Job Discussion Forums

mr bedtime · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 18

Private training centers, such as chains like Web, Meten/metro, new oriental, the list goes on...

Are not educational institutions.

Getting that gig requires only things like: being white, being a native speaker, not being "ugly", and in some cases being relatively young (under 40/45).

They just want you to "engage" the students.

But what does this mean? It means the students like you.
The job hinges on this.

But how to make it happen and maintain it?

Chinese students can be fickle and strange judges of a teacher's usefulness and skill, and the money the familes are paying at those places is no joke. Often, what they truly want (sorry to say) is the feeling of what they thought learning English would be like, a sort of fantasy, without too much discomfort or challenge.

So how to be popular, while still feeling like you are doing something, and also not feeling like you are selling out even more?

It seems to me that it probably comes down to a checklist of little things.

Appearances are almost everything, class content is important to you, but it will not win you many fans. Its also sometimes hard to judge how you are coming across (if the students are polite).

It seems to me that it probably comes down to a checklist of little things.
I think those little things have to do mostly with 3 bigger issues.

1. making them feel warm, remembered, and liked

2. keeping them active and noisy

3. empty affects that, for some reason,
make you seem like a confident, organized, pro

What would you say are the most important habits needed in order to be a good teacher in the eyes of private training center students?

Sugar & Spice · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 73

What amuses me about a lot of the foreign "teachers" in China is that they actually think that our job is to "teach" English. How can anyone "teach" Oral English?

The way I see it, we are here to facilitate conversations in English. We may "teach" some new vocabulary and point out pronunciation and usage errors, but, most of the people who read this site are not here to "teach" grammar etc... China invited us here to get their students talking as well as to share our culture. Period.

It is a shame, but, whether it be a private training center or public school, if the students don't like you - Adios. Of course, some schools may be different, but that is the norm. A white/foreign face to justify the tuition.

If any "real" teachers are offended by my sentiments - boo hoo. I say - Why on earth on you here?

My Masters in BS is better suited for working in China than your Phd will ever be!

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

I haven't taught in China yet, but I sense the same thing as when I was teaching in Korea and Japan.

For me, the ideal situation would be to have a bulk of classes where I do as I am told and not worry about progress of the students but satisfaction. This will keep income coming in and give me a place to live.

For the rest, I will hang out with students I get along with outside of class time and learn about the culture.

I have tried too many times to convince the higher-ups at a school that students need pencils to write with (even with tests, sometimes I have been just given paper to hand out, boggles the mind). It's a waste of time to try to curriculum modify their broken system. The Koreans in particular are tier based. So, if you go to someone higher up than your direct superior to get something done, it makes your direct superior look bad.

Koreans use the co-teacher as a plug to shut you up this way. This is why I quit working in Korea. I had enough of it. Unless I get a more relaxed job as I mentioned where I can enjoy time away from school, I won't be returning.

Japan is a little different because they never really treat you as one of them to begin with. There is always this parallel relationship between you and your boss. You can give feedback and you will often be listened to, but don't expect major changes soon. If your students and you agree to make certain changes, Japanese bosses for the most part oblige.

I am not sure how it is in China yet, but maybe they feel closed off from the rest of the world. Sharing more daily occurrences in your home country and elsewhere might help to make yourself a valuable part of the class to them, not just some foreigner who has a native English tongue.

ttorriel · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 193

Sinobear · Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269 Location: Purgatory

1) Engage them. Find out their likes/dislikes/interests and engage them. This doesn't mean pandering to them...you can debate them, question them, ask them to justify their positions, but get them interested and involved.

2) To kep them active requires, again, that you engage their interests. It's not always apparent what they like or want, but heck, you were young once, too. There's not, I think, a heck of a lot different from a 10-year old in Canada from a 10-year old here when it comes to mindset.

3) Your third point is a non-sequitor. Don't ever bluff. You can wing-it and improvise, change pace, styles, or go out on a limb to break the monotony/charge the atmosphere or just plain raise smiles or eyebrows...but always be aware of the perceived value of your classes.

Make your students feel that they are getting something...anything...of value, and you'll have a bunch of happy campers.

chengdu4me · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject:

Lobster · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:14 pm Post subject:

Don't teach them grammar -- teach them to use grammar.
Don't teach them vocabulary -- teach them to use vocabulary.

I work in a training centre and teach applied grammar and vocabulary every day. Pronunciation is just a byproduct that follows these areas. Can you imagine a way to make using grammar and vocabulary enjoyable? For your students' sake, I hope so.

What are you thinking? If you went to a training centre back home to learn to speak Spanish, what would you expect? If you don't think you can teach oral English then I'm sorry, you're not cut out to be a teacher of English as a foreign language. Time to get some teacher training. I've been hearing this routine for 10 years now.

RED

A'Moo · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject:

randyj · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:37 pm Post subject:

Education is a business, especially in China, be it in private schools or public. We need to keep that in mind. It does not really matter whether a teacher comes as a white-faced totem or as a serious academic. If we can prepare and present lessons to the best of our ability, then students and parents will value our effort.

kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

randyj · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:00 am Post subject:

mr bedtime · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 18

Only have a minute to post here, but interesting replies. Thanks.

I was hoping for more specific stuff, as in technique/methods.

About point 3, I did not mean bluffing. I mean things like, bring 3 extra markers because the ones the school give you might not work, and leaving the room during class can make you look unprepared.

Or, always arrive 3 minutes early, even though it is useless, because you won't start 3 minutes early. etc.

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

Hm, I'm actually taking a European language right now and everyone else in the class is Chinese. Its really bizarre, but the teacher always does exactly the same thing every lesson. She hands out a worksheet or tells us to open the book, then she reads. Then we repeat. Then we take turns repeating. Then we do an exercise. Then we take turns writing the answers to the exercise on the board. Then she reads the exercise and we repeat. Then we take turns repeating.

I'm sort of amazed that she can basically teach the class without ever having a lesson plan. And the students seem to love it because they can text and chat while people are taking turns writing or speaking, the teacher is friendly, and there's never an expectation of "real" participation. Heck, I even kind of like it because I feel mildly productive and I get to read a book in class:/

Just a bizarre alternate perspective....

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

This is interesting. What language? Is the medium of instruction Chinese? Do you feel you are progressing?

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

Maybe I'm getting into semantics here, or not, but I'd say a person (not a baby or small child) can only learn to speak a language if they want to learn to speak it. So I don't look at it from the angle of teaching someone to speak English but as helping someone to learn how to speak English to a level of proficiency that is acceptable or useful for them.