Job Discussion Forums

[MsHoffman]

Deleted post.

[Alien abductee]

Congrats! An original idea that actually worked. That's not seen too often here. A couple of points. Might have been a good idea to keep your project on the down low and only advertise where students can find the info. Wechat groups would be good for that. Don't fret if you've made other foreign teachers look bad. If they were actually doing their job properly they wouldn't be too worried about your Xtra-curricular activity. Their reaction reveals the true character of who you're dealing with. so just as well you found out early. Bottom line, you're there for the students and if they're happy and your boss is happy, then keep on keepin' on.

[joe30]

I can see the other FTs point of view. It's never a good thing when some martyr comes in doing a bunch of extra work for free since it does make all the ones who don't do the same look bad.

[The bear]

I can see it from both sides, but what you did doesn't justify the other FTs response. It's good for the uni and students but not the FTs

Well done for going above and beyond.

The other FTs may be perfectly good teachers, do the work expected of them, and fulfill their contractual duties BUT now the admin/students are going to be comparing that to the hours you are putting in (presumably in addition to your contractual duties). So you can see how it makes them look bad, though this wasn't your intention.

Though as I said at the beginning, doesn't justify shunning and yelling at you.

[Alien abductee]

If one teacher takes the initiative to do something Xtra-curricular it doesn't follow that other teachers will look bad. If all teachers are fulfilling their obligations then all can be seen and rated as good, but those who perform at a higher level will be rated as better. There's nothing unusual about that because there's always some form of heirarchy. When teachers react in the way described it's most likely a signal that some are not living up to their obligations, they feel threatened by the person going above and beyond, and they react with hostility. Everywhere I've worked including before I got involved in EFL I've been around some high-level performers. I chose not to resent them but to learn from them and in the end it pays dividends.

[joe30]

Keep your arbeit macht frei work culture in the West where it belongs please.

[Alien abductee]

Maybe you should just stay out of the discussion if you have nothing to add but references to Nazi concentration camps.

[joe30]

That mentality (you're a slave to your employer, your work is your life) has permeated the whole of the West though, don't want it happening elsewhere too.

[Jmbf]

[nomad soul]

[Babala]

I think it's great that you started up this program and that the students are responding so positively. I do see how the other teachers are worried that the school will expect them to also put in extra work for free however shunning and berating you is way over the top behaviour from them.

I would approach the other FT's and try to make peace. They may see you as that kid back in primary school who would remind the teacher that she/he forgot to give homework. They may also see you as a newbie to the school as trying to curry favour. I myself do several activities per year that my university gets behind both with funding and support. The other FT's support my efforts and while they don't get involved in the organizing part they do come to the actual events. I do tell them in advance of my plans and invite them to participate as much as they would like.

China can get lonely and you don't want to alienate yourself from all of the foreign staff at your school.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Ms Hoffman,

You are to be commended on several points: first, that you got the school not only to agree but to cooperate and second, that instead of losing your mind for lack of close companionship (an assumption on my part) you put yourself into your work. You came to accomplish something and did it.

Chinese universities generally lack activities that build school spirit. Instead of providing students with some sort of diversion ( clubs, parties, movie nights, plays, concerts, etc.) the students are expected to trudge off to the study hall from 7:00 pm until 9:00 or 10:00 pm.** That's sort of a work will set you free mindset that the kids grow up with.

In every school I've worked for, administration balked at the idea of Movie Night on Fridays, even though the facilities existed and I offered to to be responsible for the activity. You are lucky that your school is open-minded. One school allowed me to attend study halls and lead the students in conversation in English because they knew that the class monitors weren't doing their jobs and that the mysterious "work leaders" didn't oversee the study halls.

Good on ya.


** Others' experiences and observations may differ.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

[The bear]

[Non Sequitur]

Chinese teachers can react poorly to FTs who do a bit extra.
1. In a pub discussion on stinginess with photo-copying the Chinese wife of one FT said: 'By having class hand outs you're making them look bad. They couldn't be ar**d doing a bit extra'.
2. I learned to take my cocktail party game groups to deserted parts of the building i.e stairwells. Complaints about 'noise' from Chinese teachers were thinly-disguised complaints that I'm showing up their lack of providing enjoyable ways to use English.
Well done OP. Pity about the reaction of your colleagues. With those attitudes they wouldn't be much fun company anyway.