Job Discussion Forums

[powerrose]

I teach at a European school in Asia (not Japan), I don't want to specify too much.....

My main background is teaching Oral English in junior high school to almost beginners. I also have a CELTA and volunteered with adults.

So, I got the job at my school and it's teaching K/elementary school kids. I had some experience teaching this age group at my last job, enough to know that I did ok with kids that age, but I'm not very experienced.

I DEFINITELY brought this up at my interview, and I clearly asked if there would be training and support. I also asked if everyone spoke English. The answer to both questions was yes.

Of course, you can tell that since I'm writing this post, the answer was actually 'no'. NOTHING is in English, and some of the staff speak English but they don't make an effort around me and just criticize me for not knowing their language (because that so makes me want to learn a new language!) There is no training, only Zuul. But not just that, the last teacher must have set fire to her lessons plans/worksheets/tests.........EVERYTHING. And they decided to get new textbooks and refused to help with essentially adopting a new curriculum. The official curriculum isn't in English. Nothing is in English, even my contract.

On top of ALL of that, the other teachers are always snipping that I give too much assessment, not enough assesment, what I teach is all wrong, I shouldn't do this, that, or the other, etc., etc. The discipline in the school is non-existent so I can't teach or play games or do group work, and everything I do for discipline, like sending the kid in the hall, is 'wrong', but no one will tell me what the 'right' thing to do is. (I was also criticized for giving the wrong kinds of prizes to the kids as rewards)

You know how it is in your first year teaching in a new job. I live in the copy room making worksheets and quizzes and stuff. And instead of support, these teachers just nibble away at me like rats.

My last job was awesome, and now its like, 'wtf'... Obviously, I'm not returning next year, but what can I do to make my last 6 months bearable? I've tried communicating a lot of this to superiors, even to the point of printing some formal problems, but it's just been so much epic fail....

Thanks for listening to whine and moan

[tomstone]

Ignore the other people, teach what you want, do what you want. You're in charge of your lessons, including discipline. If they decide you are so totally insubordinate that they can't take you anymore, problem solved. No use giving yourself a stroke.

[TwinCentre]

Hi Powerrose,

I am sure you are actually doing a good job teaching there. So, what you need to get through the next 6 months is a mantra! From now on, whenever anyone criticises or snipes you, just say ....................'Okay, can I watch you teach my class next week please so I can learn from you?'

I am sure they will not oblige.

Just keep repeating that each time until they either shut-up or fire you. If they fire you then it will be unjustified as you asked for support and they refused and you can claim unlawful dismissal if you like.

easypeasy,....and yes it really is as simple as that!

[Glenski]

What do you mean by "the official curriculum is not in English"? Do you mean the course descriptions are written in that country's language? No surprise there.

Your contract is not in English. Ok, so how did you understand it enough to sign it?

[jdl]

Powerrose,
First of all, my empathy. I have been in similar situations where each day at work was a dread. Regardless of the situation the reality is that you feel as you do and are asking how you are going to make it through the year. You will survive one way or another.....the question is which way do you want to come out of this?

The advice you have received so far from twin centre is practical, positive and affirmative. I might just add that you could ask colleagues to let you �sit in� on their classes to learn. This could go two ways
� their feeling too uncomfortable/insecure having someone observe them and as a result backing away from their taunts of you OR
� one person who has the confidence to volunteer to help you resulting in a budding �friendship� with at least one member of staff.

I really want to give you some advice on how to approach this situation rather than provide solutions although some of my suggestions you may find practical. Here goes.

First of all, recognize the gravity of the situation, which I believe you have. This is a very serious situation for you. Your mental and emotional well being is at stake as is your approach to the problems of the work world in the future. How you come out of this is important for survival as well as self actualization reasons.

Secondly, clearly assess the situation in regards to your priorities and opportunities rather than problems and blockages. Focus on �WHAT CAN I DO?�

1. You cannot change the behaviour of those around you. You can influence it through your reactions to their behaviour but any change to be made is up to them. Do not expect their behaviour to change but rather think in terms of how you can respond to their behaviour in a manner which is in your best interests and has the possibility of influencing their behaviour in return. This may range from �saying thank you with a smile� to whatever criticism, to a cheery �glossing over �of criticism almost as if it were never spoken to an affirmative response as such suggested by twin centre. You will require a great deal of self control and think in terms of how your responses to others may affect or influence others in a manner which is beneficial to you. Be very selfish in this regard.

2. The situation will not change a great deal except over a great deal of time. What will change and what you are in control of is your response to the situation and whether you act in a manner which puts you at odds with the environment or in some harmony with it. The key here is to get outside yourself and become a student of the environment. Observe how others respond in the environment, how they interact with each other, how they respond to stressors in the environment. This will provide you with some good information on how to survive and since it is a cognitive function will get you away from the emotion of the situation at least for a time. Always be ready with the question? �I wonder why he acted like that or why that happened as it did?� Take nothing personally...it is all academic at this point.

3. You will survive and sometimes that is enough, but for your own growth expect more. Be analytical about the experience.....detach yourself emotionally and respond cognitively to the situation by telling yourself the �world will not end�, this is just AFGE (another f___g growth experience). Ask yourself �what can I take away from this�, �what stories will this experience make�.

