 hours a week, no English Corner, no office hours. I judge a speech contest once or twice a year. The speech contests are not required but I have no problem doing them if I don't have other plans.

One thing to keep in mind... some classes require quite a lot of preparation and marking and that's all on your nickel. I don't mind prep and grading in the comfort of my apartment.


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[Ariadne]

Even if you are using a text book you will still need to prepare your lessons. It might only take you a few minutes, but most texts really benefit from supplemental materials. Winging it might work after you know the material and your students.

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[doogsville]

There seems to be some difference of opinion about the term 'office hours' here. My understanding of office hours is that it refers to the time when you, the teacher, will be in your office and available to students who wish to ask a question or seek you help with an assignment etc. The time you spend in the office planning lessons and marking assignments etc would just be called 'work'. I prefer to do that in the office personally because there are fewer distractions like videos I need to watch or going to the shop or having a nap. Also I can use the uni's AC which saves me money.

Most of the Chinese teachers in my uni offer two hours a week to students, and thereafter will meet them by appointment, so that's the system I have adopted. I've never yet had anyone turn up, so I use the time to do other things.

There's nothing in my contract about office hours, but it is an expectation of Chinese students that teachers will be available outside of class to answer questions etc. Apparently they will often visit a teacher in their office to avoid losing face by asking the question publicly.

This is a list of things that Chinese students commonly complain about in regard to their NETs. It's taken from a paper called 'Western EFL Teachers and East-West Classroom-Culture Conflicts' by Steven T. Simpson, though the quote itself is from another publication.

Li (1994: 65-67) offers the flipside of the equation by listing several of
the Chinese students’ frustrations caused by Western methods: (1) too
little time for practicing English in the classroom; (2) too little contact
with the teacher outside of class; (3) inability to share ideas with teacher
because of the students’ lack of opportunities, shyness, or perceived futility
in discussing problems with the teacher; (4) teachers are disorganized;
(5) teachers are ignorant of proper methods for teaching literature; (6)
teachers use wrong teaching methods in skills classes; (7) teachers talk
aimlessly in class; and ( teachers do not have much knowledge.

It talks about the differences between the Traditional Chinese Method of teaching, and the Communicative Language Teaching that most EFL teachers use, and the frustrations that arise for both students and teachers because neither understands the others method. It makes for interesting reading.

The two points that I've taken from it are that Chinese teachers almost never ask the whole class a question, but will address it to a specific student and that Chinese students value the opportunity to meet with their teachers in a non public setting.

[Non Sequitur]

'Talking aimlessly in class' doesn't fit with the communicative training I've received.
Rather it points to no training at all.

[choudoufu]