Job Discussion Forums

[robot]

Hello everyone,
I'm currently mulling over a couple of job offers in China, the better positions are at Universities.
I have a couple of concerns about this, as previously I've largely taught to children or basic English classes, also I'm fairly young to be teaching at a University (24).

Was wondering what your thoughts on the matter are?
What is a typical class like?
Also any tips?

[Ms Bean]

Do some reading in previous threads. What you are asking is more than anyone can be expected to answer.

Except the clothes:

Most FTs that I have seen (myself included) wear casual clothes as in blue jeans, T shirt/blouse/sweater/coat.

In the summer, you will need to convert to tropical dress such as very light cotton pants and shirt.

The better you dress, the better you will be regarded by fellow faculty members (if you care about such things).

[robot]

Ms Bean, thanks for the reply.

Will have to get my tux dry cleaned ,

realize the questions are vague. I'm not very good on the internet, either come across as an idiot or a grandma.

what i would find useful would be for someone to very briefly describe their typical university lesson.

or recommend some textbooks or websites that help them.

still too much? i would read previous threads if i could find them, the search isn't wonderful and nearly all the links on Dave's are for teaching High school or younger.

Regards
Tom

[sui jin]

A lot depends on your confidence level. Several teachers in my college have been a similar age to you, and they seem to do fine, get on with the students and are well-regarded by the chinese faculty. Provided you show up to class on time, prepare interesting and useful activities for the students and engage with them in class, you will be praised and cherished!

(BTW, starting and finishing classes on time seems to be very important here in China. Students sometimes complain if classes finish early!)

Of course if your background is in English or a related discipline, all the better, but I would say in general foreign teachers here are not expected to show 'technical expertise'(!). Shocking , I know......
Lessons with the foreign teachers are often more about applying or practicing what the students have learnt in the regular classes with Chinese teachers. Also interacting with the FTs, students get some rare and valuable exposure to different ways of thinking and speaking.

A typical class in oral English might be to divide the class into groups for a role play or team building exercise, or to have students interview each other about a topic. The aim, with a class of 30 or 40, is to maximize the time they spend talking. My role is to set up the activity, teach any new vocab etc., listen as they do the activity, maybe model a conversation pattern, and correct common errors. I sometimes use 1 or 2 students as roving language monitors to prevent the kids lapsing into Chinese.

[surrealia]

I've taught university classes in Taiwan and Hong Kong, so perhaps I can offer some advice here.

I wouldn't worry about your age, in fact, I think it will be an advantage, as you will be able to relate to your students better.

For my university lessons, I use the coursebook for part of the lesson, but also add several other activities, that give students a chance to work on fluency. I also add a review session every few lessons to help students consolidate what they have learned.

University jobs can vary, so when you get a job offer, you might try to contact some of the foreign staff working there for more information. Here are a few books that I would recommend:

Humanising Your Coursebook by Mario Rinvolucri

Teaching Large Multilevel Classes by Natalie Hess

Dealing With Difficulties by Luke Prodromou and Lindsay Clandfield

Doing Task-based Teaching by Dave Willis and Jane Willis

Also, I highly recommend you read over some of the practical articles at www.onestopenglish.com and www.teachingenglish.org.uk.

[sui jin]

I also highly recommend onestopenglish.
Check out Alex Case's stuff at Tefltastic (games, worksheets , plans), and North Carolina's Curriculum guide for basic esl lesson plans and activities. There are some business role plays in Dave's Ideas cookbook (eg the one called 'Build a Building' or something like it)

[eddy-cool]

Just to give the OP some pointers:

Don't expect your university students to be high achievers! SOmetimes school life has dumbed them down so much they have less English proficiency than junior high school students have. It also greatly depends on whether you are teaching English majors or others. At university level their English has to meet certain criteria tested in the CET 4 exam, one of which is mastery of 4'500 English words. Imagine: 4500 words... after 7 to 9 years of English classes... (To me this proves that students' memory isn't that great although it might be better than their overall performance in the subject).

Another thing to consider: Many of your students will likely be very opportunistic: they want the mark but won't make the effort. In universities students are not really given the freedom to be absent from classes but they perceive laowai teachers as extremely soft; you will therefore encounter the anomaly of a student asking you at the end of the term 'can I take the exam now?' - only to find that you have never seen this particular face before...

[therock]

Just take your guitar and wear your clown suit and you will be fine.

[robot]

Thanks everyone, much help.

Clown suit & Guitar, personally i don't believe that (often stated) idea. Is that what you do?





Tom