Job Discussion Forums

malimary · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

TESL in Chinese art institutes

Hi. I am currently doing some research concerning teaching contexts in China.
I am researching the possibility of foreign teachers teaching ESL in art universities in China. If anyone has heard of this situation, I would be very grateful for your insight into this teaching context.

Specifically, I would like to know whether Chinese art students feel that English is a necessity or a benefit and for what reasons (business, social, and other reasons).

Thanks!
Mary

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

It is not what the students think they need; it is what the indivudual school, or provincial government dictates.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

It is just another major that can be taken at a university. I taught English to a Aquaculture department at a university in South Korea for instance. You might have to help them by editing articles on music but mainly for the professors there.

malimary · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for your responses. I realize that the course depends on whether it is instituted by a school or program. However, I am also trying to explore the general interest for English among art students because it effects the approach and methodology a teacher will use in order to relate to the students.

For my understanding, art students in China are generally uninterested in learning English. If anyone has an opinions on this statement I would love to hear them.

thanks!
mary

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Some art students probally want to do some study overseas and others would want to work for international companies to proform but you would probally have something like 10 to 20% that see an advantage in learning English.

You could buy a lot of DVDs that had music stories as their subject and use these to add interest to classes. Young people like small talk like soap opera stuff.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

What is art? Razz

Seriously. There is actually an art college here in Zhengzhou, so I am sure there must be others.

My former uni had a large "arts" division, "Fashion art", which can be almost anything, was the biggest department.

But the schools rarely have foreigners teach any english clases. The foreigner would never be employed to teach art in english.

Many younger students take art in the evening or weekend, they would also be more likely to have parents to pay for learning art and english from a foreigner if that is your interest.

Learning about art in english does not help on any of the various tests, so is of little interest to the schools or parents