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University vs. Youngsters

 
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Debs022



Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Fri Feb 21, 2003 5:52 am    Post subject: University vs. Youngsters Reply with quote

I am currently a High School and Primary School teacher. Granted I have not been here long, but I like the schools. Anyway, I was curious if anyone had any opinions regarding the differences between teaching at High/Primary Schools and Universities/Colleges. Is the language level higher and are the students more prepared at the higher level?
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Roger



Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 9138

PostPosted: Fri Feb 21, 2003 3:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My opinion on Chinese education is somewhat dim, due to a long acquaintance with it. In a nutshell: The higher the level, the more unimaginative the students tend to be!
The longer the dumber...
"Dumbing-down' might be a Chinese invention!
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arioch36



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589

PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2003 6:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As Roger has said, he's been here for a while. I tend not to agree. I have only taugh k-primary kids briefly. I find it too be a lot like anywhere, they can be cute,bratty, invigorating, tiring.
I loved teachin high school students, but I did not teach rich-spoiled or bratty kids. Their hearts (overall) was wonderful, English was so-so. Bu they go to school 8 in the morning to 8 at night, 6-7 days a week. Some go to college, and think...I won't work anymore. (I hear this can be really bad in Japan).
I find this to be mostly not true. My experience. My college students, compared to western college students are not bad, do the work I ask...but often have more of a problem understanding what is asked. They must also be told to do things I take for granted...like taking good notes in class.
College students have better english, usually. Better prepared? Not necccessarily. High school is almost always oral english...colleges, every one is different.
To me, the worse schools are language schools. I have liked some of my students there, but most of the time they tend to be much lazier.

I personally believe in God, and trust in him to lead me. Otherwise, I would sayfinding a school is like coling your eyes and throwing a dart. You just don't know what you will really get.

Why I like colleges better, is that it is possible to have more interaction with students and colleagues outside of class. But I REALLY loved my high school students; the girl that spent two hours remembering a speech, when many other just spent 15 minutes, to show her gratitude to me...the boy who was smart, but couldn't let himself be a good student because his parents taught him to hate himself...I'm getting mushy

Good luck, Chris in henan
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ChinaLady



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 171
Location: Guangzhou, Guangdong PRC

PostPosted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 7:26 am    Post subject: University or Youngsters? Reply with quote

Currently I am with a small university in Shanghai and am being "courted" by a large university for the next year. This is a tough choice. I really like my students but I dislike the school politics. Seems I have a new "boss" every semester, whose communication skills are very limited. But school politics seems to be the same all over the world. those in power intend to stay in power.
IF, big thing, if you have a good working relationship with the "powers that be" at your school, stay. The high school students are great! The undergrads are even better at the university. Forget the grads - well, most of them. They are a bit arrogant - afterall THEY are going to have their Masters, LLM, PhD - whatever, since they are admited they will have the degree - no matter what you do! So, enjoy!
The university students are great!!
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Roger



Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 9138

PostPosted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I should, perhaps, clarify some of my comments as regards Chinese students:

I didn't intend to disparage any of them at all!

What I wanted to express was my disillusionment with the results of CHinese education.
It is safe to say that the longer they are exposed to this stultifying process the more dysfunctional they become.

Their habits are set in from primary on. It is rote-learning and doing things together with the teacher, never alone. They don't learn to be responsible for their own success or failure. In young learners, you can ignore this to some extent, but in graduate students it becomes a dilemma: Should those playing truant be passed?
Yes, this system actually breeds truants, hypochondriacs, cheating.

It is also true that socialising with college or university students can be very enriching. In not a few cases, however, befriending a teacher has ulterior motives.
Don't forget that exams in China are not exams by any stretch of your imagination! They have been rehearsed time and again, and copying from one's fellow-students is as much routine as repeating new vocables after a teacher is.
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