Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

So, here we are nearing the end of another school year. For me, it means going home soon, possibly never returning. I have learned a lot about myself as a person and as an educator. I was never formally trained as an EFL teacher, but do have teaching credentials. What has your time (whether briefly or for a long time) in China or any other foreign country taught you about yourself. Here are a few things I've learned:

1. I've learned I CAN climb six flights of stairs every day (sometimes twice) and not die.

2. I've learned my classroom management skills that were pretty good back home were all but useless here.

3. I've learned new classroom management strategies that have become easier to implement over time.

4. I've learned that high school students are akin in many respects to the fifth and sixth graders I've taught back home.

5. I've learned that Chinese students can be equally loving and hateful all in the same day.

6. I've learned that yelling at students does no good, but just stop talking and they usually quiet down within a minute's time.

7. I've learned that dealing with Chinese school administration is a lost cause.

8. I realize that if I stuck with this career (but not this school) that I would get better and better as the years go by - - but don't know if I have the internal fortitude to do so.

I'm sure I'll add a few others as they strike me, but would be interested in reading what you have to say. I will admonish all that this is not what you've learned about CHINA, but rather yourself in regards to the Chinese school(s) where you've taught.

[Roger]

Sad to learn you are going to leave us for good.

I have learnt that my learning curve goes on endlessly; I might have come full circle many times over in those many years I have been in China.

Beware though - once you are back in your birth place you will have to learn anew... Sturelle knows what this means!

[struelle]

You got that right Rog. Actually at this point I'd do anything to go back to China.

The weather here is acting all weird and stuff. We had an unseasonably cold and rainy last couple of weeks. Before that, there was a drought in Feb / March and a record low snowpack on the mountains. Now the mountains got fresh snow in April, but a tropical system is coming in that will wash it away, as flood warnings are in effect. Meanwhile the East has all the warm weather now and I now see reports of 25 degrees and sunny in Shanghai and Hangzhou!

There's not much encouraging news on my practicum either. The 1st semester is winding down, as my faculty advisors 'celebrate' by belittling my work on the final course projects, saying I just 'threw it together'. Another issue is that they've accused me of being a textbook teacher, the things they've said about my teaching are not unlike that which we accuse the Chinese teachers of, actually

It's almost as if these guys get defensive and clamp down at the slightest sign of teaching to the book or to a test that counts for marks. This is despite the fact that I teach upper-level sciences and I can't ignore marks and tests because students rely on them for their university applications.

Anyway, I suppose I can consider all this a needed dose of humility after enjoying an extended run of success in China that has gone to my head.

Steve

[NorbertRadd]

Do anything else but "teach" here.
Teaching's only accomplished if someone wants to learn.
That's impossible with test takers and rote learners.

[Sinobear]

I agree with Kev's points 4, 5 and 6. I would add to #4 that college students can be the same (as fifth and sixth graders) and to #6 that if you ask a class to quieten down - they won't. Ask them to contribute to a discussion, and you can hear an ant fart from across the room.

What I've learned about teaching in China:

1. Patience pays premiums.
2. Never equate a person's intelligence with their English ability.
3. Patience provides peace.
4. They'll only push as far you'll let them.
5. Patience puts people in their place.
6. Students know who cares and who doesn't - they'll treat and respect you accordingly.
7. Patience is not a virtue - it's a lifeskill here (gotcha!).
8. It's possible to know yourself - but you'll grow and rediscover the best and worst of yourself here.
9. I'm not infallible.
10. You can't feel sorry for everyone who deserves to be felt sorry for (credit: Andy Rooney).
11. Life is never so bad that it can't get worse (credit: Calvin and Hobbes).
12. There's a lot of B.S. when there's a language/culture barrier. I've learned to hate Australians (c'mon - prove me wrong).
13. Craziness helps - lots.
14. This Is China (TIC).
15. There is no prostitution in China (cough, cough), but what people are willing to do for money here would make a hooker at a PTL convention blush.
16. There's more left handed people teaching here than is statistically normal.
17. Chinese students will work harder to cheat\lie\create excuses than what would be required to complete the assignment in the first place.
18. The ultimate: with cheating and payoffs so prevalent here - would you entrust your life to a pilot\doctor\wife who has already gained an expertise in fraudulent activities?

Cheers!

[go_ABs]

Sinobear - as a lefty myself I was curious as to your reasoning behind point 16. Care to share?

[Sinobear]

Go_ABs: I've worked with more lefties (at my current school, there's five of us out of twelve FTs). I've met countless lefties on my travels - moreso than I've previously encountered in Canada.

I guess it's true - only left-handed people are in their right mind.

Cheers!

[ironclay]

I've learned that if I teach one more term after the current one
I will go nut...

[Long ai gu]

TOLERANCE....

[Susie]

This article puts it succinctly:-

http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/LPRU/newsarchive/Art3434.txt

[Keath]

To be a "MASTER of my domain.."

[brsmith15]

How to write the best book I've ever done so far: "Living in the Shadow of the Chairman." Never had so much fun writing and maybe that was because my past works were on business, computers, science. Rather dull stuff.

[kyoko]

I've learned that the max capacity of an elevator is optional
I've learned that I am not white
I've learned that racism will never go out of style
I've learned that the Chinese HATE the japenese more than i realized at first
I've learned that appearance and wealth IS what life is all about
I've learned that you never really know what you got 'till its gone

chao
3!

[jeffinflorida]

I�ve learned that the belief that all Asian students are highly intelligent is a total stereotype. (i.e. thus not true.)

I�ve learned that dumbasses can be found on any continent.

I�ve learned that the conception that Asian students are better students than U.S. students is totally inaccurate

[T.C.53]

MONEY TALKS AND -ULLSH-T WALKS.

Its not a job its an adventure.



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