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cormac
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 768
Location: Xi'an (XTU)
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 Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:16 am Post subject: |
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| kukiv wrote: |
| 90 minute classes sound horrific - when we did kindy (for 5 years) - anything over 30 mins - that is trying to teach Children the basics of English, combined with having fun and not letting the whole class dissolve into a bored mayhem - was the main challenge of the operation. After all there are only so many songs you can sing and games to play in a 90 minute time-frame - I reckon a lot of your work must have been focused on getting those remaining minutes to tick bye!!!!! |
There were a lot of games. Hitting hammers (that made a noise) off a flashcard, throwing sticky balls at flashcards, Mister Wolf (for time) etc. Most times it was fine, although the kids got used to the same games quickly enough so you had to be creative enough to be able to switch games to avoid boredom.
TBH, it was the parents in the room that was the worst part. Mobile phones going off, them leaving and re-entering the room, having to pet their child during class breaking focus, getting annoyed when their child didn't get the same score as other children, getting annoyed when you had to discipline (no hitting or such but stars/scores removed) the child etc.
It was a private school. So keeping both parents and children happy was important. Education was a major part but being a clown was another important aspect. Not so much that you eroded any authority, but enough for everyone to like you.
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| As for the most text-books in the Kindy range - yes they're just a another thing to flog to the parents - and practically useless as tools on which to build a series of lessons. As you've stated the important stuff like flashcards usually gets made by the FT themselves. |
Aye, flashcards were the main tool. Cuddly toys, or posters from other countries were also good. I had just come from living in Australia so I had a lot of souvenirs from there to use, and I got some friends to send me stuff from home also (Ireland). Kept things interesting.
In the end, practically everything used in the classroom was made by us or bought by us. The only thing that KK provided was the curriculum (sortof). |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| In the end, practically everything used in the classroom was made by us or bought by us. The only thing that KK provided was the curriculum (sortof). |
The more you write the more horrific it sounds - and the wages they paid you guys - well its sounds like you were robbed. The worst in situations like this is when you take all that crap then the employers expect the next poor FT to suck it all up - as we can see in the other thread on Kid castle Xian!!!!! |
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mjzinc
Joined: 21 Jan 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses everyone.
I am setting my sights on landing kindie job if I can find one |
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cormac
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 768
Location: Xi'an (XTU)
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:54 am Post subject: |
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| kukiv wrote: |
The more you write the more horrific it sounds - and the wages they paid you guys - well its sounds like you were robbed. The worst in situations like this is when you take all that crap then the employers expect the next poor FT to suck it all up - as we can see in the other thread on Kid castle Xian!!!!! |
TBH they weren't terrible wages... I was out clubbing 5 nights a week, eat plenty of good Chinese food, and enjoyed my days around the city. 5000 and the apartment suited me fine. It was funny and annoying initially since I was on $42k in Australia before I left, but I sort of knew what i was getting myself into.
[It would have been different if I had dependents, wanted to save or wanted to settle down with someone, but I didn't need any of those things. But then I wouldn't be doing teaching if I did... I'd be doing what I'd been doing for the previous 13 years]
The work itself was tiring but fulfilling. The kids were fantastic, and I met some truly exceptional parents through the school. The TA's were wonderful, and I'm still in contact with many of them. Of course, there was stress, and heartache, but my previous job had me working 50 hours avg a week, with a different kind of stress. I'm no stranger to it, and feel a better person for surmounting the problems.
| mjzinc wrote: |
| I am setting my sights on landing kindie job if I can find one |
Fair play. Its good experience in learning to handle a classroom, and to deal with Chinese bosses. Its also very rewarding work. Just be prepared to be mentally and physically drained at the end of each working day for the first two months or so..  |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:04 am Post subject: |
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| 5000 and the apartment suited me fine. |
Of course the word terrible is a relative term - and if you're fine with the 5000 for what I'm sure is more then 20 hours/week then good for you.
But then again - with the stories that come out of Kid Castle Xian - where money is withheld from employees and even one case of FT's being physically threatened - then you can't blame some of the readers here thinking that the bosses at this place are more than pleased you'll accept their pay and conditions - I'm pretty sure those guys ain't slaving around for 5000/month.
And as for the wonderful parents and the kids that you used your time and energy on - well with the fees that have to be paid at Kid Castle I'm pretty sure they weren't worthy cause on any economic or social grounds!!!!
