Job Discussion Forums

atatat · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

I don't know if it's just me, I am feeling tired everyday after work! I have 6-8 lessons almost everyday where I have to teach non-stoppingly during that lesson or double-lessons. Especially that I'm teaching P1 and P2, it requires a lot of energy controlling the students, acting out meanings, doing role-plays, story-tellings, phonics , running here and there in the classroom... etc etc.. you just can't slow down or pause! Once you're in the classroom, it's just like a show has started.. you've to go on and on until the very last minuite, otherwise the local teacher who you're co-teaching with will think your lesson is not good enough! They expect ALL of your lessons are fun and interesting. What's worse is that when there's no break between classes.. Like last time I had to play Scavenger hunt in the playgruond with 3 different classes a day (as well as other lessons in between) . I'm exhausted everyday. How about you guys?

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

If you are a PNET on the EDB scheme then you are teaching too many periods at 6-8 per day. The maximum number is supposed to be 28!If you are being asked to do things at recess and lunch time make sure you are also given preparation time and time for co-planning.

You should get on to your AT straight away and make sure you get them reduced. You should be co-teaching too and not just taking all the lessons yourself.

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you are doing too much. You have to learn to pace yourself as a teacher. You can't go flat out all day. You may need to set some boundaries with your managers - i.e. learn to say "no". If you set a precedent of doing everything you are asked, soon you will be carrying the whole school on your back. If indeed you are a PNET in the NET scheme, yo have a rough deal. Many PNETs have an easy job - as little as 12 hours of teaching a week in some cases, and many I have spoken to complain not of too much work, but of the boredom of sitting around doing nothing for long hours every day.

Lao Wai · Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 20

Hey,

For me, as a previous poster had stated, boredom was probably one of the major issues I had and was one of the reasons I didn't re-sign after my first contract came to an end. I taught about 3-4 classes a day and was SO BORED with all of that extra time. I tried to do other things (fix up the English room, change bulletin boards, etc.) but these things still never ate up my time. I used to offer to 'pull out' students for reading recovery etc, but the locals wouldn't go for it. If the PNET Scheme taught me one thing about myself, it's that I like to keep busy. Near the end of my contract, I didn't even bother trying to hide my blatant internet surfing.

For the OP: A few times I was asked to do certain things that I felt were pointless, like going to a huge PD session in Cantonese. I spoke up to my Principal and explained my point of view in a rational manner. She couldn't really find fault in my argument. So, she let it go. Talk to your AT or your principal. It can't hurt!

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

I agree with both Lao Wai and atatat here.
It's boring and tiring.

Like atatat says, the lessons I do do (which are few and far between at times) are very tiring because a 100% performance is expected in each one. We're not given the chance to just have an easy time those days where we really don't feel much like being here, but aren't sick enough to warrant taking a day off. ESL teaching is the most stressful teaching I've ever done because you don't have the opportunity to just relax.

The biggest stress I feel is your classes not being your own class. You're not allowed to do exactly what you want to do with it. It's frustrating, stressful and disheartening to continually hit the brick wall that is the local teachers concepts of teaching.
example - P4 class topic recently was on recycling, reusing, reducing. Far too hard for this low-ability class. I suggested (and wrote out detailed lesson plans) we get them into groups, have them recycle newspaper into writing paper (a very easy task to do), and then produce a project display board detailing the steps they went through (with photos), their end result and reasons why we should recycle. Covered everything in the textbook, but did so in a practical interesting way.
What happened? I showed the plans to the Local Teacher who read through them and said, "But we need to get through the textbook first. After the exam (which was 6 weeks away, so way after this topic) if we have time, we might do this. But it'll have to take just one lesson."
So that was a total waste of my time there - and being knocked back like that (which happens with nearly everything I suggest that is outside the realms of the all-important textbook) just saps the life and energy right out of me.

And of course there's those days where you have to get up early (I'm up at 6.30am at the latest) to come into school knowing there is absolutely nothing for you to do all day due to exams or some outside event/activity you don't have to participate in. Even though they know you'll be sitting there the entire day bored sh*tless, you're not allowed to arrive late nor leave early. In NZ, Wednesday afternoons I had free - I just told the secretary I was leaving and that was that. No problem whatsoever. It's this strict enforcing of pointless, abirtary rules designed to do nothing else but control and intimidate you which causes a great deal of stress.

atatat · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

(double posted by accident Embarassed

)

atatat · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:01 am Post subject:

I do find it a bit starnge people saying they have nothing to do and are bored. Why not invest that time doing something you really love to do? Study a language? Enrol in a masters/phd degree. Write a book. Read a book, fiction or non-fiction. I use whatever spare time I have in my job writing books, articles, and studying Chinese. I got a PhD that way, too.

Oh, and I'd LOVE to have exam periods where I had nothing to do all day. My exam period finished this last Friday, and it was exhausting. They had me on every oral exam in the school, plus regular exams - up to four exams a day, and seven hours of invigilation. One day I had seven hours of invigilation, taught a double lesson of Form 7 (not on exams) and had to keep working on entering exams in the sever. Thank Jesus the exams are over, I say!

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

I'm one who is both tired and bored. Bored because there's no challenge to the job and I have a LOT of free time. Tired because I still have to sit there for eight hours a day no matter what and need to get up early to get there.

On teachers' PD days and school sports days, I stay at school.

It was exam time at my school recently and there was no marking or supervision for me.
The week before exams it was revision week so I didn't teach. The week after exams was exam review and special activities so no teaching for me. Since returning after Christmas I've taught SIX lessons.

Lao Wai · Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 20

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

11:59 · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:32 am Post subject:

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

And these guys are looking for pay parity? If it comes I'm on the next ship over to PNET territory.

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong