Job Discussion Forums

[leetrefz]

So I've got an offer from a university. I've got to admit, having mostly taught tots it's kind of intimidating, but the only offer from the place I wanna be. I''ve taught 20 year olds in public schools... what more is there to teaching at a uni? How different, more intensive is it? Any info/advice will be much appreciated. Thanx!

[Maltezer]

I taught for a year at a state primary school in Guangxi and after 2 years with a jv company, moved to Kunming to the Normal University for the past 2 years.

I would suggest you ask what year/grade you'll be teaching. Although you'll probably be given a textbook of some sort, you would be wise to find out if you're going to have oral classes or writing classes, or a mixture of both as you will probably want to use your own materials. It's possible you'll be asked to teach literature. You really need to know before you start.

Also find out if the level(s) you'll be teaching will have any national exams such as TEM 4 or 8. These are the Tests for English Majors. Four is for second years, 8 is for fourth years usually. These cover both writing and oral, though not all students do the oral exams. If you know the students will be doing these, it will give you a focus.

At my university the foreign teachers are left pretty much to their own devices which is nice to a point, but it would be equally nice to have some feedback. The foreign teachers provide the syllabus.

The admin is poor - ie it is assumed you are aware of everything going on unless you ask. All notices are in Chinese which isn't easy if you don't speak/read it. There is no interaction between Chinese and foreign teachers as we have our own staffroom and only occasionally see a Chinese teacher at the photocopier ... I don't know if all universities are like this.

The second year was much easier as I had my lesson plans and knew the 'system'.

The students were great, although low level - highest being intermediate.