Job Discussion Forums

[Vinnie]

The most beautiful thing happened to me today at my job. I arrived for my afternoon class and noticed an unfamiliar face standing outside the classroom. I went about my normal routine and entered the class to put down my bag, take out the handouts etc.. I then went outside to smoke a cigarette and relax until the class started 10 minutes later.

At that time, the unfamiliar face was waiting at the elevator. I asked him which class he was in, since I knew he wasn't in my class. He told me he wasn't enrolled at the school, but hoped to listen in. It turned out, he was a 22 year old migrant worker from Jiangxi.

After chatting for a bit, I discovered that he taught himself English by reading books and watching TV/DVDs. I invited him to stay and listen in; he was enthralled.

I wish the other students were equally as motivated. Most of my students are rich kids.

God Bless Henry!!

[eddy-cool]

That is my dream student too. Much more concerned about real progress than those students who have not chosen to sit in my class themselves but sit there anyway.

[Vinnie]

Henry came back today around 2pm. I was fortunate enough to see him lurking around, waiting around for my next class, while smoking a cigarette with my adult students. The others were playing "Word Up".

I highly recommend purchasing this game from www.teflgames.com

Either way, Henry said "He could fly", so, I asked him to fly his way up to the 3rd floor, where I was. He came up and gave a brief speech about himself to my adult students (30 - 40 years old). Tears came to his eyes as he said he loved his Father who was a fisherman with skin darkened by exposure to the sun. He encouraged the students to learn English on their own.

Later on, Henry sat in on my next class with the incoming Freshman at the university that I teach at. Again, he gave a short speech and encouraged the kids to take English seriously.

Today was more beautiful than Monday. Henry had to excuse himself from class around 4:30 so that he could go to work as a waiter in a local restaurant.

I hope he comes back tomorrow.

Yunqi

[Ahchoo]

Can't wait untill your students complain to admin that you're encouraging a freeloader into your class. They may not see it in the light you do.

[william wallace]

When I first cam here I had about 10% of my students being the poor to lower classes,but they quickly disappeared over the development/years in Beijing.

[Vinnie]

Achoo,

I had the same thought as you, since I know the people here love to complain. The reason his speech was short was because I asked him, after awhile, to sit down and listen. Henry would have kept on talking.

He didn't return today, but, I hope he comes back next week.

If any of the kids complain, I'll take care of it. Most of them took a liking to him after he gave them candy! They all had their time to shine!!

If you need any tips on helping make them shine, let me know. I am an oral English facilitator.

Most of the kids in this class have good English skills. I wonder what would happen if I told the younger people in a different class that has been entrusted to me that they will never make it overseas, which is what their parents are paying for? Waste of money!

It doesn't matter. My Father wasted a bunch on me as well.

Me - "Hi, how are you?"
Them - "Shenme?", while they look to a friend to translate.

It cost the folks around 60k total, including food, to send their kids here for a year. Not much by Western standards, but, for most, a pretty penny here in China.

Pablo