Job Discussion Forums

[limits601]

Hello

Im looking at going with a new company to teach and they would like me to do an English corner as a test run to see if im good material to be hired. Well, i have been teaching in China now for 3 months but i teach the wee ones, not the older people yet.

So I would like to make a good impression on them so they will hire me but im still a little lost on this English corner thingy. They want me to host a 2 hour English corner for 25 maximum people. The skill level is unknown cause anyone can come to these so that makes it a little more complicated for me. They just want these people to talk so i guess thats my goal but do i do like a presentation for say 30 minutes on a topic first and then introduce some discussion questions or just have discussion questions or should i play a game like Jeopardy but much simplier. I dunno.

Im sure hundreds of you have tons of experience with English corners and you advice would be awesome. Thanking you in advance, Jeff :+)

[Sinobear]

One should make every attempt to run away from an English Corner...not run one! Do a search for "english corner". There were a lot of good posts - advice and other views a while back.

[dajiang]

Its hard to run it.
So my advice is not to run one yourself, but have students run it.
They wanna have one, so they should set it up.
You're then a vital part of it obviously, but not responsible.
takes the work off your hands too.

another one is: it shouldn't be frontal (like a frontal lesson, with an 'audience') it should be varied, in different corners, or at least in groups doing stuff. you could make a circuit in which groups change corners every 20 or so minutes. (lot of work to prepare it)

As for activities, variation is the key.
you can do 'campfire' activities, or discussions or things with music.
even translating contests (i looked for chinese kid songs and people who wanted could try and translate them, worked very well, and gave away some presents: budget from school), karaoke, some ss play music themselves.
boardgames, and drinking games adapted for ESL are good too.
Movies are nice of course, but ss already watch a lot of them. You could do a discussion afterwards.
You could do presentations or have 'theme parties'.

Good luck,
and im looking forward to hear more ideas.

Da Jiang

[ChinaMovieMagic]

RE: Movies
If you have access to a DVD/VCD, that can change the English Corner dynamics from Teacher-centered to Learner-centered.
SUGGESTION: Just show a scene of a movie which they:
*have seen
*haven't seen

Just a few minutes is enough for them to:
*Describe what they see in the scene
*do Role Play, expanding upon/changing the scene
*discuss what happened before/after
*make up ideas of what the characters are thinking

Have folks sitting in pairs in chairs, facing each other in lines. Have them circulate every few minutes, BEFORE the energy peak is reached, rather than AFTER. Participate either as a circulating partner or as a 3rd person at the end of line. Move around. Focus upon promoting a lively environment. Fluency rather than perfection.

Lots more at the China/Job-related Posting: "Promoting Change in China's Classrooms"

I note that most of the many-many Postings last October seemed to dislike English Corners. I don't share their perceptions. For me, I thrive on the dynamics POSSIBLE in English Corners. From north (in Shenyang, EnglishCorner is held EVERY night) to South (Zhuhai's Gateway Village has EC every night), I have seen that Art rather than Authoritarianism can make the possible become actual.

[cj750]

In an effort many school will schedule a FT for a test session (as your English Corner) when in reality they have a promotion going on and need the Entertainment for the event...a test session should take no more than 15 to 20 min and at the most one "class session" whereas you would be tested on your ability to interact with the students...from what you have writen it would appear that the school has hired you to do a two hour English corner (by the way 2 hours is a really long time and I sometimes give speeaches that last one hour with an hour Q & A) In this case you should be paid for your preformance here...cj

[lagerlout2006]

You should get more details. In theory at least you can't "run" an English Corner. It is supposed to be an open free-talking session for self-motivated people. Ha! Of course it rarely works that way...I have seen it work well when it's held in a public place and non-students attend.

But they might be doing something differnent and just calling it EC because they dont know waht else to call it. cj750 is right something sounds fishy about it. Honestly, I wouldn't agree to it. If it's about hiring you they can interview you or perhaps you teach a class at their school. If they just want me to attend an EC that's OK but not to "run" it.

If people show up and want to speak it could be OK. If they show up waiting for "a class" it's going to be 2 hours of torture...

