Job Discussion Forums

[weshh1]

Hello everyone,


I'm wondering if you guys could share your experiences working in the different esl fields in China.

I have a few specific questions.

For university positions, did you have to create your own curriculum and daily lesson plan for the semester based solely off of a textbook the university provides? Was this challenging? (It sounds intimidating, especially if you are teaching several different courses at once.... but yet I gather that university jobs are generally the "easiest").

For private/international school, public jobs, does anyone have some experiences to share to compare kindergarten with primary school positions?
Obviously it depends on the school, but was there a lesson plan and curriculum provided for you? How much additional time was needed for lesson planning?
Which position (kindergarten, elementary, junior / senior high) would you prefer?



Just looking for some people to share their experiences and thoughts. I know these questions have been touched on in some form or another in the past.

[LarssonCrew]

Ok, here goes.

University. Depends. Some are high standard, most are really low standard, you'll have literally a classroom[maybe not computer, maybe the chairs can't move] without a book. The university don't really CARE if you get the job done or the end results As long as youshow up.

Kindergarten is exhausting and often you have lower hours [maybe 12 hours of classes a week] but they demand you'll be there for 10 hours a day sometimes.

[amberandonyx]

I only have university experience, but Larsson is mostly right on the money. I was handed a textbook and my schedule then told what day grades are due. That was the extent of my oversight.

But the students are awesome, the hours are low, and the benefits are good. Pay on the low end, but depending on your circumstances or personal goals the low hours can make that worth it. I still save every month.

For lesson planning, it wasn't so bad in my experience. If you teach X class to freshmen, you will have multiple classes of freshmen. So you might make 3 different lesson plans for the week, and teach each lesson plan 3 times.

Just do a good job and be prepared and professional. You'll be fine.

[XiaoWren]

It's a university job. It's what you make of it, and you are meant to be able to do the job. You are not meant to be micro-managed.

There is more to it than simply turning up, and the university will care what you are doing because they have systems in place to get feedback from the students.

I worked with someone recently whose contract was not renewed. They don't usually however, withold the recommendation letter.

weshh1 If you have not done the CELTA and you want to teach EFL it is generally recommended that you do. It will teach you how to teach (give you the basics to get started). It will answer your questions and give you the confidence to draw up lesson plans and deliver them.

If you don't want to create curricula and lesson plans - probably tefl is not for you.

You have a lot of freedom in the universities to develop your practice. Ultimately, what matters is the standard(s) of the teacher walking into the classroom.

[adventious]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

I've always been required to hand in "lesson plans" for an entire semester a week before class. Of course, only those who stay on from the previous year can do that. Those are usually fantasies, anyway.

They want lesson plans, as in stating objective, method, page numbers covered, and the content for each different class. (In the U.S., the teacher is given PAID planning time for doing this in the lower gradesK-12. This isn't done in American universities) One week's notice is probably enough time if one teaches only one subject, but when there are four separate subjects to be taught, that's really an impossibility.

The dean may settle for a syllabus (as is required in American universities) that shows the page numbers in the book that will be covered in a given class and a corresponding date. If the dean is adamant about having a semester's "lesson plan" she'll usually settle for one turned in at the end of the year. This way, I can write the day's assignment right before or right after class. This is the only way to produce anything accurate. The department just wants to justify the FT's presence at the university. Surprisingly, many FTs don't bother to turn in a lesson plan or a syllabus. Their classes are usually train wrecks.

Class material: I've taught a few classes in one or two universities where I was given little to no material to work with. Those were usually oral English classes. I usually ended up creating my own material for those classes. Generally, what I produced was much better than some of the crummy books that I have been given at other universities.

Except for oral English (which I teach less and less), I am always given a book. The down side of this is that the book is sometimes wholly irrelevant to the subject being taught, and often, nobody in the foreign languages department cares. In that case I create my own material or rely upon previously created material.

People who have never taught at a university proclaim that university work is a piece of cake. It isn't always so if you are a serious teacher. Eighteen class hours to prepare for (reading the chapters the night before class, creating an outline of the lesson, creating a test, etc) is not a short order. It can be time consuming, especially if the subject is western history.

[weshh1]

I have looked into CELTA. It is on my agenda at some point.

I have been teaching in public schools in the US for the past 4 years. I'm not opposed to lesson planning ( I can see how my post may have given that impression). Rather, I just want a better picture of what I am getting into.

I spent about 2 weeks lesson planning for the 1 month summer program (2 x 2 week sessions so I really only planned for 10 days).
It was a bit overkill but I like to be somewhat prepared.

Most of my experience is at the Elementary level.
However, I loved the summer university program. The students were amazing.


Thanks for the responses everyone.

[LarssonCrew]

Depends how you look at it.

If some Unis want to pay pittance to teachers should they expect full 20 hours a week planning etc?

I would do all planning required and be completely up to date IF the university promised the following:

-Preventing cheating
-Students are forced to treat the foreign teacher the same as the Chinese i.e. if homework is not done it actually matters, have some ability to discipline etc.
-Foreign teachers get the same benefits as local staff i.e. same pay, i.e. ability to purchase house, enough salary to afford an Audi etc.
-That classes are actually consistent, not breaking for other exams or such
- That holidays are known about at the year start
- That if I give a grade it cannot be 'bought out'.

Alot of the students in my uni complained that the Chinese teachers simply put up a boring PPT and read through it, no practice for students, no feedback, no tutorial groups. Most just copy and pasted their homework from the internet.

[nomad soul]

[theoriginalprankster]

Just about to fall into the bed.

I was never required to show a lesson plan/structure/pedagogy to my seniors, at uni .

It was a case of turning up, keeping them (the 90+ students) burning for 90 minutes and then lunch break.

It worked well for me, as I'm a teacher who engages students well, without the need for supervision-clowns.

But now I work for a corp. I have to actually do real work. Besides the fun times with the students (teach 6th grade). 60% office, 40% school time.

I'm thinking - is this what I want with my life, or should I start investing in my true passions (collectibles)

Bit fed up with education, though I love my students to bits and pieces.

Decisions, decisions...

<wish I could post a pic of my favourite students - they make teaching worthwile>

[XiaoWren]

[LarssonCrew]

It reminds me of office space, if they do not require lesson plans and aren't willing to support me why should I put that much effort in?

Why do 50 hours a week and get no benefit[what?you'll get a promotion?To what? ALL higher up positions are held by Chinese], when 20 hours will do? Neither will get me fired and neither will get me a promotion.

[XiaoWren]

[XiaoWren]

[amberandonyx]