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Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

Did you not observe a digital recording of yourself teaching a class as part and parcel of your CELTA course (or equivalent)? Did you not keep this record? Having a sample of yourself on film, at least at the top end of TEFL, is becoming rather like having a CV, viz., a given.

Personally, I find it of some interest that many FTs in China harp on about 'student privacy' (without defining these notions) above. But where, pray tell, is it written that students are to be guaranteed "privacy"? I am willing to bet that few if any FTs in China have students who are protected by any "privacy" clause, especially not the students of those who work at private training centres. Besides, even if there were such a clause, why should this one, particular clause be given such emphasis when most (if not all) others are simply ignored?

Also, it is of some interest that, on this one, single, isolated point, FTs will suddenly appeal to nebulous notions of 'privacy', the rule of law, and respect for others, and so on, and so forth. After all, we have to note that this is despite the fact that they will not think twice about purchasing an illegal bootleg DVD or CD (presumably, in their eyes at least, laws of 'privacy' do not extend to profits). Indeed, in the latter case, notions of law and respect simply go out the window.

Someone above alludes � in quite an immature fashion, it should be noted � to the personal cost of making such a film, but surely the same argument can be made about CVs, or indeed, anything? 'I don't have a digital camera therefore this is a bad idea' is certainly an example of a somewhat strange argument (and, it must be said, of arrogant, egocentric behaviour).

There are private training centres I know of in HK and Japan which have cameras in the classrooms with perpetual online links so that parents, with a password, can log on and observe both their offspring and the teacher in real time. This is the future for private training environments in the developed world and if you can not accept that then I suggest you move on to another field.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

expatben · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject:

Questions asked:

1. Do you think such videos invade student privacy ?

2. If you were asked to provide such a tape, how would you go about solving the logistics of obtaining it without altering the class you record ?

3. How much time should focus on teacher vs. student actions ? (Personally, I don't care for the one response on this so far. I don't know what application review committees look for, but I would suspect that they want to see the teacher doing more than entering the room, putting a topic on the board for discussion, and then letting the kids at it, with minimal effort to monitor them. Yes, teacher talking time should be minimized, but not all classes are suitable for student discussion as moonraven's seem to be. I teach reading/literature classes, TOEFL prep classes, and a group projects class, for example. Sometimes I do nothing more than tell the kids to continue with the previous project on their own, sometimes I give a lecture on a grammar point. Sometimes I review a chapter we've read. It varies.

4. How would you go about explaining the recording event itself to students ? (Certainly, you wouldn't just show up on the day of recording with camera in hand, but what would you say to them when and before it was there? This is sort of related to question 2.)

5. What is your opinion on the relevance of such a tape for experienced teachers ?

6. What sort of class would you figure would be best to use in such a video?

Answers

1) Yes. Some students are shy and not confident and a video camera would make things worse

2)I don't know I'm not much of a techinical guy

3)I personally think the students should talk more the only problem is some employers might not see it that way

4) I would ASK my students if they minded. If it seems like most of them did then I might consider forgetting it. If thats not an option I would get the students who diddn't mind in one part of the room and film them. I would give them notice.

5)Its not relevent. It shows a teacher has rappor with that class. Because someone can teach 5 year olds in the southern part of a country says nothing about their abilities in teaching 20 year olds in the northern part.

6) The class you get on with the best

Sherri · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 3:59 am Post subject:

Hi Glenski

1. Do you think such videos invade student privacy ?

As long as you got their permission first, I think it would be OK. I would tell both the admin of the school and the students that you were recording. Just say you would like it as part of your teaching portfolio. Also it could be a part of your lesson and you could use the transcript, if you or your students make one for students to do error analysis etc.

2. If you were asked to provide such a tape, how would you go about solving the logistics of obtaining it without altering the class you record ?

I would do many recordings so that both me and my students got used to having the camera in the class. I like recording my own class (usually audio tape though) for lots of different reasons. I also like using video. Your students might also like watching the tape. You could use the tape as part of your class, so that your students could hear themselves using English. Good on days when you are doing impromptu speeches, discussions, debates and presentations.

3. How much time should focus on teacher vs. student actions ?
Try to get a balance if you can. That is why taping over several classes might be better, then you can go back and choose which you like best. You certainly should get some of yourself, establishing the aims of your lesson and setting up an activity (giving instructions). Some should be of your interaction with students, maybe answering their questions or eliciting responses, maybe how you monitor group or pairwork.

4. How would you go about explaining the recording event itself to students ? (Certainly, you wouldn't just show up on the day of recording with camera in hand, but what would you say to them when and before it was there? This is sort of related to question 2.)

I think I answered this one in #2. Another point, I knew one teacher who recorded his class a lot. He started by just leaving the camera all set up on a tripod in the class, but not turned on so the students got used to seeing it there, then a few lessons later, after telling the students, he turned it on. Actually I think teachers are more worried about how students react to recording than necessary. They get used to it quickly. My students hated being recorded at first but in my end of term evaluations, they usually write about how helpful it was.

5. What is your opinion on the relevance of such a tape for experienced teachers ?

Do you mean relevance to yourself as part of self-reflection or action research? In that case, taping is great! You learn so much about yourself and how you teach. As a tool for recruitment, I was in charge of recruitment for many years in Tokyo (and have a role now in the community college where I work) I would never ask for a tape. I prefer to meet the teacher face to face. I guess I mean, I don't think I would find it useful, but obviously some people do and they are the ones you have to please in the end.

6. What sort of class would you figure would be best to use in such a video?

I would choose the class that best matched the type of classes the employer is hiring you to teach.

Hope this helps a little.
Sherri

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Glenski: If I were on that university review committee I would definitely vote YES--student production and productivity should be the goal of any class, and I really would not care what the teacher in question did to set it up. I am interested in results. Not in "yes, buts".

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:25 pm Post subject: Sounds familiar!

Sherri · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject:

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

The idea that a recruier would use a video as a requirement to weed out applicants and potential troublemakers of the basis of being sufficiently annoying to remove those who will put up with anything rings my warning bells.

Any school prepared to annoy their employees before they have even become employees probably won't treat them too well after the contract has been signed either. So they may well think they are testing my character by asking if I'm prepared to send a video. equally, when I refuse for [mumble] reason, I am testing their character to see how well they can work out mutual agreements with potential colleagues.