Job Discussion Forums

HaveAGoodRest · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

Take the class monitor and a few friends to an American chain restaurant for dinner one day....you'll really win their hearts Very Happy

anjinholuis · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 37 Location: Shandong

Hi everybody. First day newbie again! Embarassed

I've been wondering about how Chinese students and their culture, reacts to correction Question

I understand that, at best, allowing a student to self correct can be less discouraging than constantly pointing out their mistakes, be it, grammar or pronunciation.

As a general rule, would it be better for fluency to prevail over accuracy Question

Do they respond badly and feel embarrased by their mistakes? Confused

Of course it could be trial and error Exclamation

What say you, masters Question

CHEERS AND MANY THANKS.

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

Good article here on this sort of thing:

http://www.esl-lesson-plan.com/archives/2008/06/tips_and_tricks_correction_techniques.php

Enjoy! Very Happy

Chris_Crossley

Speaking tests are conducted only three times a year during the pre-master's programme that I have been teaching on for the past 4 1/2 years.

However, since there is rolling, once-per-term recruitment based on the entry level of English of the students, the ones attending for three terms have two "practice" sessions, the ones attending for two terms have just one, whereas the ones attending for just the last term have no chance to have any practice session at all - they just have to do what is the most important speaking test of the lot from a "cold" start, since the logistics basically preclude practice sessions.

Since the tests are unusual in that there are two students at a time discussing a topic that they are given with only 30 seconds' advanced notice (during the test session itself, as you can probably guess!), the ability to communicate their ideas is perhaps the most important aspect as well as their ability just to interact as if in a normal conversation.

However, some students go for the long-speech approach, which, though it might produce accurate results from the point of view of grammar and vocabulary, will see the students penalized in terms of a reduction in marks since it is not meant to be a one-to-one session with the examiner as in an IELTS speaking test.

No matter how long Chinese students study English, they will always make mistakes. I should know because my Chinese wife still makes some very basic grammar and pronunciation mistakes! Mad

Mind you, her ability to communicate in English has vastly improved since she was my student eight years ago! Very Happy

theincredibleegg · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 224

mat chen · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 494 Location: xiangtan hunan

Don't worry about the first day. Worry about how you will fill the other 16 weeks of classes. Make a plan, tell them your expectations. The students everywhere like you the first day, but when they are burnt from hours of military training and instructors making them memorize dribble you will have long days. Be professional and sit down your first week and try to plan where you want to go. Do a needs analysis. If you are teaching accounting students you must realize that they probably won't be needing much oral English, but will need to be able to write on the computer. In China they only test at the final week, a good teacher of English does constant assessments of their students. Give them a short test so you can do group work with them. Sometimes put the good students together and spend your time trying to help the weaker students. Other times try and have the good students work with the less gifted.
The students like foreign teachers here because they work hard at their jobs and just like you try to please them.

ChairmanMeow · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Dear fellow Newbie, I will start teaching at the end of the week. I haven't given my in-class techniques a lot of thought yet, but I was wondering how you found adjustment to the new situation - i.e. getting used to things that are so different over here from the States (I assume you're from the States). The negotiation thing has been really tricky for me, its like they think I have tons of money to spend and will rarely reduce the price even a little bit. Also, I am a bit nervous about meeting friends, finding people to hang out with. I'll be in a similar sized town like the one you're in.

Any general tips on how you got adjusted to life teaching over here? Thanks.

ChairmanMeow · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

I just noticed that you're from Portugal, sorry about the assumption you are American. Ciao!

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

You should have some idea as what you want to do in your course. However, to start your first class-introduce yourself and tell your students
where you are from; your country, your city, your family, your siblings if
any. No need for personal details.

If you have more than one sibling at home, you may take this time to ask
your class "How many of you have a brother or a sister at home?" And
proceed to discuss their feelings on the law that allows only one child in the family in a culture that is so family oriented.

After the discussion, mind you you don't need to make judgement on the policy, you may proceed to the course outline, if time permits.

Meeting your new colleagues-just be honest and sincere and you will
attract the honest and sincere natives to be your new friends.

Good luck in your new adventure!

Tainan · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 120

I'm sorry to say that I have absolutely no memory of what I did on my first day teaching in China. (I do have a very clear memory of what I did on my first day teaching, in my life, when I went to Korea straight out of college, but that's another story....)

I do, however, have a very clear memory of what happened to me on that first day in China. I was walking to class, wearing a nice suit and tie, ready to be early, cheerful, professional--a bicycle hit me in front of the school building. I fell into the dirt covering my hand--fortunately, not my suit--with mud. I went into the building, found the (malodorous) restroom, and washed my hands--with the tiny trickle of cold water coming from th faucet, and no soap, because there wasn't any. I walked in, shaken, dirty, irritated; my first words to the students were something along the line of--"There's no soap in the bathroom??!!!!???!!" Not exactly the kind of first impression I had been planning to make.

Did the first impression last? I ended up teaching two years at that school without problems, so I suppose it wasn't fatal.