Job Discussion Forums

writpetition · Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 213

After I returned to my university this term I was informed by my co-teacher that I had been selected the 'best teacher' last term and that I would get a small cash reward (wu bai kuai) alongwith a certificate.

I've taught in China in three different universities before the present one and I had never heard about such an award though I have heard of assessments where students actually fill out forms and write their views about their teachers. But a reward, and that, to a foreign teacher is something that was a pleasant shocker!

Has anyone heard of such awards and what do they mean? Will it, in some way, help me get better and more remunerative jobs?

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

congratulations! and i mean that.

now, on a related note, i was voted best teacher at my first job in china (nanning, guangxi). they asked me to stay (no award or salary increase mentioned tho) for another year.

on the day i decided to accept their contract for another year, we (i and other FTs) learned that that particular school, for some reason didnt want to, or couldnt hire any of us back after all. why?

turns out that they found a few 19-20 year olds to replace us (obviously at lower cost) in the coming fall term.

maybe your case is different. however, take what you've been told with a grain of salt. it may not mean what you think it means.

Very Happy

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

Fair play to you .

Can you provide some examples of what you teach ? Just out of interest.

writpetition · Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 213

Thanks, 7969! I will do as you suggest...grain of salt...I know how things often aren't as they seem...

Sheeba, I teach Oral English courses here at my current university. To the extent I possibly can, I try and give maximum talk time to my students, using whatever ploys I can to keep them interested, involved and active.

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

祝贺你。。。

It is indeed a positive sign when a school rewards hard work with some red maos, and not just another dinner with "a leader" . Such "banquets" here only ever pass slowly with stale laughs and tired grins occasionally praising the greatness of all FTs (all of whom eventually return to their rooms to pick out the black bits of discomfort long lodged between their teeth).

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

I quite enjoy dinner with the "leaders." The first thing they do is make sure they bring along 200 contracts to sign and all 4 of their cell phones so that EVERYONE in the restaurant knows that they are the "leader."

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

A group of my students greeted me with "congratulations, you're number one".
I told them I thought they were pretty good too. It wasn't until i was invited to the teacher award ceremony that I knew what they meant: 4 pinkies and a bronze plaque. I treasure that plaque!!
And while student votes had some part to play, i think it was the department head voting me "Least Difficult Foreigner to Deal With". The others were "special".

As for the OP's query, I don't know about other jobs, but I got an 8,000 "re-signing bonus".