Job Discussion Forums

[mandu]

do your bosses ever ask you how your classes are going?or do you get left alone and not bothered at all.

I m not sure if this is a good thing or not sometimes I just wish the powers that be in the kindergarten where I work would ask me how are classes going or at least take interest with how I teach in class.

I really dont think they care at all.

do your classes get assessed?

[jm21]

The first semester they would have a teacher sit in on my classes now and then to check. Nothing this semester.

[Neilhrd]

These days my bosses in a private language school rarely ask many questions about my classes. I'd like to think that is because they trust me after five years in the same school. Younger, less experienced teachers, both foreign and Chinese are monitored more closely.

In any case a good DOS or school director doesn't need to ask direct questions to keep their finger on the pulse. Registers can be checked and any experienced DOS in China surely knows that Chinese students don't complain about FTs to another foreigner but always go to Chinese counsellors. So do parents. As long as the DOS has a good working relationship with the counsellors they can exercise discrete control and often avoid offence.

I accept that direct questions can make some teachers feel wanted. It is also true that most of us develop bad classroom habits over time and a shrewd personal observation can nip them in the bud. Personally, I would welcome more observations that I get provided that I had confidence in the observer.

However that is a big proviso. Too many Chinese school leaders have no idea about the professional etiquette of teacher observations. Even more have no idea what constitutes good teaching practice or why and will tell you to do more of something one week and the exact opposite the following week.

[kev7161]

Nobody asks me, nobody observes my lessons, nobody really seems to care all that much. However, my school has asked me back nine years running, so whatever feedback they get from students, parents, my Chinese co-teacher, etc. seems to be okay else they wouldn't have done this. But, yeah, it would be nice every once in a while if someone (especially school leaders) showed (fake or genuine) interest in what's going on in the classroom and how the students are progressing.

[Babala]

When I come back from class, my Dos always asks how my class went. It's not him checking up on me but he is generally interested in how the classes go. I think it's nice.

[water rat]

Anyone asks me a question like that I punch them right in the mouth!

[maxand]

[3701 W.119th]

I asked my DoS to do pop-in observations, 2 or 3 times a week, for my first 6 months. They were very happy to. Mostly the teachers here are left to do their own thing, but I'm trying to learn, and my DoS is very experienced. Self-reflection only goes so far.

I still keep a little notebook that I update after each class. What went well, what didn't go well, what I'd change next time I teach that lesson,etc. I'm such a noob.

[likwid_777]

No, they never did. Language mill was where I was, though. Haha.

[asiannationmc]

[kungfuman]

The day before classes began I was given 2 books, a schedule, and a new laptop. I had to ask where the classrooms were.

Haven't seen my boss except in passing since then.

[katia04]

I'm very careful to have a two-way relationship with my boss. I work at a university in the suburbs of a suburb of a major city. It's pretty boring, so having a good boss and a job I enjoyed were basically the only reasons for me renewing my contract last year - but well worth it. When I have problems, she supports me. She'll observe maybe two classes a year on her own - when I have issues she will come in and observe as well, although she focuses more on the students than on me and shames them if they misbehave. She gives me helpful tips ("Write larger on the board"/"speak a little slower") but isn't condescending. What I like best, though, is that she lets me fail students if they deserve it, without a problem, but she'll also reward/acknowledge great student achievement: for instance several students last year that got A's on a grueling paper (2000 words, English-language research, proper MLA, and if you plagiarize, you fail) and she announced it on the school website. This means I get the backing to control my class and keep them in line, but also have a partner to encourage them to achieve. She backs me up, but doesn't hover and lets me do what I need to do. I'm very lucky though; I know from experience that's not the norm for China. It's not a very good location so they like to keep me happy.