Job Discussion Forums

[Toast]

How much does your school bother or interfere with you, or are you largely left to your own devices?

I went the entire last semester without seeing either my DOS, Chinese co-teachers, or anyone from the FAO staff. I was emailed some junk at the start of term and told that they are the docs that need to be handed in on the last day. Assessment, attendance, lesson plans etc. I left them on a random desk in the Chinese teacher's office in the final week since the staff were all on their 3 hour lunch break. I came back 4 days later to check if it had been received and my paperwork was still sitting in the exact same spot except had a dusty footprint right in the middle of the top page. I guess someone had stepped on it whilst changing a light bulb or something. Anyhow this semester is faring pretty similar so far.

The general policy at my place seems to be as long as your kids aren't roaming the halls during class times, you're not playing movies too loudly, and no major complaints from class monitors essentially no one gives a crap. Meetings, class observations, office hours and English Corners have become non-existent. In general the teachers are racing and shoving the students out of the building a'la Jack Black in School of Rock as the bell is still ringing to end class.

I don't mind, but the lack of guidance and hold-handing seems to be really rough on the new teachers and as a result the newbie turnover after each semester has been massive...they're usually last seen down in the car park confused and alone trying to work out how to get a taxi to the train station.

I'm back on the job hunt again so am curious if my case is largely the norm or if I should prepare to get elsewhere and be expected to abide by bothersome nuisances like being "reported" for airing out my wet socks in class and being required to create a "lesson plan" which goes beyond discussing the different kinds of fart noises for 5 minutes before throwing on Cannibal Holocaust for the remaining hour and a half. Might be a shock to the system.

Rambling.

[johntpartee]

I've never been "micro-managed" anywhere in China (actually, anywhere period). Even giving them

[theoriginalprankster]

[doogsville]

None at all. I have to fill in various bits of paperwork at exam time, and hand in a syllabus and class calendar at the beginning of the semester, but since they're all in Chinese I only fill in the bits I understand, and even then I don't put too much effort into it. The class timetable I fill in with 'week 1, Unit 1 first half, week 2 Unit 1 2nd half, etc. I had a few 'observations' in my first semester, but none since, and the observer just sat at the back and left with the students.

[Simon in Suzhou]

I've worked at 3 colleges/universities in China and have not been micromanaged in the least...to the point where I sometimes wonder what could happen in a classroom before anyone in administration took notice. The polar opposite of working in K-land, where everything I did seemed to be up for supervisory revision on a daily basis.

I also worry a bit about the newbies who come to China with no experience whatsoever...

[NoBillyNO]

Been with my job of 9 years, never met any other teachers , never gone into the office. Go to class and then go home. Money goes to bank and supervisor is across the big pond.....

[theoriginalprankster]

Forgot to mention all my classrooms have 1-2 swivel cameras in them. And they are on and recording.

I went into the PC guy's office to get my class PC sorted, saw my Ss, and asked him about it - they keep recordings for a few weeks.

There's my uni's micro management.

[fat_chris]

I am Master of my own Domain. I love it.

Warm regards,
fat_chris

[roadwalker]

I've been observed a few times, usually without comment except maybe a "I liked the way you did X..." on the observers way out the door. I've actually tried to coordinate with Chinese English teachers when I have something called "English Speaking for Business" or other hard-to-pin-down subject. I suggested I get a rough outline of what the students will be studying in their regular business classes, so I can reinforce lessons with speeches or conversations, etc. Lot's of "That's a good idea!"s but then we can never seem to meet until I've given up on the idea.

I've never been asked for a syllabus. I've been told on occasion that I should follow the book, but I think someone just ticked a box for that. [] Told waiguo laoshi to use the book. (I do, in fact often use them for a template of topics.)

As for personal life issues, I've been told seemingly half-heartedly to be good. But not that often. Most of the schools I've taught at have had foreigners fraternizing with students of the opposite sex, having drinking/bar issues, teaching the Good News or other such no-nos. Generally without consequences.

In short, based on my experience at various unis, it is probably the rule and not the exception to be left alone. One reason I have kept coming back.

[fat_chris]

[maxand]

[fat_chris]

[mitsui]

To bad. I knew a teacher who left Japan for China and he cared more for proselytizing than teaching.
I guess the Japanese could care less, although I had Jehovah Witnesses visit me yesterday..
He should have gone to Korea instead.

[NoBillyNO]

[fat_chris]