Job Discussion Forums

Sinaman · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 85

So this is my situation...I have been teaching English for many years here in China and have never had a problem.

At previous training centres, I would always have class with children twice a week for 2-3 hours per week (so one hour, hour and a half class), kids made good progress, parents were happy, etc.

At this new place, we only have class once a week for 2 hours and that is it. Some parents have complained that the kids are not speaking at home and that they are not making progress. I am frustrated as I never had this problem before.

I used to work in big cities before but this new place is a small town (though it is part of a larger city)

I personally believe that it is the fact that class is only once a week which is hindering progress (although I believe some kids are doing ok), however it is bothering me that some parents are not happy. I try to explain to my assistant that she should communicate with the parents that due to the nature of classes (once a week) that this is the kind of progress that should be expected, that they need to be patient and that they must improve the English environment at home and practice with their child at home (fat chance of that, of course).

Have any of you come across this problem before? If so, how have you solved it? It is doing my head in.

ETA: These are primary school aged kids. Coming twice a week is not very practical for a lot of them as they go to the city for schooling so they cannot come in during the week

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Sinaman · Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 85

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Tell parents their kids must watch one hour of English language TV per week ie CCTV9.
This channel has excellent Chinese English language speakers eg James Chou (Chau).
Expect parents to ask kids 'What is that man saying?' and get a reply.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

You know the answer to this, as we all do. I work part time teaching kids classes at my university. Most of the kids who come are teachers kids. The kids have been coming since October and half of them (or more) can not even answer "How are you". They also come for 2 hours a week. The parents never practice with them at home.

Half o the kids dropped out because the parents said they do not understand. How can they when the parents never review work?

We are nt there to help them study. The director got the "great" idea to have the Chinese teachers come 1/2 hr early to review. I said that was a waste o time. The director said "The parents are busy and don't have time to review so we will do it" Did that help? Not one bit.

But our class of 5 and 6 yr olds does great. They listen to songs and watch videos. They are better then the 10 year olds. The 10 year olds look at me when I say "get your books". The 6 year olds can do this right away.

Op, sadly there is nothing you can do Two hours a week will do no good.

I was at a language school in Korea where the kids came 5 times a week They had a Foreign teacher one day and a Korean teacher one day. Those kids were terrific.

Sadly nothing can be done once a week.