Job Discussion Forums

[ChrisInCanada]

I recently moved to China from Canada and my official start date is may9th. I have a degree and a tesl cert, but no teaching experience. I thought I would be dealing with 6-20 kids max and I felt confident in my ability to teach to that size. However my school just informed me that I will be teaching at a public school with over 60 kids per class.

I have no idea what to expect and none of my prepared lesson plans will work for a class of that size.

My questions are as follows. What were your experiences in teaching classes that big. What should I expect and how can I prepare for it. Would I be simply pronouncing words/sentences from a book or textbook while the students repeat after me?

Any info or insight would be very appreciated

[eslstudies]

Check your contract. Did you agree to be sub-let?
This is classic "bait and switch". I'd be fronting my FAO and refusing to teach classes outside what I'd signed up for. No doubt your "private" [in China this often means "money-grubbing"] school is hoping to make a nice profit on this, so read your contract carefully, and if you're in the right, stick to your guns!

[lostinasia]

Agree with eslstudies ... what did you agree to do ? You say you "thought [you] would be dealing with 6-20 kids max" ... what did you agree to contractually ? Are they sending you to a work location that is different than the contract ? If so then you should give serious thought to keeping or not keeping this job.

[kev7161]

I will echo the previous two posters. Give us more info please about what it states in your contract and maybe we can give you some pointers and suggestions. Are you resigned to this now and will just "roll over" for them or do you still want to teach the smaller classes that you (seemingly) agreed on? More details please.

[ChrisInCanada]

Thank you for the replys. My contract clearly states that I will be teaching to no more than 20 kids per class. I realize this is breaking the contract, but I really don't care. The school has gone above and beyond in making my trip a pleasent experience and I really want to do a good job representing the school. I'm not one for complaining unless its really bad.

What I need is info so that when I go into that class of 60, I'll have an idea of what to expect so I'm better prepared for it. I don't wish to fight or argue with my school at this time

[Anda]

You are not telling much, just public school, what age group, and what year would help.

[cartago]

I've taught elementary school classes with around that many kids. I've found the classes to generally be completely unmanageable without a really strict TA. Otherwise the kids talk all the time, draw on the table, make paper airplanes and anything else they want.

Some FTs are able to get the class under control themselves but like you I'm not a very experienced teacher yet. You definitely need a TA and not just any TA, but a TA that can keep the class under control, which can be hard to find.

Don't shout at the kids to keep quiet, it doesn't work. And don't try to talk above the general noise level. Wait till they're quiet or you'll just get really stressed from shouting all the time.

If the kids are completely out of control, tell the public school about the situation and that you can't teach them unless they do something about it. Perhaps they could make their regular teacher stay in the class with you.

[englishgibson]

[kev7161]

I hate to hurl sour grapes at you, but I'm guessing about, oh . . . let's say FOUR days of teaching to a group of 60 (primary, junior middle, senior middle?), you may well care about those contract breaks! Keep us posted on your situation, good OR bad. We all love a good success story and most of us revel in (and sympathize with) the sob stories!

[eslstudies]

[Anda]

Look it seems you are not getting much help but if your students are old enough then get something funny to read and have the school I mean public school print out enough copies for your students and then have the students read after you. Do a conversation on the board and pick students to come out and answer stuff on the board. You will of course need to keep the conversation going yourself.

Up and into middle school use DVD and have your students repeat stuff after you as it happens in the movie / cartoon.

Worked for me now for six years in the school system. Good luck!

[Steppenwolf]

If you accept a position from a TRAINING CENTRE then you are likely to be farmed out in the way you have described it above.

Few training centres can survive on the business they create in their own facilities; in cities such as Guangzhou it's a safe bet that you will have to work in a public middle school, and classes routinely number upward of 50. 60 really isn't rare!

And yes, very little teaching does take place under such conditions; your presence allows for a token teaching lesson! For once, I would go along with Anda's suggestions! So long as you follow a textbook their parents can monitor their kid's "progress". Albeit a token progress...

But Chinese love to delude themselves...

You might get some adult classes thrown in for good measure and to lighten you up ... some good students that actually study on their own and at their own expense...

...but don't expect that to happen too often!

[Mister Al]

OP

For your own sanity make sure the students know who the boss is on day one. This doesn't mean you need to be nasty....in fact be strict with humour if you can...just don't take crap from those who try it on with you in the beginning. And some will. It's your class not theirs.

Follow the course material and play a few blackboard games etc. Just make sure the students have an opportunity to learn something each lesson even though it's on the cards that not much learning will take place with some/most students, but don't fret about that. If the student's need to take a test later based on what you are teaching them get a copy of it early (or prepare your own) and gear your lessons towards the students passing. If you are popular, and I still mean also the boss, you'll do okay. Strict but fun or the other way round. That's the image I'd go for.

[ChrisInCanada]

Thank you all for your replies they are very helpful. If the school wasn't top notch with great teachers and TA's I would certainly not accept teaching 60 kids. However since they are so great, I'm willing to give this a shot and help them out. Also I'm looking at it from a learning perspective, if I can handle a classroom of 60 students, I can handle anything. Also it will look good on my resume for future schools.

This school itself is really amazing, I m treated like a king here and the apartment they have provided is truly incredible. A doorman/security guard stands watch 24 hours a day outside the building and there is a outdoor park on the 5th floor. I have school liaison who helps me with everything from shopping to contracting workers to fix things in my apartment like my internet.

Anyway I'll post some pics later and will certainly update you on my situation

Thanks again

Chris

[in_asia_bill]

Well, if it is not in the contract and you are prepared to go along with it then dont complain when next week they have you doing nothing but teaching at a local middle school. And dont come on this forum crying about being made to clean the toilets even though it is not in your contract.

If you give them an inch they will take a mile. You have just told them that you have no self-respect and are desparate for a job and will do things which are not in the contract. Dont take it personally and dont think it is as you are a foreigner, they do this to each other all the time as well.