Job Discussion Forums

[enigma]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the ideal number of hours per week to teach? I am in the process of negotiating contracts for my first job in China, and I am tempted by some jobs that offer 25 teaching hours/week. How much time can I expect to spend preparing lessons, etc, with that kind of schedule? It seems like a lot, if I am going to do a thorough job and put all my energy into each class. Since I will be new to China, I feel like I'll need some personal time to get my bearings and get settled, at least at first. Is that doable, given those hours? Or would the experienced folk here recommend something smaller to start? I know it depends on the individual, but any input would be appreciated.

Sorry if this has been asked before. I brought this up in another thread, but I thought I'd get more responses this way. Thanks.

[ESL Guru]

The Minister of Education suggests that Chinese English teachers teach no more than 9 hours per week. In realty they teach two or three times that due to a shortage of teachers.

The number of hours is usually determined by the pay or is it the other way around? More hours = more pay = less per hour/but it looks great on paper.

[Minhang Oz]

Lots of factors here. How much teaching have you done before? If you can cope with 20-25 contact hours a week in a Western primary/secondary school, teaching here is pretty easy work. FTs are mostly employed in spoken English [oral] classes. You need to plan these to do a proper job, though the students will have a book of some kind. These texts are often worse than useless, and you'll really need to ascertain the needs and levels of your students before deciding on content. So, initially, you can expect to be busy. But bear in mind, oral English involves no out of class marking. Students can demand large chunks of your personal time however.

If you score some writing classes the situation is different: BIG class sizes- mine are 40 to 50- and a huge amount [potentially] of correction and remedial work to do. There are ways to manage this and keep it in proportion, but post a seperate question if this eventuates.

How many hours? Depends on the pay. 70/80 RMB a teaching hour is probably realistic. Some would argue for more on the coast- there's a thread on this somewhere. A lot of people draw the line at 12/14 hours a week. I do up to 25 without getting particularly worn out, so it's a personal thing. Remember, there will be some extras- English Corner, faculty meetings held in Chinese- activities that push your tolerance, rather than being work in the real sense of the word.
That's assuming you're in a school with housing and utilities supplied. If with an outfit that doesn't do these, look for up to 100 /hour. Bear in mind, a Chinese teaching "hour" is usually 45-50 minutes.

Methodology is all important in not only managing your work load, but also doing the best job possible. It doesn't matter a pig's burp which language acquisition model, or guru, you follow [see other threads here] if you haven't got this basic covered.

This is just based on my experience, but I'm still enjoying the job after 32 years in the classroom, so something must be right.

[ESL Guru]

Yeah but after 32 years I see you are still packing 2 sidearms to keep the peace!

Great post!

[Roger]

A newcomer has to learn from scratch, and you will have to find out what makes your students tick. That will absorb some of your precious time as they can be rather fickle. You do not know where they stand in the English landscape. If your school claims the are "intermediate level", try to make sense out of that: it certainly is not what youmight call "intermediate level". "Advanced level" is even worse - remembering how easily they pass exams here (owing to statistics that are self-fulfilling prophesies for any future).

I suppose you are going to work in a training centre - because almost all training centres have this kind of schedule. That will mean you have several classes spread over the week, all of more or less the same level. You will be able to recycle some of what you have done with the first class.

25 hours certainly is at the top end of what you can bear. MOre than 5 hours a day is cruel. On top of that, plan your lessons at least one week ahead. Review the lessons at home. Be prepared to spend one hour per every two-hour lesson at the beginning! Get the feel of it and become more self-confident.

Have always something ready to fall back on - a game, an activity to entertain as much as to educate or to drill!

[Minhang Oz]

Yes, Roger reminded me, ALWAYS have a " plan B", particularly when relying on using any kind of resource involving technology/electricity/other people. If something can go wrong, it will! As for side arms,"speak softly and carry a big stick; although carrots work better with most students.

[enigma]

Thanks for the replies. It is actually a university (in Dalian) that is offering me 25 hours/week. I am considering other offers as well, and wondered if I should make that a deciding factor against Dalian. Apart from that, it looks like a great job. I've got a few more days to decide, anyway...