Job Discussion Forums

[mondrian]

[Comfy Chair]

The real question is how well behaved, attentive, and motivated are students in ANY country? By and large.. not very. Especially in imposed classes that are percieved as being useless to them. For example, I live in Canada and grew up having to go to french class once a day for 9 straight years.

I did not care about french, I did not want to learn french, and I did not feel that I would ever make use of french just like 99% of the rest of the students. I learned to spew out that which was needed on a test... but once summer came all was forgotten I now know as much french as I did in grade 1.

I've never been to china, I do plan on going soon to teach, but I do know that people are people. We may have different customs and beliefs but deep down we're all the same.. and if we don't care about something than the best teacher in the world will fail at teaching you, and the best teacher in the world wont get you interested.

Just look at university students at home. How many raise their hands to ask questions or give input when the professor asks for it? Maybe two in a class? and how many sit there playing flash games and using MSN on their laptops instead?

[TravellingAround]

[latefordinner]

Nice one, TA.

In class this morning We had a case history of "Lao Zhou" who elected to take his son out of the school system and home school him. It's one of those case histories that is so terrible it just has to have been fabricated. In the introduction, it mentions that Lao Zhou himself never had to "endure the torments of middle school" (I think I'm quoting accurately, BICBW), because he was a teenager during the cult rev. Then it mentions that he received a master's degree in education right after the cult rev. This for me is a "stop the class" moment. The man never went to middle or higher school, never studied for his bachelor's degree, just went on to get his master's with no academic preparation or training. Right after the cultural revolution. OK class, how much relevent academic work do you think he did to earn that MA? Reading the rest of the story, how much do you think that MA is worth? What does this story tell you about the school he received his degree from? With a master's degree, this man is, at least on paper, no less qualified than most of your chinese teachers. He could be their leader, he could be the experienced old hand telling them how to teach. Perhaps he is, or someone just like him. Would you know the difference?

[abusalam4]

How well behaved they are?.....I assume you are talking about University students?

From that perspective, I have never seen any special problems. I have been in Chine twice already and will go this year probably for a third time - always teaching Unibersity students. So what I say may not necessarily apply to other kinds of student, at middle schools, for example.

At university, I always explain the objectives of a course in the beginning, and I say clearly what I would expect to be their performance in the final semester exam. I also tell them that from time to time I may choose to controll their attendance/presence in class by calling their names from a list. I also make it clear that it is not my job to "discipline" them in case of problems and tell them about student-teacher relationships at institutions of Higher Education in my country. I ask them to come to see me if they have questions or need some other kind of help. This is what I do in case of undergraduate classes.

Teaching courses at Graduate School level or dealing with advanced students working on their research thesis for Master or the Doctorate, there is mostly no need to remind students of such things. I have had many students under my care by directing their research thesis work; they were ambitious, hard-working and easy to help to achieve their goals. Things as these haqve always been the best and most enjoyable periods in my life to see and help students develop and grow.

Strangely enough, even kindergarden schools tried to hire me although I told them clearly that I am not good at that kind of teaching. Teaching Oral English and Written English Skills to student at undergraduate level is what most FT in China do; for me it would be very boring; I would not enjoy it and thus most likely not be a good teacher. Most Chinese I have met seem to have some problems in understanding this.

China's tertiary (higher) system of education currently seems to stand for quantity but not for quality. They may face serious problems in the not far too distant future when those responsible are not aware of it and make a move to work on it.

Meanwhile, gou rou hen haochi.....

[mondrian]

[clarrie]

OK, this thread seems to be going 'all over the place' in many ways, but let me give you a pearl from a student, a failed/ing student one would think, on a course feedback form:

'There are no bad students only bad teaching methodology'.




OK, know what you're thinking, but he sits next to someone who is actually very bright and 'switched on'; she is the host body for this parasite - all his best ideas come from her!