Job Discussion Forums

[bukem_dano]

Hi all,

I have just accepted a job to teach english at a summer camp in Zhuhai during July and August. As it will be my first time in China and first time to teach, I am a little nervous and was wondering if any of you more experienced teachers might be able to offer me some advice, what to expect etc.

Also, I would be most grateful to anyone who has taught in Zhuhai who can tell me a bit about the place. I will be based at the Tsinghua University Scientific Park in Zhuhai.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Ben.

[woza17]

Hi Ben
I will be doing my third summer camp in China this year. If I knew what I know now it would have been a lot easier. I have got a trunk full of games and things to do but at the same time a language focus to use throughout the camp time. Basically they want the children to have fun but learn at the same time without them knowing they are using a second language. At the end of the camp, the parents will want to see some results.
I would recommend you bone up on teaching English before you come, come armed .
Be gentle but firm with the kids, they are actually quite lovely.
Cheers Carol

[Roger]

You chose the hottest and steamiest season to come to Guangdong - I hope you will survive it!
Zhuhai is a nice place albeit with little of any tourist value. You will probably spend most of your time traipsing around, establishing contacts, sightseeing. Macau is very close and conveniently easy to reach (if you have a multiple-entry visa...). You will need two types of money then, as Macau has its own currency although you can usually pay in HK dollars.

As for preparing for your work stint... your Chinese English learners are not going to be Albert Einsteins. Try to entertain them. Think of 18-year olds as intellectually as advanced as a 12-year old in the UK.
Good luck

[woza17]

Ben I forgot to add Zhuhai is quite good, I have been there once I am about an hour and a half away. You will be OK there but they will expect you to have some of your own ideas and teaching material.

PM if you want further advice
Cheers Carol

[bukem_dano]

Sorry i have been so long in replying (I just got back from a short hol.), but thanks alot for your help guys, very useful. Its nice to know a bit of what is expected as the company have not been massively forthcoming with details, although reading posts on this board I expect this is not unusual.

I have pressed them on exactly what material they will need me to prepare and they have said that I do not need to worry as they have people doing that. However, I am a little dubious and wouldn't mind having some prior knowledge and something prepared. Roger, how do you go about putting your games etc. together and what sort of level should I aim them at? Woza, thanks alot, I am pm'ing you.

[hesterprynne]

Are you in Zhuhai now?

[kev7161]

Obviously you want to prepare activities that will engage the students in SPEAKING English, but the kids won't (or can't) speak English during their entire classtime so you have to be prepared with other activities as well such as word search puzzles (most of my high school kids love these), scrambled words, art activities (where they get to cut, paste, color . . . ) that involves English words (for example, last Christmas we made word chains: kids had to think of adjectives, write them on a strip of colored paper and then we made chains with these to decorate the classroom. Simple, fun, colorful, and they had to think in English.). Depending on your class's abilities, they can write and perform dialogues (you give them the scenario and they group up in 3s or 4s and prepare), learn and sing songs, go "shopping" at a local store for a list of English-worded items (they don't actually buy the items but have to check off when they find them and, if they can, tell WHERE they found them: dairy section, produce section, meat section, etc. - - - sort of like a scavenger hunt - - but make sure they buy at least SOMETHING like some gum or a soda so the store employees don't get upset that they are being invaded. I wouldn't recommend this with young kids). Come up with topics that you can have discussions about or have the kids write down 3 or 4 things they are interested in and then pick one out of a hat each day. Have the kids keep diaries/journals and ask for volunteers to read aloud. Be prepared with candy or other rewards for kids who do volunteer as that may encourage more reticent kids to do so later.

My biggest advice is to think of activities where kids get up and OUT of their seats. This is a summer camp and shouldn't be like a traditional classroom environment. Hopefully you will have AC in your classroom and some AV equipment as well . . . AND your desks are moveable. Good luck!