Job Discussion Forums

[englishgibson]

I prepare Chinese High School graduates for western unis.

My students get 2 real hours of classroom studies in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. Not all 5 days are as full as that, but students usually end up at least a couple of times per week with such a day.

Recently, it has been pointed out that the students are too busy and they get tired. Well, the main point is that they get a 10 minute break every hour and that that real teaching hour seems to be too long since the High School kids are used to 40 or 45 minutes rather than the full hour.

Not only that the students seem to dislike the full hour of teaching, it's also some teachers, except me. So, I do feel somehow lonely on this one.

My disagreement with those (couple of teachers) and students comes from the preparation for the abroad uni studies where students are at times expected to attend long lectures and then also required to submit assignments that call for some time consuming individual studies where especially those Chinese students'll find themselves at a book for hours without a break.

I'd like to know your points of views or experiences with young students at such age and maybe share your uni experiences you've had before.

Cheers and beers to students that can learn so much in such a short time

[mjlpsu]

When I was in high school, we had classes for 1.5 hrs without a break. In undergrad it was 50 min three days a week or 1.5 hrs twice a week. In grad school it was 3 hrs with one break.

[flutterbayou]

College curriculum in China is time tabled much like high school is in North America.

Students spend most of the day in classes and prepare homework in the evenings.

However, when these same students head for Australia and the likes, they will be expected to attend class and manage their independent studies vis-a-vis researching at the library, preparing presentations, and so on.

What they need from these joint venture groups are time management skills and independent study tips, so they can learn how to optimize their study time outside of class.

Ask your students how they study, and they most probably will explain that they study when they study; they aren't sure what it is that they should do as a habit nor how to make good use of their time.

In the evenings, they try to study under strenuous conditions, with as many as 6 people sharing one room, and lights going out before late at night. No wonder they get tired in class.

[7969]

[englishgibson]

the 90 minutes aren't split into two halves yet..we're on 2 hours and 10 minutes classes, although they seem to be whinin...the worse thing on it is now that a british teacher's suggested the 90 minutes classes and i just can't imagine doing all that work in such a way...i mean there's so much to be done with these high school grads...in any case, by the time i get them really into lessons (wake'em up) 45 minutes passes...especially in the first afternoon class after they come back from their freakin'lunch nap

[jwbhomer]

When I went to university in Canada the norm was 50 minute classes with 10 minute breaks. Double or triple classes still had breaks. So there was no adjustment for me in China. Both universities I taught at kept to the same schedule, 50 minute classes with 10 minute breaks.

EG, when you say you are teaching high school students who are preparing to enter western universities, are you talking about the dreaded "foundation classes"? I had that assignment in my first semester and I have to admit that keeping foundation students awake and interested for more than about 10 minutes is a real challenge.

[englishgibson]

i think that's right, "foundation" to western unis...we call it the global assessment certificate program and the company's the ACT Education Solution Limited...they say they've got many centers around the world, but there's lil communication in between as it looks..i feel so f*ckin'lonely on my job ..don't wanna whine again

cheers and beers to chinese high school grads and their parents money