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[nickpellatt]

As I fly home for the summer this weekend I thought I would post my own report on my first term as an English teacher...I guess some newbies will be heading out for their post pretty soon...you might be able to take something from this...

On reflection my inexperience has shown thorugh quite a bit! I was very keen upon arrival and had lots of ideas I could take into the classroom. I had some extra material, then of course, ideas that I quickly took from my textbook.

One mistake I certainly made, and I guess many newbies can, is to over estimate the ability of your pupils....my first lesson wasnt much more than choral repetition...and my classes were so enthusiastic, and the odd few wanted to chat to me after class....and I thought their ability level was much higher.

Ths certainly posed problems in later classes, and it was sometime before I fully comprehended that a large % of my class didnt understand lots of my instructions.

Some of my inventive ideas didnt get the feedback and participation from the students that I was hoping for...so many of my lessons mid term DID end up with me speaking far far more than the students...this was mistake number 2 really....for the new teachers...I think it is very easy to fall into this trap...the kids dont respond in the way that the plan says they should...and its easy to fall into lecture mode at this point.

A better appraisal of my students ability might have helped me here. I could have formulated plans that would have given them more chance to interact, and Im afraid the pair work ideas I had fell by the wayside mid term as they just seemed to hard and I ended up delivering lectures too often.

I also had a problem class...this was the type of class with chinese students who slept through English in middle school...and so I was trying to deliver lessons to them that was waaaaay above the ability...I struggled with this class for a long time.

Thankfully mid term, my timetable changed...I lost some classes, and some of my others became double periods...giving me two extra class hours a week...

The saving grace was this often put one of the other FTs in the room next to me...and by being able to listen to some of her classes...I was able to take some of her ideas and use them in my classes...

NOW THESE THINGS WERE NOT ROCKET SCIENCE...very very simple things to elicit responses all the way through classes...the very things that you will learn early on on your TEFL course...but when the going gets tougher...the first and most simple things you learn...can be the easiest to forget!

Bizarrely, the other FTs were a little nervous for me to come to their lessons, cos they felt they were doing the same old thing from the book...and their lessons would be boring next to mine! How wrong they were!

Overall...I just want to say to anyone new....dont get carried away and think you are the finished article just cos the kids love you...in China, they seem to love everyone who is foreign...so dont let it sway you.

Never be too big to admit things arent going as well as they could...and never be too scared to ask for help...its a great idea to swap ideas and watch lessons with the more experienced FTs...and you can always pick up something from them.

And if you have the right bunch of kids...dont be afraid to ask them! I had a bright but very nervous students in one of my classes...and I had an idea to give her 15-20 minutes in a lesson...we sat and planned her section of the lesson together....and when she delivered it she was amazing...I was so proud of her, yet so nervous...her lesson and delivery kicked the arse of mine, and I had to follow her!

So what im saying is, you can learn from anyone...and its not about ego. So dont be scared to learn either.

Im loving it here!!! I come back in september...and Im already planning new ways in which I can put lessons together to help more of the kids, more of the time!

I hope to sign an extension to my contract very soon...I have never ever enjoyed a job as much as this one....even the bad days are miles better than the days of work in the UK.

Im going to give myself a C+ this term...and maybe I am being self indulgent in writing this post and telling myself that...

But for any newbies coming out to teach in China, or anywhere else soon...enjoy it, its a great experience....but be prepared for lots of learning on the job, regardless of your TEFL course before.

Nick

[spiral78]

Nick, super-kudos for the progress report!

That's truly valuable information, and unfortunately, all-too-rarely does anyone take the time.

You'll go far

[spiral78]

By the way, I should add that, even after an MA TESL/TEFL and ten years (yikes! has it been that long??!!) of experience, I STILL have problems over-estimating what can be done in a time/ability context. I'm closer than I used to be, but I can still be fooled about how much we can really accomplish in a class or on a course.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Nick

[Guy Courchesne]

Thanks for that post...this should be a sticky. I hope you don't mind if I show it to trainees in my classes...

[Gordon]

I was just talking about some of the issues you brought with a friend of mine tonight who just started teaching English. Self-evaluation is critical and necessary if you want to improve as a teacher. There is no place for ego or you'll never take advice either.

Good on ya.

[denise]

Congratulations! You've learned a lot and it sounds like you will continue to learn. Believe me, your words are valuable even to experienced teachers! I really agree with the bit about ego--sometimes we just have to admit that a lesson flopped. Rather than feeling crushed for having failed, or rather than ranting about the students and how they just didn't get it (I've experienced both reactions), the key is to get over it. Figure out what went wrong and change it.

Good luck! ...Although with your positive attitude I'm not really sure you need luck.

d

[nickpellatt]

thanks for the positive replies guys...

In honesty...both my housemate and I did perhaps go through a phase mid term, of thinking we had 'made it', but we both stepped back and by the toward the end of term, realised some of our errors and made plans to correct things. We both replaced some volunteer teachers...who hadnt been committed to their work...and I think we both enjoyed saying we are paid teachers now, as we had both worked in nearby schools as volunteers first!

Unfortunately, our classes were not as professional as an experienced teacher though...and that was one of our wake up calls.

My housemate is also a new teacher...and we have both talked at length about our lessons and failings! LOL...it wasnt all bad though!

I think some of my ideas had merit...but its the experience that allows you to make an idea into a succesful lesson plan.

Guy, you are more than welcome to discuss this post with anyone...and in honesty...if anyone, especially newbies wants a more detailed breakdown of my experiences feel free to PM me.

Again, for any newbie, welcome to what truly is (for me at least), an amazing job to have. But unlike some jobs...the learning curve is continual...

I think its the easiest thing in the world... standing infront of a class of students.....but its a bloody hard thing to present something in the right way, at the right time, and to ask the right questions to get them to learn something.

I had done many hours of volunteer work...and had done a TEFL course..(albeit online)...but after a full term here, I can see the importance of continually checking and evaluating yourself as well as the students. As a new teacher I cant stress that enough....and in schools (mine included..this may be overlooked)

[HarryG]

I just have to echo the above comments-that's the most helpful and encouraging post I've seen.

Good tips and things to watch out for but your enthusiasm is a lesson in itself. I'm a newbie and knowing that people have the sort of problems I've been anticipating and can still keep a positive attitude, persevere and enjoy themselves is very reassuring.

I wish more people took time out to share this sort of thing...any advice on what it was like to settle intoa different culture/lifestyle would also be appreciated. I'm leaving for Bangkok for my CELTA in 48 hours and now I can't wait

Cheers

[nickpellatt]

I may have missed you now and you could be en-route to Bangkok as I write this.

Just open your mind and enjoy it friend....I wish I had kept a journal of my early days in China...as Im sure there is a book waiting to be written about it.

Have a safe trip...