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Baroque
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 23
Location: Sydney
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 Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:14 am Post subject: PNET questions. The PNET questions ought to become a sticky. |
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Finally, I will be offered an interview with a recruiter in Australia for a prospective PNET posting. I will sit the interview in late April early May. I need to know what questions I would be asked by the panel, what they anticipate I should know and how you, as a veteran PNET, would prepare yourself and your questions for the panel.
This is a variation on the topic, I know that and I think as others have mentioned, a sticky should be created for this topic. I did a search under "PNET questions" and varied my entry but nothing came up. I traced for a thread as far back as October of 2007 but nothing materialized. I appreciate all feedback.
Thanks. |
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h-train
Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 100
Location: 26 miles from Bahrain
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Learn what is required of a PNET. Learn your personal approach to phonics and implementation of a reading program. There is no simple approach to this. I wasn't even asked anything the other people were. Ask yourself what you'd ask a person who interviews for this program and go from there. Don't look for shortcuts or you're going to screw yourself. There is no sticky because the information is constantly changing and I personally think it's a bad idea to try to memorize some answers to previous questions before you go in. Be yourself and be prepared on a variety of topics affecting teachers both nowadays and in the past.
/end rant |
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puiwaihin
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:28 am Post subject: |
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I suggest you read up on documents written for PNETs, particularly the short term and long term goals of the program. If you have studied teaching, use the terminology from those courses (and use them correctly).
Be prepared to answer how you would teach listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Have specific examples and teaching methodologies in mind. Think of experiences you have had teaching that would be applicable to various situations and be ready to use them to show how qualified you are.
I was not asked about classroom management, but I would be sure I had an example of an effective practice and an overall philosophy behind how you manage your class. |
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puiwaihin
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:37 am Post subject: |
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I was under the impression that this kind of teaching is exactly the thing the PNET program was designed to remedy. I am aware that the system is resistant to change-- and from working in Taiwan I am used to making compromises-- but that doesn't mean that when I'm given a class I'm going to be forced to use grammar-translation and lecture the whole time.
Not to mention, if you gave that response in an interview, 10 will get you 20 that you aren't going to be the top of the list of candidates to be chosen.
Classroom management doesn't mean just punishing kids and keeping them quiet. It means lowering their affective filter by stimulating their interest as well as reducing distraction. But typically, the question does relate to behavior problems. |
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hkteach
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 202
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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"If the kids don't get it then it must be because they are stupid, or dumb, or fat, or perhaps as they are from the mainland."
Or, then again, they're lazy !!!!!!!! |
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puiwaihin
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| 11:59 wrote: |
| Thanks for another chuckle, puiwaihin! (I'm not laughing at you, just at what you wrote.) I have a question for you: How are you going to explain that pedagogical philosophy to a grumpy old man-hating, gweilo-hating, education-hating, life-hating 50-something woman (remember all classes are co-taught) who has sat at the same desk in the same staff room at the same school for 25 years (and who has used the same materials and has employed the same teaching methodology for all of that time)? |
I suspect I will have to use my charm, tact, and rhetoric. It's a game of face, relationship building, and compromise.
I warn you. Don't underestimate my powers.
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| You have to forget all that nonsense about being an 'agent of change' that the EMB/EDB is fond of sermonising on. Perhaps they are not aware (perhaps they are too busy with affairs of state) but in the actual school and in the actual classroom if you offer an alternative way of teaching the kids in HK then that, to your average local co-teacher, will be taken as an affront. |
Let me make this clear. If the school I am teaching at is using piss-poor methodology, I am going to change it. It may not become what I would hope it to be, or some perfect example of pedagogical excellence, but it will be better than it was. That's not negotiable, and HK people are not the only people capable of being obstinate.
But I'm not going to jump in there the first day and tell everyone to change the program to meet my specifications. There is a right way to go about making change....
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| This is as they interpret everything defensively at best and downright aggressively at worst. |
I've lived with Chinese culture for over 12 years now. I know how it works.
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| HKers simply do not accept that there is any variation possible. |
That's crap. They do believe that there is variation, but they think that the way they do it is just fine, if not altogether great. They are resistant to change, but not from thinking there is no such thing as another way.
I understand being bitter, but your level of being jaded is above and beyond the call of duty.
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| that is unacceptable for they are perfection personified. |
A bit of hyperbole, but there are those that feel that way, yes. And HK is a proud place with its version of Sinocentrism taking things to a whole new level. The HK way is the best in the world, according to many there. And yeah, I'll have to deal with that.
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| As I said before, I admire your enthusiasm and apparent desire to do a good job for the kids in HK, but unfortunately it is these very qualities that will most likely bring you the greatest problems. |
Nothing new here. I know. But I've gotten results in Taiwan and I will get results in HK.
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| If I were you I would tone down the enthusiasm a tad before setting foot into a school or classroom. |
When talking to other educators on an expat forum I'll present my ideas and purposes like this. When walking into my new school with my new coworkers, I will enter like a respectful and eager student hoping to learn how things should be done.
