Job Discussion Forums

mr_cshaw · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Travelling

I am waiting to hear details about a position in a Chinese private college (part of a univ). Met this professor while I was hitching in NZ. (Drove his car for 3 hours because he was a little new to driving!) Anyway, he is setting up a job for me. The details are a bit thin so far, but I think it could work out once I get more onfo from him. Been researching here to better prepare and it has been useful.

But how about some good stories? Successes in teaching? New unexpected friends? Personal growth from the challenges?

I have a long and varied work experience, but teaching english will be new. I doubt I will have much guidance from the sound of things. I'm expecting to be thrown on my tukis at first but then... hope to enjoy myself. Is this possible?

I challenge you guys a little GOOD STORY INDULGENCE. Laughing

Come on now...

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

It's only English teaching. Some people have written that " teaching ESL in China is the toughest job you're ever gonna love" and other such hoopla and ballyhoo. In the end, it's work, and will have moments of satisfaction mixed in with long stretches of numbness, fatigue and disillusionment, symptoms that accompany any job.

Perhaps because of the location (the orient), and the lack of a need to be qualified or aware of what one is doing in the classroom contributes to the strange mystique that surrounds teaching ESL in China. In reality, if one has interest in the work, learns about and implements research, has imagination, and students not too tainted by the state (of things), the job can burgeon into an array of variegated blooms. Otherwise, ESL in China quickly deteriorates into a mess of garble gurgling at the top of its organs before a room of semi-conscious life forms.

Though it wasn't here in China, the best group I've ever taught in my four years of teaching was a kindergarden class of three students in Seoul. These three six year olds not only understood more English than my current undergrads, but could also use much more advanced and eloquent English to express an array of ideas and emotions. I still remember one class where we listened to some Tangerine Dream ("Nebulous Dawn" was the song) for five minutes as a warm-up. I asked the students to draw their impressions of the song, and then explain what they drew. All three took turns speaking for around three minutes each, giving some very intricate impressions of the song, and their responses to it. After the explainations, they wanted to keep listening to the atmospheric music while having a game of team chess.

Later on in the course, I wrote a short play for them based on three Blake poems (The Tyger, The Lamb and The Fly). In two weeks they had memorized each others poems and lines.

An absolute dream class in what was an otherwise very run of the mill language mill in South Korea.

But here I've yet to encounter such a group, nor do I expect to find a similar experience. The imaginations of the university aged Chinese (the younger I cannot comment on) are sparse. They speak, and are often just automatic mouthes yammering on about the Olympics, Celin Dion and "China is a developing country... In following the the development of China...If China could develop more quickly...China's development is too slow..."

Sometimes the pablum stinks more than the sewage spilling out of the drains and onto the roads.

I really do miss my babies of 2002. Making interactive puppet shows, eating chocolate and listening to Ummugumma. I do miss them.

Gorak · Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 69 Location: SW of Khabarovsk

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

A good story essentially is one the FT can tell all by himself (or herself); usually, however, the first part is told by his recruiter: "An absolutely stunning cityscape, the nation's most IQ-endowed students, the hihgest salaries the province can pay, and all our FTs renew their contracts every single month of their ten-month stint!"

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

Shan Shan an amazing story about the 3 kids. Truly gifted. Why were they so good? I get goosebumps when a student can pronounce a sentence correctly.
Look if you come here, give all your love and energy to the kids, you will probably only see them once a week but make it a fun class, get them interested, talk and cajole them but don't get angry. The poor little baastards have enough of a hard time. If you can come away teaching one phrase in English, more power to you.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

Clark it's great you tell us about other peoples experiences in China - maybe you've done some kind of survey to be able to come up with your detailed results?
On the background of this could we find out a little more about your work history here - and how you have enjoyed working in mainland China as an FT Question

Lobster · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

As was chosen for the topic of this thread, most really good stories here involve throwing the bone. Does this have the same meaning in your country? Do we really want to start talking about this aspect of the "good life"? Embarassed

RED

TingBuDong · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:21 am Post subject:

It's true that you are not going to find many good stories on this website, which worried me before I came, but in reality most teachers I've met in person are enjoying themselves. Having thousands of posts on a message board isn't necessarily a healthy sign that you are enjoying yourself in China. I'm having a very good experience myself; the students are mostly wonderful (if not very sophisticated) and the more outgoing ones are becoming friends outside of class (cooking, basketball, etc.). I have the freedom to make classes more interesting than what's in the (very dull) textbook. I've made a lot of Chinese friends, which is a big help in improving my Mandarin. I play guitar and have performed a number of times in town with friends from a guitar shop. I'm also taking lessons now on a Chinese stringed instrument, the "gu zheng". I would rather be doing this than anything any of my friends are doing back home, even if I'm making the least amount of money. Do your reading on China, know the negatives beforehand, don't expect to save a lot of money, and it will be fine. I also have a weblog with more detail: http://danteachesenglish.blogspot.com.

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

A very sweet student confided in me immediately after losing her virginity. She was so excited and overwhelmed by the experience that she just had to share it with someone, and she chose me. I was touched by her trust in me.

Waitresses in two different restaurants took special care of me and tried very hard to understand my words and gestures.

On a trip to Hainan with a Chinese tour group, a young Chinese man took it upon himself to assist me with language issues. He wasn't pushy or
'know it all', he was just plain helpful and friendly. We have maintained a lively correspondence.

When my husband and three adult children joined me for a whirlwind tour around China we had a blast! We all fell in love with Xi'an, had our pictures taken with dozens of strangers, spent our country's independence day on the Great Wall, and walked on the outside of the Macau Tower.

I asked my classes to write stories and skits that were interesting and they did. They made me laugh and cry and ask for more.

It always makes me smile to see the guy raking the grass stop for a moment to answer his cell phone.

.

mr_cshaw · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Travelling

Ahh, thank you very much for your stories and ideas.

Sorry for the delay buy I have been battling traveller's sickness and a badly infected burn on my leg. I wouldn't normally say this but I feel cursed here in Thailand. Time to go.

Will be in China by the end of the month. I feel more at ease after reading your thoughtful comments. It is going to be difficult, but I can see that things are nowhere near as grim as you would think from the typical comments on the forums.

I wonder how my young adults will be. If I accept a load of 6 classes a day that could be 180 students! Next step is to get there.

Thanks again.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

Anyone who uses the word "tukis" should be ok....

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

I remember a class of 2 students in a "juku" (cram school) in rural Japan. The two were brother and sister, both in junior high school. They were probably the best students I've ever had. As long as I didn't use slang, I could talk to either of them like I'm typing to you now -- without any concern for difficult words or phrases. We used to sit around and play games just for the fun of it since there wasn't really anything from the textbook they didn't already know. At first I couldn't get over how well they spoke English and when I asked them "Why?" they explained that their parents were both teachers. "Ah, obsessive English teacher parents," I thought -- But no. Neither parent taught English, they just encouraged their kids to study.

Easiest class ever.

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Mr. CShaw.. 6 classes a day is a huge class load at a university. Are you sure you have that right? Maybe it's six classes, two hours each, for the week. 12-18 class hours a week is pretty standard for universities. Don't forget that you will need to do lesson planning and preparation. There will probably be some grading and testing too. Don't take on 30 hours of classes a week!