Job Discussion Forums

[goose]

Currently I am working at a college, next term I am going to be working at a university. What I would like to know from people that have worked at both, what are the differences between the two?

Now I know at a college they study for 3 years and university they study for 4 years. Also the students with be the same age, but what about the motivation of the students towards English classes? I found that at the college half the class wasn't interested in being there, they just come because they had to. Is this the same at a university? Am I dreaming when I ask, at a university will all the students be motivated
studying English?

Also will the university students English be of a higher level?

[Roger]

[Super Mario]

Usually the difference comes down to their entrance exam results. One weak subject will see them going to college. Often, that subject is English: you've witnessed the outcome. But not always. I had a number of very capable English speakers in college classes, especially in commerce related majors.

I doubt you'll notice a lot of difference unless you're teaching English majors.

[Spiderman Too]

Last year I worked at a university and this year I am at a college.

It was a so-called second-tier government university. Only English majors had lessons with foreign teachers; 30 students per class. I don't know whether this is the same at all government universities.

I taught "English for Education" and "English for Business" classes (9 + 1); 9 freshman classes and 1 sophomore class. The English ability of my freshman students was far superior to the third year college students I am now teaching. Also, their motivation / enthusiasm / participation was 10 times that of my college students.

I'm not having behavioral problems with my college students, but they are more challenging to teach and lesson plans need more thought and time to prepare. Still, the almost 50% increase in salary makes up for it.

[pc-pocket]

[tw]

Not trying to hijack the thread but since we are on the subject concerning colleges, does anyone still teach at a, or knows someone who teaches at a "junior college", i.e. college where students are there because they couldn't get into a senior middle school due to low entrance exam score, or at a college where there are junior college students? I was told last night by a Mongolian co-worker that as of couple years ago, China has abolished all junior colleges in order to "improve" the education system. I knew that the college I taught at in Qingdao for my first teaching job in China stopped enrolling junior college students as of last year, but I wasn't aware that it was an universal change across China.

[erinyes]

TW,

There is a junoir college in the town where we work called an Agricultural College. The students that graduate from there don't go on to University, they go to work.

I didn't know they were trying to abolish Junior Colleges, but if they were it woudn't mean anything in this town. There are no laws here.

Helen.

[pc-pocket]

[tw]

[erinyes]