[Roger]

Make sure you get paid for this 2-hour session; don't make it a corvee job, man! I never do English COrners, and most definitely, never for free! If I had to do it, it would be something totally uneducational, entertaining, games.

[limits601]

Ya, i know it sounds a little odd cause its really not me running a 2 hour class, they do all the talking, i just motivate it so what they will base there hiring on, i have no idea

I did have an interview the a person there and this is what he suggested i do so they can see my teaching style. I dunno. There is no pay unfortunatly and the worst thing is, i have to travel 1 hour to this city and be there all day. So its going to cost me like 100 Yuan to do this.

Thank you all for your advice. I think i will email them back and reconsider the whole idea. I think they just want to pimp a 2 hour english corner out of me cause they have a tough time filling it themselves.

Thank you !

[Sinobear]

Are you that desperate for the job? I've never (and will never) do a demo class.
You audition to be an actor/actress, not a teacher. If they will get you to do this just to get the job, imagine what you'll have to do to keep it.

Tell them 400 RMB for the 2-hour EC and see what they say. But really, it seems you are being played for a sucker.

Good luck, anyhoo!

[lagerlout2006]

OK Sinobear. I have also never done a demo class and plan to keep the streak running.

The thing about it is it would cost you a whole day---more important than the money. But sometimes you can have fun with these things----show up like Mr Big Shot.

[badtyndale]

Never, never, never, never, never. (There's an idea - how many times did I say the word? The English equivalent of the na ge, na ge game!)

Nope - never quite managed to find it in myself to do that little bit extra of unpaid work. The Chinese excuse, "Maybe next week" comes in handy at school.

I have done a 2 hour adult mixed ability informal gig without any guidance (for money of course, academic prostitute that I am). It's a tough do! Variety needed throughout - but some general theme to tie it all together.

cj750's notes the promotion thing (not the same kind as ChinaMovieMagic's) - it's a real possibility - happened to a pal of mine. Basically, they get the laowai in for a couple of hours on this 'try-out' premise to see how they get along with the students BUT they aren't really students... at least not yet. Once you've been packed off, they start signing them up for courses (not necessarily with native-speaking instructors! Oh, the shame of it!).

Always get paid. Some kids come up to me on the street and say, 'Hello, we study English can we talk with you?'
I say, 'Give me 50 kuai and I'll talk to you for 10 minutes.'

[ChinaMovieMagic]

With all this group-inspired learning curve, I wonder about the feasibility of developing some sort of FT Association, in which FT Members develop a list of key practices and No-No non-practices...and with the signing-on of some govt. and private schools/bureaus/associations...it could raise the achievement bar a little...

FT Gonghui?
Power-in-numbers?
BUT...discretion is more effective than in-the-face style

Jackie Chan rather than Bruce Lee...

[Roger]

I am glad to learn you bowed out, 601!
English Corners are a common enough thing in China, and the idea is that since it is about generating fun it is NOT teaching, therefore you don't deserve pay.

Every major newspaper that I know runs English Salons, and they advertise for foreign residents or even tourists to drop in FOR FREE, of course, with the occasional "FREE MEAL" offered.
Some companies do it too for their staff. My take is: NO, NO, and again: No! It is not so much the missing money that disturbs me - it is the notion that I must support a group exercise in talking English that they can do perfectly on their own. If I want to take part in it I would want to add a little direction. But you will soon discover they won't pay much heed to anything you wish to change.

Once I was even roped in for a matchmaking club that masqueraded under the name of "Lonely Hearts English Club"...
Note that Chinese visitors to these formal gatherings held at company premises such as newspaper offices or the above club are all PAYING MEMBERS!

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I've taught English for like 5 years+ in Asian and yet have I done an English Corner. Been asked many times, but refused all times (and all times in China).

I would say "I would like to, but I have too many promises to keep during the times we could do an English corner. I really value my private time."

[peggiescott]

For all of you who sanctimoniously avoid English Corner, I applaud your escapist skills. However, before the rest of us emulate your independence, a quick peek at our contract might be in order. My contract, for example, specifically lists English Corner under (unpaid) extra-curricular events.