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Jayray
Joined: 28 Feb 2009
Posts: 373
Location: Back East
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 Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:56 am Post subject: |
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I don't see the problem here. It looks like you've got eight contact hours per week.
Can't you find the time to spend one planning hour per contact hour? That would make sixteen hours per week.
I see a problem, however, if the department expects you to produce a syllabus in a couple of days. That's unreasonable. Is that the case? If it is, negotiate with the department that you'll turn in a "lesson plan" (the Chinese call it a syllabus in my parts) at the end of the term. This is what I have done whenever I've been handed my schedule the day before classes begin.
What I do is I mentally plan ahead, making notes in my book for the next contact with the class. After class, I fill in a self-made form giving a rough outline of what was accomplished. At the end of the term, I turn a bound lesson plan.
Be glad you're not teaching college in the U.S.. A lecturer-level (MA) is required to carry twenty contact hours, produce a semester's syllabus before the beginning of the first day of classes, assign and "correct" 3-5 freshman papers per semester. The only easy part about it is that one has the summer to prepare the syllabus, and generally, one uses the same book of his choice every semester. |
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MisterButtkins
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Posts: 1221
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Do people really spend THAT much time lesson planning? If I want to do a top notch lesson, it might take me two hours to plan for a two hour class. If I'm slacking off (not that I would ever do this, eheh) I can plan a two hour class in 30 minutes. Either way it's not like the OP is going to be working himself into an early grave. |
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gene
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| He has to come up with eight different lessons a week, compared to the more common load of two or three different lessons for a college or university teacher. |
My point is that it is not uncommon to have the schedule he has both here and back in our native countries if your an educator and union provisions do not provide for that much prep time. These are the normal procedures that teacher work under and the light load of the 14 hours 2 class prep lessons is unusual in the educational field. I have to prepare lessons plans two weeks in advance and it takes several hours to do so but it is the requirement of my home university and true I get paid well so I guess it depends on the compensation and how much a person wants to excel in his or her job with an eye on future employment. By demonstrating a teacher can indeed work within normal standards of the educational field could possible open doors for future employment.
While I agree that maybe the standards of employment should not be extended to those who haven't had the training or haven't worked within a native educational system it is never the less normal for a teacher to have staggered class times with prep required for all classes and to accept the job means to accept the standard. |
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kalulu
Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Jiangsu
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks a lot for the input. I was able to get one IELTS class dropped and have the higher-ups admit none of the kids in IELTS were even going to take the exam, so I have more flexibility there and can repeat some of the Listening and Speaking lessons. I still have to plan four 90-minute lessons each week, but that's a lot better than the original eight. |
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Silent Shadow
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 380
Location: A stones throw past the back of beyond
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| gene wrote: |
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| He has to come up with eight different lessons a week, compared to the more common load of two or three different lessons for a college or university teacher. |
My point is that it is not uncommon to have the schedule he has both here and back in our native countries if your an educator and union provisions do not provide for that much prep time. These are the normal procedures that teacher work under and the light load of the 14 hours 2 class prep lessons is unusual in the educational field. I have to prepare lessons plans two weeks in advance and it takes several hours to do so but it is the requirement of my home university and true I get paid well so I guess it depends on the compensation and how much a person wants to excel in his or her job with an eye on future employment. By demonstrating a teacher can indeed work within normal standards of the educational field could possible open doors for future employment.
While I agree that maybe the standards of employment should not be extended to those who haven't had the training or haven't worked within a native educational system it is never the less normal for a teacher to have staggered class times with prep required for all classes and to accept the job means to accept the standard. |
I'm just about to start at my fourth university in China. In all my universities, here, including the one that I'm about to start in, I have never been given more than two lessons to prep a week. The load of fourteen lessons a week with two prep lessons is indeed very common in China; in fact it's the norm. It's a good job, too, especially when I'm often required to take audio-visual courses, and advanced writing, where quite a bit more prep is involved if students are to be truly challenged and stimulated.
Our home countries have nothing to do with it. It doesn't matter if such schedules are practiced in timbuktu, the North Pole or the Norfolk Broads. If an educational institution, anywhere, is really serious about education they would not provide a teacher with such a schedule. If I was going to see a class four times a week in a college or university, I would agree on the condition that it was the only class I saw.
An educator should have his eye on his students, first, before he thinks of future employment. How about the here and now? It's no good thinking about the better tasting grass in possible future fields, if you're restricted from eating enough to even survive in your present one.
I noticed in your two paragraphs that you never mentioned the word "student", once. It was all "I" and "future employment". Where do the students fit into all of this? The best way to ensure future employment is to choose a schedule or school, if necessary, that doesn't lead to burnout or student's learning stagnation. Neither of the aforementioned would fit well in a job reference.
Kalulu, I'm glad to hear that you've managed to acquire a more reasonable schedule. |
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gene
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| I noticed in your two paragraphs that you never mentioned the word "student", once. It was all "I" and "future employment". Where do the students fit into all of this? The best way to ensure future employment is to choose a schedule or school, if necessary, that doesn't lead to burnout or student's learning stagnation. Neither of the aforementioned would fit well in a job reference. |
I have only stated what is normal requirements in a professional teaching job and true if you were not a professional in your native country, you may perceive light teaching loads to be the norm. Students are subject to this kind of teacher's schedule pretty much all over in educational systems that maintains a learning pace which is beneficial to their overall learning process.
