Job Discussion Forums

[pec]

More and more foreign teachers come to China to teach. Some want to accumulate good experience, some want to earn money, some want to travel, some want to learn new things, others want to make new friends. But how many percents on earth really enjoy teaching? As you know, teaching is quite different from other things, if you can't do very well, it means maybe you will kill the whole life of a child or a student. So you must think it over and grasp the students before you choose teaching. Some foreigners just depend on their faces to teach in China. It's no good for the students. So I think all the people who like teaching in China should stand out and vindicate the truth of teaching. Foreign teachers and Chinese teachers are the same except different colors and hairs.

[Rhino]

I do agree with a lot of what you say but I had a few really bad teachers when I was in school and they never "killed my whole life". Teaching was not my first choice in life but I used it as an oppertunity to travel, that does'nt make me a bad teacher. I am blessed with being a native English speaker and I'm making the best of it. Also, being passionate about teaching does'nt always make the best teacher either. Cheers!

[lagerlout2006]

Wo ting bu dong. Are you a native speaker? I humbly came here to teach YOU English. It weren't for the money...

Even the initial question was incohenently asked....

[Roger]

If I didn't like my work, I wouldn't have lasted a decade in the same country.
I like the freedom that comes with a teaching job; I also like the challenges and the responsability.
I like the seasonal variations, the annual changes. Thus, this job is repetititve to some extent, but it's hardly boring.

On the other hand, I do have to comment that if the Chinese English teachers could do a better job, none of us would be here. We are here, at least some of us are here because this country is still in the educational mediaeval ages.
China needs to absorb quickly the teaching knowhow of western teachers. You don't need white faces. You don't even need "native English speakers" to do a good job. Anyone can do this job, provided they have some commitment to the learners and interest in the lingo.

[pec]

Teaching is to impart knowledge or skill to the learners.
So we teachers need time to study our students or teaching will be the way to transfer knowledge without absorbing.

Teaching also is to instruct in the learners.
So we have to tell the students how to learn. NOT ALL THE CHINESE TEACHING METHODS ARE OUT OF DATE.

Maybe my English is limited, but I have enough knowledge to let my students learn by themselves. That's the most important thing!

Foreign teachers like travelling, it's good. But for a student, if he doesn't have a systematic education process, he can't make great progress.

Do the students study English just for speaking?
Do the students study English just for going abroad?
We have to recognize the genuine reason, then we can find out a suitable way to teach.

I think most foreign teachers coming to China to teach is because they love teaching, travelling and enjoying the different culture.

[davis]

Dear Troll... Don't you know???We foreign teachers only come here to steal the culture and the women...? If you believe that then you probably believe the CCP!!!

[Burl Ives]

I think most foreign teachers come to China because they can. There's no need to dress it up any prettier. It's an opportunity.

Chinese students are taught to "catch every opportunity" but that is different from understanding and selecting an option. I think if you can find a way to teach that, then you will be doing a great service to many more people than just the students. Imagine what China would be like if young people and the kids who follow after them were actively engaged in understanding and choosing the best next thing for themselves and their country to do.


::ring, ring::
"Hello."

::heavy breathing::
"Hello?"

::-click-::

[Guest]

Burl Ives is correct! For me it was a wonderful opportunity get away from my BORING job of the past 25 years and to do something useful for others.

Not only do I get to teach the young ones at my School, but I get to help the Orphanage children as well - what more could I ask for?

As far as I am concerned this is a close to HEAVEN as I will ever get and I am very content to stay here. I have a Burial plan in place which will allow my Sister in Australia to have me cremated over here - at no cost to her - when the time comes. My recent illness made me very happy that I had arranged this plan a year ago. She will not even have to travel here.

I do not know how much good I am doing with my students but I plan each lesson carefully - in fact I put more time into planning the lesson than the lesson actually takes. I do know that their pronunciation has improved a lot in the seven months I have been here and I know that I try and make their lessons interesting and fun. I hope I am achieving something. There is definitely a role here for people like me (mature) to teach "sonversational English" to the younger children. This does not require teaching qualifications or Degrees. This requires maturity and patience. the Chinese teachers teach the grammar, which is just as well because I have long forgotten it.

I am very happy to plod along here on my small salary - could not be happier, especially as I now feel I am going to live a bit longer - no pain killers yesterday - first time in 11 weeks.