Remember also that your good - as in terms of a good job and experience - is also a relative and personal term - which means that many FT's looking at your posts in terms of what they consider decent conditions and pay - will maybe think terrible. Some may also be a little angry - since they feel that it's because so many FT's are willing to put up with the kind work conditions you were loaded with - that standards in many sectors of this industry have sunk to such low depths.
But then again it doesn't make much difference what I think - there are always more to follow into the same kind of job - some will see it as a challenge to be defeated - while others will simply give up in horror. But we can be sure that hungry shark like employers will be waiting in a feeding frenzy - newbies beware |
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cormac
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 768
Location: Xi'an (XTU)
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| kukiv wrote: |
| And as for the wonderful parents and the kids that you used your time and energy on - well with the fees that have to be paid at Kid Castle I'm pretty sure they weren't worthy cause on any economic or social grounds!!!! |
Actually I'm using my own frame of reference in regards to being wonderful. I didn't get anything more in terms of salary if they were rich or poor. And its amazing the sacrifices that some families will make to ensure one child in an extended family gets to learn english. Not everyone who attends these private schools is from wealthy backgrounds, and often they're the ones with the knack for languages. And while the grandparents are suspicious of the huge teacher, they're also extremely friendly.
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| Remember also that your good - as in terms of a good job and experience - is also a relative and personal term - which means that many FT's looking at your posts in terms of what they consider decent conditions and pay - will maybe think terrible. Some may also be a little angry - since they feel that it's because so many FT's are willing to put up with the kind work conditions you were loaded with - that standards in many sectors of this industry have sunk to such low depths. |
I've seen many posts about pay on this board and on others. 5k - 5.5k is the norm when starting off in the industry with no experience. When you've got more experience, you can get better pay. Sure.. some people have gotten higher amounts from the bat, simply because they have masters or phd's. Not because the higher amounts are the norm. Also the location of the school, the type of work, and the contract length factor into it. Many of those places throwing around money are from the most polluted areas in China.
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| But then again it doesn't make much difference what I think - there are always more to follow into the same kind of job - some will see it as a challenge to be defeated - while others will simply give up in horror. But we can be sure that hungry shark like employers will be waiting in a feeding frenzy - newbies beware |
Of course, but when has Asia been any different? Its not just China. And its not just with regards to teaching. |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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It wasn't actually the pay that got me to think terrible - I'm sure many could cope with the 5.5K - I react with horror at your stories regarding Kid Castle, Xian with regard to the conditions you were expected to work under -
-1.5 hour classes with such small children
-Parents in the same room, that could be considered real monkey treatment
-the lack of decent materials
-and last but not least, abusive employers, of which you write more about in the Kid Castle Xian thread
Payment for services rendered is indeed more than just mere money - respect and good treatment, from those who you are earning money for, also goes a long way in bumping up the feel good factor!!!!!! |
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Mr. English
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 298
Location: Nakuru, Kenya
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:46 am Post subject: books |
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| The material I am usually provided with includes booklets I guess they would more properly be called, the most popular one being the "Hello Teddy" series; it comes in 7 or 8 levels of dificulty, for ages 2 up to perhaps 7. A typical unit has four pages with a song, a chant, and some sentences. Flashcards accompany the books and are identical to some of the objects pictured in the book. Classes are typically anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, 40 at most, varying by age, the younger the shorter. I teach them the flashcards by first going through the cards and having them repeat after me, then play a missing card game (have them name, say, four of six cards and then try to name the missing two), then play some sort of race game, such as putting the cards on the floor in the middle of the room, two teams, I call out a card, one student from each team runs to the middle, first to touch the right card their team gets a point. Learning the names of the cards becomes a game. For younger kids I have three plastic bottles filled partly with water. Call one kid up and have him point to the card I name, if he gets it right, he always does because you help him if he doesn't, he gets to kick all the bottles over; they love it. And there are many such games you can play. I work on pronunciation of sounds such as "th". We learn the songs. The classes go fast. They love the games because they love to play and they don't get to do this with their Chinese teachers. When they too big, and in some schools the classes are way too big, it is of course harder. Up to 25 is okay for the older groups, 15 for the younger. |
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mandu
Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 794
Location: china
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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I love teaching kindergarten
I enjoy teaching under 2 years old.I left my kindergarten job after 4 years of working there.I tried different teaching jobs.after being away for a year I got asked to go back to my old job again.this is my 5th year with the same kindergarten. |
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