If you want to be considered a professional, then you have to maintain a professional attitude. True to your word though, shirking duties assigned will not fit will into a job reference.
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| In all my universities, here, including the one that I'm about to start in, I have never been given more than two lessons to prep a week. |
Shadow, perhaps management was wise to limit your responsibility. |
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Silent Shadow
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 380
Location: A stones throw past the back of beyond
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| gene wrote: |
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| I noticed in your two paragraphs that you never mentioned the word "student", once. It was all "I" and "future employment". Where do the students fit into all of this? The best way to ensure future employment is to choose a schedule or school, if necessary, that doesn't lead to burnout or student's learning stagnation. Neither of the aforementioned would fit well in a job reference. |
I have only stated what is normal requirements in a professional teaching job and true if you were not a professional in your native country, you may perceive light teaching loads to be the norm. Students are subject to this kind of teacher's schedule pretty much all over in educational systems that maintains a learning pace which is beneficial to their overall learning process.
If you want to be considered a professional, then you have to maintain a professional attitude. True to your word though, shirking duties assigned will not fit will into a job reference.
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| In all my universities, here, including the one that I'm about to start in, I have never been given more than two lessons to prep a week. |
Shadow, perhaps management was wise to limit your responsibility. |
Gene, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.
I have been very critical of the Chinese education system over the years, but I think they have at least got something right, as regards to generally setting university teachers no more than two or three lessons to prep a week. In every university that I have taught in, here, my FT, colleagues, too, were set no more than two different lessons to prep. Thus any wisdom that motivated the school leaders in setting my schedule was based on other criteria and was not any comment on my responsibility level.
You're looking at this from a snobbish and elitist viewpoint, and your machismo is blinding you from focusing on the most important priority.
"You're not a true teacher, professional, etc... if you don't accept any schedule, whatsoever thrust upon you by management..." is the thrust of your argument.
In fact educational establishments from our home countries are likely exploiting such aforementioned traits. Thus said the dean;-
"Tell them that they're not professionals, and they'll dance to any tune, and accept any idiotic schedule that you care to thrust upon them."
My first responsibility is to my students; not to any school or department leader. If I agreed to a schedule where I had to prep eight classes a week in a university, I would be shirking my reponsibility to my students in that I would be allowing their education to be watered down, and that would not be beneficial for them. |
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Jayray
Joined: 28 Feb 2009
Posts: 373
Location: Back East
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Geez, if the OP can't find the time to prepare for class when he has only EIGHT contact hours, how does he find the time to eat, bathe, shop, etc.?
I suppose that you were sorely disappointed when you found out that there was no limo service for you to take you to your class room too.
Did he know that teachers are expected to rely upon the knowledge and experience they gained in college--- or did the OP decide that education was too inconvenient?
I have a feeling that there's a modern Horace Greely out there telling some folks "Go East, Young Man!"
Either that, or there's a troll convention this week on Dave's ESL. |
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kalulu
Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Jiangsu
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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I thought it was clear in the initial post but in case it was too inconvenient to scroll to the beginning of the topic, I was originally scheduled for 12 contact hours per week: eight NINETY-MINUTE classes. These were divided among two groups of students that I saw four times per week, so each of eight 90-minute periods had to be a unique lesson. Employing my university math class knowledge and experience, I figure the suggested one hour of planning for each contact hour would have equaled 24 hours of work per week, which is well beyond my contract's 16-hour limit. If I had a masters or the desire to work a Western-style academic schedule, I wouldn't be in China.
Silent Shadow, thank you for all your thoughtful advice. I appreciate it.
I'll sign off here because my limo is waiting outside to take me to the noodle shop around the corner. I consider my own case here closed. Thanks again for the input; the advice from this thread was really helpful. The snarkiness was not, but if you need an outlet, carry on I guess. |
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Silent Shadow
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 380
Location: A stones throw past the back of beyond
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| No problem, Kalulu. I'm glad to hear that you've got things sorted out. |
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gene
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:52 am Post subject: |
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You're looking at this from a snobbish and elitist viewpoint, and your machismo is blinding you from focusing on the most important priority.
"You're not a true teacher, professional, etc... if you don't accept any schedule, whatsoever thrust upon you by management..." is the thrust of your argument. |
You characterization of my viewpoint is harshly oversimplify and based on you definition of the most important priority which seems to be the amount of work given an employee. I have only stated that this is normal for professionals and is a standard for the teaching profession back in many of our native countries. Assignment of a schedule which is characteristic of a normal work week back home is not accepting what ever is thrust on a worker but rather the acceptance of a work load which is the normal expectation of a "teacher'.
| Quote: |
| In fact educational establishments from our home countries are likely exploiting such aforementioned traits. Thus said the dean;- |
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| "Tell them that they're not professionals, and they'll dance to any tune, and accept any idiotic schedule that you care to thrust upon them." |
If you don't like the standards then you shouldn't accept the job. If I had an employee who complained about their hours, I would indeed reduce them but with the idea that no extension to their contract would be forthcoming.
