Job Discussion Forums

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

Total physical response is the best way of teaching new learners. As china movie magic would say it is whole brained. You get the students thru Krashen's silent period by doing things. It is funny to me when I hear the young girl complaining how she is horse at the end of the day from screaming at the kids. I tell her the students are learning because they are hearing the same things their mother is yelling. " Sit down, don't throw that out the window, stop pulling her hair etc." The trick is to have them do things like Simon Says and painting. Color the horse black! Get them up on the blackboard drawing. You learn a second language just like you learned your first. Kids like to be dealt with in the imparative. TPR is needed in China because they are teaching to talk and not listen. Read about it in Jame's Asher's work.

powerrose · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Shenzhen, China

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

General Franco · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 22

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

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

I both taught and functioned as DOS at TPR for 4 � years. As a place for someone to break into the China EFL business, it�s not too bad. Believe me, there are a hell of a lot worse places in and around Zhuhai. After �graduating� from TPR I moved on to teaching in the local universities. The $$ isn�t that much better, but the working hours damned sure are. At TPR you�ll be teaching the �little emperors/empresses� all weekend, and adults in the evenings during the week. They work a 6-day week at TPR.

Also, ask them for a sample contract and the �teachers� working manual�. If they send you one, read it very carefully, especially the sections about the pay schedule You will see that the base pay is actually 4300 yuan, with the addition of so much for teaching a kids� class, so much for an adult class, etc. If you read it very carefully, you�ll see that it�s damned hard to make the amount they advertise with out some OT (which they pay at 100/hour). Oh, and then there�s the English Corner and �English Club� that they expect you to do for free!

yellow earth · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 41

ecxellent points. the sample contract was a little vague regarding pay and yeah, those working hours are *beep*. I'm passing on the job. do any of you use the "esl teachers board" website for viewing job postings? They have several positions listed. However, some of them have markings for being "verified school email" or "verified recruiter" and some don't. I guess some of the postings may be from scammers. thanks everyone for the excellent posts and feedback.

thefuzz · Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 271

6 days a week, who knows how many teaching hours and ONLY 4300 RMB/month?

Is Zhuhai that cheap?

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

No! Zhuhai is not that cheap.

thefuzz · Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 271

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

The answer to that is very simple. There is an abundance of backpackers and "volunteers" who accept the low-paying jobs here. Why would schools like TPR offer any more?

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

Zhuhai is a nice little town in the tropical area, so expect lots of heat and humidity. It's relatively a new city and a clean city, but its clean cannot
compare to our clean in N A, or Singapore or Japan.

TPR is an American system using activities to teach language. It is quite
effective but the teacher gets to spend a lot of energy because you say "We are dancing!" and you are literally dancing, etc.

If you have no teaching experience then I 'd say take the job to get your feet wet, but learn as much as you can and then get out and get a better
paying job. While you are gaining some experience you can look around
for other options. If you want to get more than 5g you can do some
tutoring on the side, unless you are forbidden to do that in the contract.

The people in Zhuhai are quite nice, down to earth people, most are there
from another place when Zhuhai became a city. Quite a few would know
some English and wish to practise it. It is part of a future megalopolis-they are building a freeway connecting Macau, Hongkong, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai is part of the triangle, just as Shenzhen. Real estate prices
in Zhuhai are catching up with that of Shenzhen. Within an hour or so you could be in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and next door to Macau if you
want a weekend in a more lively urban setting.

It is a good starting place for FT's. It's more western than some inland
cities. So it is easier on your system adjusting to foreign things. Make
sure you get a multiple-entry visa so you can dash for the exit to HK or Macau when your system demands it.

Good luck and enjoy the adventure!
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kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

thefuzz · Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 271

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

I think all FT's in China are valuable contributors to the modernization of that country, however minute part they each play, and either he has the ligitimate credentials or not.

Any FT who works in China must realize, without bias, that it is still a
third world country or a poor country, on the move. The fact that its coastal provinces are more advanced than the inland provinces only tells you the range of inequities in that country. There is a lot to be done to raise the average living standards of an average citizen in this humongus country. Anyone who expects standards compariable to what we have in NA would be unrealistic or naive.

Those who are drawn to visit or work or do both must do so with a positive attitude. Otherwise, why not just stay home? I am sure some
just thrives in arrogant misery.