Job Discussion Forums

[Listerine]

Not sure how to describe these things - The floor to ceiling glass walls where everyone in vicinity both inside and outside the school can stare in and watch the English class in progress. Today I sat inside a KFC inside a crowded shopping mall directly opposite a private training school (Meten) and watched some poor, exasperated FT *beep* trying to teach a class of 8 adults while a couple of inglorious sprogs (presumably belched out by one of the Imelda Marcos-esque made-up trollops inside) thumped on the glass and shrieked at each other. Meanwhile the hordes of slackjawed Anhui bumpkins in the mall sampling the new-fangled, modern delights of air-con, lights and electricity endlessly stared at aforementioned class and foreigner while banging coconuts, picking their their noses and farting on stuff.

When I was finished with my Zinger burger I strolled downstairs to find the exact same prole-ish antics going on outside the WEB branch.
I understand it's considered a great marketing tool for the schools for potential customers to see the weird and wacky roman characters on a white board and some white face dancing like a circus clown, but am struggling to understand how this style of classroom is conducive to learning? For the already paying students it must be a headache-inducing distraction, but for the FTs teaching there it must just about be annoying enough to drive a bruddah to drink.

I've taught in 4 countries over a period of a decade and a half, have had TV crews film my classes, CCTV cameras in the classroom, open classes with gaggles of parents and grandparents in attendance, observations by bosses and regional education department officials, but this glass walled crap in my opinion takes the cake.

Do the students like it? Is it (un)bearable for the FTs?

Um....discuss??

[Shroob]

[spiral78]

Wow.
Presumably the teachers involved knew in advance.
Like you, OP, I've got no allergies at all to being observed - except from a public sidewalk like some sideshow in the carnival!!!

[The_Kong]

[litterascriptor]

My last school had me teach a demo class in a playground area. Wasn't too much of a ball ache as I spent 30 minutes playing games with a bunch of kids.

[roadwalker]

I don't even mind the attention that much, although what you described sounds extreme. But the constant interruption of the lesson would drive me bananas.

[litterascriptor]

Under those circumstances I'd just give it my best effort and not worry about outcomes at all.