4. Your work environment must be limited. Do not make work your whole life! In fact if work is so toxic make it as little of your life as possible for the next 6 months. Do your job well but spend most of your time in pursuits which are pleasurable and provide you with fulfilment.
a. Spend only the required time at the job...get all your work done at the job...take nothing home unless that gives you pleasure.
b. Spend more of your spare time �out and about� taking in sights, making a photo journal, eating, making acquaintances, finding expats in other professions, making at least one local friend.
c. Keep your school experience separate from your life experience and minimize its importance.
d. Keep a daily journal of work that you can write in at the end of the work day for 10 or so minutes. Leave the journal at work! This will allow you to vent in private, leave everything at work in the journal and mentally as well as literally close the classroom/school house door behind you upon leaving
e. Engage in some studies. Want to start that Masters Program....now is a good time. Always wanted to take a local art program or learn the language...now is the time.
f. Have one good local meal/snack a day.
g. Take a walk every day after school to go to the local market or snack shop or hotel...whatever.
h. Join a gym

5. Do you have a support system?
a. Can a friend or relative come to visit you for a while? You can spend a great deal of time planning their holiday with you.
b. Do you have one local friend and one xpat friend locally for diversion? Be very careful about bearing your soul to any �new friends�
c. Are you in contact via email, skype etc with people �at home�
d. Do you have a mentor, colleague in another locale with whom you can share your experience via email skype etc.

6. Avoid the booze, drugs, and negative colleague groups.

7. Stay in touch with your parents and siblings!

Good luck and remember �time flies� so get the heck away from school and have some fun before your six months are up!

[powerrose]

jdl - thank you so much for your response! I especially liked the part about keeping a separate life from work, which I've been having trouble with (not sleeping because of worry, etc). I think I am going to start that journal on Monday!

Twin Centre - thank you for the advice and support! I like your idea of that mantra, for sure.

Tomstone - Thanks!

Glenski - I mean, they have a curriculum for elementary English, which I do kind of think should be in English, especially when they're stuck on hiring 'native English speakers'. Alternatively, any sort of translation of little things like school rules would be a huge help.

It's definitely true that it's one sided. I'm sure they think that I'm a fake teacher, or that I'm lazy or incompetent. On the flip side, maybe they just mean 'that test you gave my class was hard', and I'm reading way too much into it because I don't speak the language.

I do think the discipline thing is normal in the European country. It's not like Japan, though, where at least you can go on Big Daikon or whatever and see that everyone has the same problem and how to deal with it. I've tried things like behavior charts, rewards, time outs, and it works to varying degrees, but I just feel so in the dark about it, and sometimes I get these comments out of the blue like 'you give too many prizes' that just make me scratch my head.....

[jdl]

powerrose,
You are welcome. As far as getting to sleep...and I have been there too!...I have found four things to work well for me:
1. Getting some exercise 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.
2.Making a list of all the 's---' that I can take care of tomorrow but not tonight and putting the list on the table for the morning. Again the whole closure thing.
3. Reading a bit in bed and finally
4. Breathing and muscle/mind relaxing exercises in bed.

Sometimes I have done all these and found my mind still fighting sleep, my muscles tensing etc., so I would just redo the relaxation exercises til my mind got into the exercises and not the worry. I have used visualization of a pleasant activity or time (believe it or not, visualizing playing pool on a deep green pool table with brightly coloured balls worked for me.... to each his own) to get my mind away from worrying about falling asleep. A repetitive mantra also seems to have a soothing relaxing effect at times.

A couple of links for you.

http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Sleep/sleep_ins_relaxation.htm

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm

Have some fun with it all. This too is an adventure! What is the alternative...worry about it?.....stick with the pleasant stuff.

P.S. Be sure your journal is secure at work if it is on paper. Try keeping an electronic journal stored in a file in your email account???

[johnslat]

Dear jdl,

Alright, come clean. What is a sane, highly intelligent, sensible, generous, and funny individual such as you doing in this insane EFL field?

WHAT'S YOUR SECRET AGENDA????

Regards,
John

[jdl]

John,

Just putting in time before I can retire to the great Southwest!

Any good rentals in Sante Fe? I hear the biking is great along route 66? Always wanted to do the Kerouac thing.

As far as 'The Agenda' Will Rogers pretty well sums it up for me:

If I could kick the person in the tail that causes me the most problems I could not sit down for a week.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

[rogerwallace]

power to the rose! jdl is right, keep busy on your self! June will come and you'll take off. I used to go to elementry schools on weekends(away from university teaching) to help my univ. students become better teachers.
I took colored paper, made cutouts of objects(tree,sun,moon,bird,star,etc) use what they already know, to teach them english. I taught them "twinkle,twinkle little star"-useing at each word, hands to show the motion(up above the world so high,a diamond in the sky,etc.). Attention is short with all small kids-keep it simple.
The whole thing in China was to impress parents who were paying rmb. Impress them and you'll be ok.
Start looking for another teaching job now.Make sure you have legel work visa-Z(has this school provided you with one?)If not void the contract or you can leave, but don't let on.
Hang in there to become a better teacher/learn from the experience.

[johnslat]

Dear jdl,

"Any good rentals in Sante Fe? I hear the biking is great along route 66? Always wanted to do the Kerouac thing."

Just let me know when you're coming; I'll scout the real estate scene. You'll fit in well here; we ALL a bunch of looneys.

Happy trails to you:

http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=11256

http://www.sdcmountainworks.com/biking/trails.php

Regards,
John

[jdl]

Will do John! Loonies all! I am sure the bbq is up to standard and the Fat Tyre(tire) cold?

Thanks for the links......but this is more my style.

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/SouthWest/NM/NM_index.htm

My pedal biking consists of a 'ride around the park' on Sundays....maybe.
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[jr1965]

Powerrose,

So sorry to hear that you�re having such a difficult time. I�m happy that others here have been supportive and given you some very good advice. I�d like to add if the situation does not improve soon, you should give yourself permission to quit this job. Honestly, if you did the following:

[Glenski]

[tomstone]

Incidentally, nothing has been mentioned about how the students feel about you. Do you see any improvement? Are they mostly respectful? By that I mean you're always going to have cut-ups and clowns, but what is the general attitude?