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| My first responsibility is to my students; not to any school or department leader. If I agreed to a schedule where I had to prep eight classes a week in a university, I would be shirking my reponsibility to my students in that I would be allowing their education to be watered down, and that would not be beneficial for them. |
Again, if the performance of a normal duty standard resulted in a "watered down" performance of an employee, it perhaps is clear to management that this employee cannot accept the responsibility required to adequately perform their job. That kind of employee is not beneficial for either the student or the institution. You right, we have to disagree on this one, but instead of indicating my lack of caring as to the students, I feel that by demanding a standard that is normal in our native countries, teachers (even Foreign Oral English Teachers) can achieve professionalism. |
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Silent Shadow
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 380
Location: A stones throw past the back of beyond
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| gene wrote: |
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You're looking at this from a snobbish and elitist viewpoint, and your machismo is blinding you from focusing on the most important priority.
"You're not a true teacher, professional, etc... if you don't accept any schedule, whatsoever thrust upon you by management..." is the thrust of your argument. |
You characterization of my viewpoint is harshly oversimplify and based on you definition of the most important priority which seems to be the amount of work given an employee. I have only stated that this is normal for professionals and is a standard for the teaching profession back in many of our native countries. Assignment of a schedule which is characteristic of a normal work week back home is not accepting what ever is thrust on a worker but rather the acceptance of a work load which is the normal expectation of a "teacher'.
| Quote: |
| In fact educational establishments from our home countries are likely exploiting such aforementioned traits. Thus said the dean;- |
| Quote: |
| "Tell them that they're not professionals, and they'll dance to any tune, and accept any idiotic schedule that you care to thrust upon them." |
If you don't like the standards then you shouldn't accept the job. If I had an employee who complained about their hours, I would indeed reduce them but with the idea that no extension to their contract would be forthcoming.
| Quote: |
| My first responsibility is to my students; not to any school or department leader. If I agreed to a schedule where I had to prep eight classes a week in a university, I would be shirking my reponsibility to my students in that I would be allowing their education to be watered down, and that would not be beneficial for them. |
Again, if the performance of a normal duty standard resulted in a "watered down" performance of an employee, it perhaps is clear to management that this employee cannot accept the responsibility required to adequately perform their job. That kind of employee is not beneficial for either the student or the institution. You right, we have to disagree on this one, but instead of indicating my lack of caring as to the students, I feel that by demanding a standard that is normal in our native countries, teachers (even Foreign Oral English Teachers) can achieve professionalism. |
I know that primary/ secondary school teachers back home often have to see their home class quite a few times a week, but my argument is about the schedules of college/ university teachers. (neither am I talking about lecturers).
Again, my argument is not about the amount of hours worked, but about how many different lessons a college/ university teacher is expected to prep a week.
I don't believe that it is normal for a college/ university teacher in England to be asked to prepare eight different lessons plans for eight ninety minute lessons a week. I also, think that any university/ college that provides such a schedule is not very serious about quality education. |
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gene
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:04 am Post subject: |
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| I don't believe that it is normal for a college/ university teacher in England to be asked to prepare eight different lessons plans for eight ninety minute lessons a week. I also, think that any university/ college that provides such a schedule is not very serious about quality education. |
You are entitled to your opinion as to what you think exist in the normal work schedule. I don't believe that most "teachers" working in china without the proper training or understanding of what the job demands, are qualified to make assumptions. |
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Sugar & Spice
Joined: 11 Feb 2010
Posts: 73
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Gene,
Whether you are a "real"/certified teacher from the UK or wherever, you still haven't answered Silent Shadow's question - How many lesson plans per week is the norm for a certified university teacher/lecturer in the west?
Come off your high horse. I'm willing to bet I make more than you per month and I'm not a "real" teacher. I'll go double or nothing that my Dancing Monkey routine is enjoyed more than your regular routine.
This is China. This is a place where they pay 20 rmb more per hour/500 per month for a PHd. This is a place where "real" teachers are truly wasting their "talent" or it could be a place for washed up pompous fools to bore the kids to sleep.
This semester my school switched teachers. You couldn't imagine the number of former students that have contacted me and told me that they don't like their new grumpy "real" teacher. I'll triple my bet come contract renewal time. Do you want a piece? |
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gene
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Do you want a piece? |
pass
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Come off your high horse. I'm willing to bet I make more than you per month and I'm not a "real" teacher. I'll go double or nothing that my Dancing Monkey routine is enjoyed more than your regular routine. |
I am sure we would all get a kick out of your performance of the Monkey King and as evidenced by another post where you indicate you have no knowledge as to how to teach oral English, the routine seems to be your claim to fame.
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| How many lesson plans per week is the norm for a certified university teacher/lecturer in the west? |
When not dancing, what ever it takes to get the job done. Lesson planning is not likely to be in the contract.
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| Come off your high horse. |
Low enough for ya. |
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