[pec]

"I do not know how much good I am doing with my students but I plan each lesson carefully - in fact I put more time into planning the lesson than the lesson actually takes. "

I agree with this teacher very much. If you'd like to give a drop of water to the students in class, you have to prepare a bucket of water at least.


"There is definitely a role here for people like me (mature) to teach "sonversational English" to the younger children. This does not require teaching qualifications or Degrees. This requires maturity and patience. the Chinese teachers teach the grammar, which is just as well because I have long forgotten it. "

Definitely right. I think it's enough for some kids(learners). But for the middle school students, they need real English teacher who teach not only oral English but also grammar, writing, etc. Sometimes they are interlinked and can't be separated into several portions completely.

The whole world is a big family. It seems big, but it's small in front of HIM.

[Ricepaddy]

[goeastyoung(ish)man!]

[quote="pec"]Teaching is to impart knowledge or skill to the learners.
So we teachers need time to study our students or teaching will be the way to transfer knowledge without absorbing.

#This is counter to western teaching ideas and I think counter-productive to learning English. We don't teach knowledge. We (hopefully) teach. Students (hopefully) learn. It drives me crazy when my students write about learning knowledge(s). #

Teaching also is to instruct in the learners.
So we have to tell the students how to learn. NOT ALL THE CHINESE TEACHING METHODS ARE OUT OF DATE.

#I agree. At my school, a university I think most of the English instruction is student-centered. However, my students are refugees from the horrible senior middle school knowledge factories and even at university they must study ridiculous amounts of required knowledge subjects.

As a result they seem to feel that they must find the most efficient way to acquire as many English language knowledge units as possible in the least amount of time possible so that they can study for the exam at the same time.#

Maybe my English is limited, but I have enough knowledge to let my students learn by themselves. That's the most important thing!

Foreign teachers like travelling, it's good. But for a student, if he doesn't have a systematic education process, he can't make great progress. ...
quote]

#Great progress = pass the exam?
We teachers (I am not qualified/certified as a teacher in my country) can teach English pronunciation, grammar, and can improve style and vocabulary, but we can't teach knowledge. And we can't teach as much as we would be able to if the Chinese education system was more learning-oriented and less top-down knowledge-imparting oriented. (did I miss a hyphen?)#

[Roger]

Hello, ricepaddy: thank you for your vote!

And to all posters: By sheer coincidence, I have before me a little essay from a Chinese 17-year old. She visited me at my home today to practise reading it aloud since she wants to take part in a public speech contest held at her middle school. Marvel at her English and her thoughts:

"Good afternoon, everybody,Today, I am so happy to be here to share with you some of my thoughts on the topic of teenagers going abroad to study. And first of all, I would like to mention the higher educational system in China. Actually, higher education's encrusted traditions in China supress (sic!) the vigor of students. Study (sic!) abroad is more interesting and coulorful (sic!). You're more on your own.
To tell you the truth. I prefer London. Everything is there - different nationalities, different people, different styles and different fashions. Anything you want to be, an life you want to lead you can find it! It's a once-in-a-lifetime offer to the youths to study there.
Objectively speaking, studying abroad will give the youth the opportunity to reflect on your life in China and earn new respect for the old life. At the same time, you may find that the former way is not always the best way for you. There are many ways to view the world, and studying abroad is sure to be an eye-opener for you.
But everything has more sides. On the other hand, teachers in China devote more time to monitoring their students. There may be no relatives with you in a foreign country so you have to rely on yourself and be more self-disciplined. What's more, the youth live in a period of physical and personality growth. They're ready to be affected by others without parents' guidance. So it's easy for them to spiral down into bad habits.
Aftger all, it's hard to say whether it's good or bad to go abroad to study. But the most important thing is to choose what fits you.
Thank you!

Karen
Class 10, S... No. 1 Middle School

[Roger]

...and in answer to pec:
I have been in China for many years now, and while I frequently travel I would not like to be regarded as an opportunist. In fact, I agree with you - we expat teachers ought to teach grammar and literature too, and if they dropped "oral" English from their timetables I for one would congratulate them! IT's never been my cup of tea, and I have never found rewason to think it's a useful subject.
Anyway, my presence here should reinforce your government's position that life in China is, materially, as good as in many developed countries, so there should be less a pull towards foreign shores exerted on Chinese students.
But, as you can see, dreams have a hard time dieing!

[Burl Ives]

[Cowboy Pete]

I came here to escape George Bush and his ilk.
And found out China has tons of his ilk.