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creeper1
Joined: 24 Aug 2010
Posts: 481
Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan
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 Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Its not uncommon in training schools to get fired.
cause the school to lose students - you are going to get fired. |
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Lack
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| creeper1 wrote: |
Its not uncommon in training schools to get fired.
cause the school to lose students - you are going to get fired. |
Which worsens things all around because the parents would rather have some buffoon who dances around like an a**hole than a teacher who knows what he is doing. So it's common for handsome, energetic idiots to bring in students (or retain students) while legit teachers might not because let's be honest - Chinese parents don't have a clue about learning English or languages in general. Most of them just use the training centers as a status thing so they can say their kids are taught by some guy/girl who has Hollywood good looks. It doesn't have anything to do with teaching/ learning, or English. (Can you say, "Hello, how are you?" Congrats! You're fluent!) |
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The_Kong
Joined: 15 Apr 2014
Posts: 349
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Lack wrote: |
| creeper1 wrote: |
Its not uncommon in training schools to get fired.
cause the school to lose students - you are going to get fired. |
Which worsens things all around because the parents would rather have some buffoon who dances around like an a**hole than a teacher who knows what he is doing. So it's common for handsome, energetic idiots to bring in students (or retain students) while legit teachers might not because let's be honest - Chinese parents don't have a clue about learning English or languages in general. Most of them just use the training centers as a status thing so they can say their kids are taught by some guy/girl who has Hollywood good looks. It doesn't have anything to do with teaching/ learning, or English. (Can you say, "Hello, how are you?" Congrats! You're fluent!) |
Often times when reading this board I wonder if people are somehow living in a different country also named 'China' than I am.
This has not been my experience at all over the bast seven years I've been here. In my experience the majority of parents want their kid to learn English, but most don't have the language ability or time to be able to tell if a teacher is doing a good job or not. They rely on the training center to provide quality teachers, who are typically less than honest when it comes to someones credentials and experience when asked.
Every time I've spoken to a parent who has a child attending a place like Shane, English First, etc. they are usually disappointed by their child's lack of progress but they don't really have a lot of other options (especially in smaller cities like mine).
The looks thing does play a part for some parents some of the time. Of course if you had the choice most people would choose the 'hot' teacher over an ogre, but again I think that's more on the school perpetuating such nonsense than the parents demanding their child be taught by a good looking foreigner. |
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Big_H
Joined: 21 Dec 2013
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| The_Kong wrote: |
| Every time I've spoken to a parent who has a child attending a place like Shane, English First, etc. they are usually disappointed by their child's lack of progress but they don't really have a lot of other options (especially in smaller cities like mine). |
But then again it's not uncommon for Chinese parents to request moving their kid up a grade well beyond his/her abilities because "he's smart and can catch on quickly".
Anyway, much like the interview that got you the job, TEFL's more about looking the part than the knowledge and the teaching skill. And I'll be blunt, at any level below college, IG and TOEFL it doesn't make any noticeable difference. If you know how to entertain the younger kids and pick the right class activities (even if they're not educational), you're a keeper to the school, the parents and everyone. Being handsome definitely helps, but I don't think that it's a main reason. |
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The_Kong
Joined: 15 Apr 2014
Posts: 349
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Big_H wrote: |
| The_Kong wrote: |
| Every time I've spoken to a parent who has a child attending a place like Shane, English First, etc. they are usually disappointed by their child's lack of progress but they don't really have a lot of other options (especially in smaller cities like mine). |
But then again it's not uncommon for Chinese parents to request moving their kid up a grade well beyond his/her abilities because "he's smart and can catch on quickly". |
I've never witnessed that but even if a parent does request something foolish like that it would be the responsibility of the educator (person/company) to reject their request. Unfortunately since training centers will do just about anything to avoid pissing off parents and losing money, I believe if someone did make such a request it would be granted to the detriment of the child's education.
| Big_H wrote: |
Anyway, much like the interview that got you the job, TEFL's more about looking the part than the knowledge and the teaching skill...Being handsome definitely helps, but I don't think that it's a main reason. |
Let's hope you never interview with me.  |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| And I'll be blunt, at any level below college, IG and TOEFL it doesn't make any noticeable difference. |
TOEFL? Test of English as a Foreign Language - clearly students below college level don't need it (and teachers of English definitely don't need it!).  |
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DuckAmuck
Joined: 23 Mar 2015
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 1:23 am Post subject: |
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I've only known one guy to get outright fired. He was constantly drunk, smoked pot continuously, and even though he was nearing 60 years old he was constantly trying to sleep with his students. The school put up with him for a while, but he injured his leg, requiring a hospitalization, which then revealed his Hepatitis B condition. The school seized on the hospitalization and used his absence from classes to get out of their contract and sent him packing.
The only other time I've seen somebody get close to getting fired was one uni teacher who was constantly arguing with his FAO. The school wouldn't give him Thanksgiving day off, and he took it anyway. He had to basically beg to keep his job after that. It probably wouldn't have been a big deal, but this guy argued with his university and caused problems about everything. |
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