Job Discussion Forums

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Hi guys,

My wife, an instructional designer by trade, was approached recently to design a TEFL course that upcoming inexperienced teachers could take and be ready to face a CHINESE classroom. We'd be very interested in hearing your suggestions at to what should be incorporated in the curriculum of this course.

The general idea is that the company setting this thing up want to do 60/40 split between theory and practice in different settings (uni, kinder, mid-scl, etc...)

thanks for the feedback

Fiskadoro · Joined: 26 Nov 2004 Posts: 17 Location: China

Singing and Dancing lessons. Perhaps also how to apply blonde hair dye and insert blue coloured contact lenses. Job's a good 'un.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Nolefan, I think it's a great idea. We do a TEFL course in Mexico that is primarily focused on teaching people who speak Spanish.

It is a great failing of TEFL to believe that a TESL pattern can be followed the world over. Anything you can do in the classroom that appeals to and assists the L1 culture must and should be considered. This is the future of TEFL.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I do believe that it's a good idea. All the other programs prepare you to teach English within a "professional" setting with a reasonable amount of students per class and none of that conversation crap.

The idea with dong this is to get the teachers ready to deal with classrooms of 40+ which is sadly the norm in Chinese public schools. Also, it would touch on topics like teacher's rights, contracts and whatever else is deemed necessary to "survive" and EFL career in the mainland.

Still waiting on suggestions.. Cool