Perhaps you haven't learned the Chinese art of smiling and agreeing with their recommendations, and then not following them at all? Contradiction is the path of resistance. My obstinacy is like the inexorable ocean-- pliant, and yielding, but ultimately engulfing.
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| Remember also not to smile. Schools in HK are places of toil and labour. |
Thanks for that advice. I'm sure, from your experience it is best not to smile in class. I will remember that.
Now, class...  |
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anninhk
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 284
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 12:59 am Post subject: |
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| S/PNETs get a housing allowance of $12950 per month so they can live where they like and share if they want to. |
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Marcoregano
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 872
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: |
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| puiwaihin wrote: |
There is a right way to go about making change....
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Yes - in HK that is to think about it before you do it, and then...don't do it! |
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Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Marcoregano wrote: |
| puiwaihin wrote: |
There is a right way to go about making change....
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Yes - in HK that is to think about it before you do it, and then...don't do it! |
My working relationship with the English Panel head is still strained from some comments which I made at the first staff meeting in August 2007.
silly me!  I thought that I should answer a professional question which was posed to me to the best of my ability...my comments were entirely appropriate and intelligent, but they were not what Little Hitler wanted to hear.   In retrospect I should have kept my mouth shut. That would have made the working atmosphere so much nicer!
 oh well...a few more months to go !  |
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puiwaihin
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| 11:59 wrote: |
| I find it fascinating that someone with no experience of working in HK can lecture someone with quite substantial experience on what it is like working and teaching here! |
I haven't worked in the NET Scheme. I have worked in HK.
I'm not at all surprised that a person will go to a place and have a difficult time and then think everyone else will also have the exact same difficulty even though they have different social skills, are meeting with different people, and at different schools. It's human nature.
You think Hong Kong is the only place in China where management is like this? You think nobody else in the world could have come to your school, met your manager, and have created a better professional relationship?
I see the same kind of thing here in Taiwan with arrogant ex-pats who leave a place and all they can talk about is how stupid the Chinese managers were and how nothing can be done in that place. And then I've seen someone come in to replace them with a good attitude and sensitivity and have a great professional relationship.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not assuming that your frustration is all your fault, or that you didn't try to do things much the same way I will. But I do find your characterizing me as naive to be arrogant considering your ignorance of my background.
I may fail to accomplish my goals or run afoul of the system, but I would be a fool to accept your assessment. If I did I'd fail by default.
Last edited by puiwaihin on Sat May 10, 2008 8:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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puiwaihin
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 91
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Marcoregano wrote: |
| puiwaihin wrote: |
| There is a right way to go about making change.... |
Yes - in HK that is to think about it before you do it, and then...don't do it! |
Why not just skip the whole thinking about it part and lay down and do nothing but read from the book for your classes?
Perhaps I'm wrong and when all of you went into your first meetings there you were completely sensitive to the culture and did nothing that would in no way step on anyone's toes. Maybe there just is no way you can work with these people without forgetting about effective teaching methodology. But honestly, you think encouraging new teachers not to attempt to make any changes is a good thing?
| Serious_Fun wrote: |
| I thought that I should answer a professional question which was posed to me to the best of my ability...my comments were entirely appropriate and intelligent, but they were not what Little Hitler wanted to hear. In retrospect I should have kept my mouth shut. That would have made the working atmosphere so much nicer! |
I had the same experience. But it was with an expat owner of a school. Instead of professional honesty he wanted someone to stroke his ego. Had I been more conservative in what I said at first I would have found that out before making working at that place impossible.
On the other hand, times I've gone in and have been supportive of supervisors, even when I thought the system was flawed, I did much better. I built up positive relationships, got to know personalities and learned how to present ideas and who to present them to. In situations like these I've had freedom in teaching and a number of suggestions I made were used.
I don't think the lesson that needs to be learned is simply "keep your mouth shut", I think it's "keep your mouth shut until you know the local layout and people respect you."
I would do the same here as well, but nobody here is my supervisor and if I piss people off to the point it becomes unpleasant I can just make a new account or find another forum. |
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Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| puiwaihin wrote: |
| I don't think the lesson that needs to be learned is simply "keep your mouth shut", I think it's "keep your mouth shut until you know the local layout and people respect you." |
Fair enough: I'd agree with "keep your mouth shut until you know the local layout".
enjoy the Buddha's birthday holiday!  Let's take Tuesday off as well...
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anninhk
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 284
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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I think you start at point 17 on the basic scale and then get one point for each year of experience. That experience has to be in main stream education on a full time basis.
An interesting issue was raised on the PNETs website. One teacher with a PGCE in adult education is classified as unqualified by the EDB because his teaching qualification is not with primary kids!
This means he cannot get paid more than point 24 on the scale. |
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Mr. Kalgukshi
Mod Team
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Posts: 6613
Location: Need to know basis only.
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| Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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This thread is now unlocked after several off-topic and otherwise inappropriate postings were deleted and two members were severely sanctioned.
Please stay on topic and enjoy the discussion. |
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