Job Discussion Forums

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Don't you hate it when you write a post and then it gets erased? That's what happened here, I'll retype a shorter version of the original.

Just yesterday I was chatting with the Director of English programs for senior students at the school I'm at. He's not my boss, but he gave me a copy of a 'job description' for the FT responsibilities. By and large it's a paraphase of what's in my contract. However, there are all kinds of vague clauses in the description that aren't in the contract.

Take this one, for example: "Tutoring students after school: More students are attracted into English Club activities and the teacher helps to create better language environment gradually"

I get paid an hour a week, in my contract, for English club. I understand the above to mean several things: (1) Over time, there are more students who come in the club for the same time per week. (2) There are more English clubs over time, and I spend more time in those. (3) I do extra activities aside from English clubs

From our conversation, it turns out that assumption (3) was mainly correct. That is, the director hinted that I am obligated to spend time in 'free English chats' with students and teachers while on campus. This can happen anytime, anywhere, such as: at the basketball courts, in the dining hall, in my office, etc.

This comes as no surprise. In the Chinese mind, conversations and relationships take on a transactional element. An FT is a resource. He is also a person, but mainly a person who supplies English improvement. If this happens in the class, great, but an FT is on duty anytime he is in eye-sight.

Of course I can be flexible with this. The odd chat here and there is fine and it's fun. But what gets under my skin is when people take advantage. In this case, it's the English director who knows my schedule and "drops in" to my office to have these long chats when I'm in-between classes. A simple discussion on a schedule turns into this convoluted and stupid debate on English and Chinese as global languages. His take on the issue is that Chinese sucks and English is supreme. But I think he disagrees with me just so he can practice these complex and stilted phrases he reads from magazines that nobody ever says in real life. An easy solution to this nonsense is just to avoid my office but that is silly - I need to use the computer to do lesson plans, prepare for the next class, etc.

I kindly ask for any suggestions on how to deal with this and set effective boundaries.

On a more general note, genuine free talk involves and equal exchange of views and is focused on a person. English then, improves as a byproduct. If Chinese students are serious about going abroad and learning more from foreigners, they need to understand more about equality and how it plays out in conversation.

Steve

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I suggest yo9u hang your lofty ideas about equality between Westerners and Chinese in your chimney and smoke it!
CHinese ideally need acculturation, a preparation for socialising and interacting with us on our terms - but here, we are being acculturated to their lifestyle, including how we should teach our lingo to them!
I have never believed in this talking mania, so-called "oral English, English Corners etc. - it's for immature, intellectually atrophied chatterboxes with inferiority complexes. It's plain useless, and in spite of this harsh verdict we are here mostly to oblige their whims!
What can you do to escape being pulled over the table?
I have no idea - except to say you must ponder whether you want to walk out on them!
This is because you are probably tied to them by contract which forbids you from working on the side.
So they will pile on, pile on and pile even more on to ensure you are not going to moonlight.

And, you are the one-man native English speaking show that helps them to delude themselves they are in a kind of total immersion situation!

The only alternative might be for you to RENEGOTIATE A SPECIAL DEAL WHEREBY YOU GET PAID OVERTIME.

MartinK · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

MartinK · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344

ChinaLady

and that is what you are doing when you let "the director" or "the professor" or whom ever drop in and chat - request a favor.
1. you have a car? wonderful - I really need a ride to Carrefour, Mega Mart - whatever.
2. I am starving - lets go for a meal. (and have a list with taxi instructions to the four closest most expensive places you know.)
3. wear headphones - who cares if they are connected to anything. better if they are playing your favorite music so loud they can hear it vibrating from you skull.
4. smile, and go to the bathroom. for a long time.
5. smoke, badly, blowing smoke all over him or her.
6. smile. and ask questions in Chinese.
7. smile. and ask questions in French.
they (I know that word again) want us as their trained smiling monkeys with no attitude whatsoever. listen and smile. and smile. and smile.
, , , and I'll trade you my "director" for your director.

sallyann · Joined: 18 Oct 2003 Posts: 39

Great advice from China Lady. Seriously Struelle, you do need to set some boundaries for your own protection. To set a boundary, you have to accept that you may not always appear to be A Really Nice Guy. This director who corners you in the office and raves on with all his nonsense, now takes it for granted, gets a big ego boost from it, and probably won't like it if you try to pull the plug. No way should you avoid going into the office so you won't have to deal with him! Don't let him drive you away!

Simply look up from the computer and say with a friendly smile "I really have a lot to do now and I need to get on with it. Hope you have a great day! (or whatever) Then turn back to the computer and stare intently at it. When he persists in standing there and talking to you (which he will) DON'T LOOK UP FROM THE COMPUTER! Give short, or one-word answers to his questions. DON'T LOOK UP IT WILL ONLY ENCOURAGE HIM!

People like him are usually amazingly insensitive and take a long, long time to get the message. Subtle hints never work with them. So you have to be really firm - sometimes bordering on rude - or they will just keep using you and using you. The thing I find most offensive about these types is that they really don't give a damn about you personally. Any foreigner would do. It is, as you say, a calculated attempt to milk you for their own benefit. If you don't mind that (and I know some foreign teachers really don't) that's fine. But you obviously do because you wrote this post. Get clear about the conditions of your contract, eliminate all the vague wording and strike a deal that you think is fair. Good Luck!