Job Discussion Forums

[No Moss]

[anthyp]

[Long ai gu]

Seems you've dug a bit of a hole for yourself Peter. Many teachers in China have been in this hole or are still in it now, you are not alone. My advice is to face the problem head-on. Tell your students exactly how you are feeling about teaching them--the good honest truth, pull no punches. Make sure you are using simple enough English so they all can understand you. Use humour in class whenever you can. When you show people honesty you'll be surprised at how they will open up to you. Christ man, my students tell me the best thing any foreign teacher can do for them is to talk to them. Of course getting them to talk back is another problem. Many FT's on this forum are under this grand illusion that they are top notch educators and they will try to make you feel bad about yourself. Don't believe all the spew you read here, remember we're all hiding behind the internet.

[Long ai gu]

Seems you've dug a bit of a hole for yourself Peter. Many teachers in China have been in this hole or are still in it now, you are not alone. My advice is to face the problem head-on. Tell your students exactly how you are feeling about teaching them--the good honest truth, pull no punches. Make sure you are using simple enough English so they all can understand you. Use humour in class whenever you can. When you show people honesty you'll be surprised at how they will open up to you. Christ man, my students tell me the best thing any foreign teacher can do for them is to talk to them. Of course getting them to talk back is another problem. Many FT's on this forum are under this grand illusion that they are top notch educators and they will try to make you feel bad about yourself. Don't believe all the spew you read here, remember we're all hiding behind the internet.

[NorbertRadd]

I'll second that previous post.
Just keep going.
Make them practice.
Most have never actually learned a second language as an adult and there are a lot of maturity issues.
Next time try to get a better gig or just bail.
Good luck.
Cheers.

[sheeba]

On first arrival I was compared to the other teacher who previousely taught here . Students would say 'he has a sense of humour ' and I would take this as implying that I do not . I thought students were begining to dislike me . Now I feel things have gotten better - Reasons -

I now plan my lessons and use a textbook - Interchange . I find this book quite useful - It provides structure and although some of the activities I could criticise I adapt them . I think the students respect me more when they see I have planned something.

My sense of humour(being English!) is different from many other foreigners . I don't think the Chinese after 8 months understand it - But I do think that now I have RELAXED a little in class and they find some of my characteristics amusing . I don't think advice like ' Try to inject a sense of humour into your lesson ' has ever helped me . I think just be yourself is the best advice I have ever received and I have only just started to do this.

Students have started to criticise my lessons . some say too easy some say too hard .
I have realised that they are not good judges on what they should be learning . I now evaluate my lessons and look at successes and failures.

I have a long way to go to becoming a good teacher and one that should be respected but only now do I realise that this is a learning curve . You are concerned enough to post on Daves re your problem - I am sure you can win respect from students . I'm still battling too but it is getting better all the time !!! I wish you all the luck in the world!

[tom selleck]

You never mentioned how large your classes are. This has a lot to do with
how to plan an activity. Large classes mean one is pretty much relegated to lots of group work. Circulate and monitor. Let them do the work. They're the ones there to learn a language.

One of the other posters came up with the idea of putting them into groups according to their abilities. In other words, let those who want to learn, learn, and those who don't continue reading Japanese comic books. No idea is right or wrong - it's whatever works for your class.

It's been my experience that students who complain that a class is too easy usually have listening ability that is lacking. If you ask them what is too easy, they'll ask you "What did you say?" Simply adding to the word collection does not a language learner make!

[ChinaMovieMagic]