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struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

If Roger's reading, I can understand more clearly now why he roasts newbies who intend to come to China on a whim without doing their homework. Nothing wrong with just packing up and going to a country at weill, but China doesn't fit this bill very well.

To make a long story short, we recently hired a new teacher and I have a sinking feeling these final two months will be the most difficult of my entire contract. If you've been following the ongoing saga, I've been teaching at this school for 8 months now, and it's been a real ordeal. Just when I'm winding down for the final 2 months, boom, now this happens.

After failing to find a new FT for over 3 months, our school contacted a recruiter (shudder) and they found someone. Although it's only been a few days, I'm just shocked at the professional behavior of this new FT. He doesn't plan lessons, he doesn't ask any questions about teaching, he gets bored when I help him out and explain school procedures, and he doesn't meet the Chinese staff.

On top of that, I've gone out of my way to help him get settled into this school. I have received not a single word of thanks here, none. I feel like I'm babysitting the guy and have to go looking for him, keep knocking on his door, telling him to follow me, show him where this place is, tell him what we do at this time, etc.

Some of this is management's laziness to help him, but surely, the new FT could show some damn initiative here. In other words, disclipline is seriously lacking on his part.

When I asked him if there were any contract questions he said, "Oh I read it for 5 minutes and signed it." WTF??!!!

But that's not all, and my problem in this is that I don't have the guts to stand up to the guy and tell him to get his a s s in gear. I go along with this crap and try to be friendly, when in fact, I'm afraid of getting on his bad side. Crazy, huh? Well, I figure that if I'm isolated in some god-awful suburban town, I don't want to make any enemies.

Steve

Rhino · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:43 am Post subject:

Hey steve, just a question. Is this new guy your responsability? If he is, then ya, its going to be tough. If not, try to stay focused on your own job. We had the same problem and eventually we just had to let it go. I've noticed that in China laziness does catch up with you...at least it did in our workplace. When the guy wanted another 6 months he was ditched. I agree with Roger on many points but its not always a curse to have newbies around. I think I've made a damn good one and my reasons for coming were to travel and experience a new culture. It sounds like your leaving in a couple of months so just "go into the light". PM me if you want to work in Yingde(2 hours north of Guangzhou). I'm the same way about not making enemies in a small town, it'll be less stress just leaving him alone. I hope for your sake there are other FTs in your company you can relate to. Cheers!

Guest · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:38 am Post subject:

Steve I really feel sorry for you as I am in the same boat. I have been here for 8 months and now a new teacher is here to bug me.

The only problem is that I am here for a few years and he signed a 12 month contract. At least you have a light at the end of the tunnel!

Cowboy Pete · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:04 pm Post subject:

A few years? Those lucky Chinese Rolling Eyes

Well, that is your choice. We make our own beds and you have already made yours. Stop bit*hin!

Ger · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 334

Yeah, newbies can be viewed by some people as a problem.

I joined a school where there was an American who was in her second year at the school. She thought she owned the place and took on a role as manageress over me. Telling me what to do, asking me questions about how I would teach this and that, moving my stuff around the apartment (if I left stuff in the living room she'd question me about it as this had been her space last year).

I ended up avoiding her. Perhaps she thought I was lazy and a stupid fool, but I didn't come to China to work under a non-Chinese.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Then there are the guys that backstab you. You know how they do that - you have so many fronts: the students, your colleagues, and then your superiors!

Some come, get involved with your dates and depart with or without them.

Another case, recently developed: she quit her job, and the school had to find someone urgently. They zoomed in on me.
Weeks later, the absconded party wants to return because the new place is not heaven either.

Even if you don't meddle in someone's private life, they can damn well cause havoc to your existence. And I must say, a sizeable minority of these amateur teachers are a permanent public nuisance! Do I care whether my neighbour is drunk? I couldn't care less. Except that if he doesn't know which doorknob is his own, I get a gatecrasher in my home,
and the school might very well not want to know who was, and who was not to blame for that disturbance at night; they might punish both of you.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Hey Rhino,

Thanks a lot for the advice. The situation is, of course, complex and I'll spare the details. The school offered the new FT a 2-month contract (yes, really!) which explains why he wasn't that concerned about it.

I'm not responsible for him, but the unspoken message by management is that I'm the one who shows him the ropes. Mgmt is doing practically nothing as far as this goes. They didn't even pick him up from his hotel, and instead asked if I could meet him and take a cab together back to Malu!

Management wasn't helpful, so it was up to me to orientate the guy. We went over all kinds of administration and TT details, but the new FT retained very, very, little of it. He didn't ask any questions, nor did he show initiative. As a teacher, it's a given that you should be able to understand simple concepts like where to find a classroom, how to plan a lesson, and the fact that bells announce the beginning and end of a class Rolling Eyes

We went over tomorrow's routine in detail, but he now forgot where his b l o o d y classroom is. He is loathe to wake up before 10am, hasn't planned his lesson, and doesn't have an alarm clock. And the guy is older than I am!

I don't have to wake him up or show him the class tomorrow, but if I don't, it'll be a train wreck when he sleeps through the class. Because of the way mgmt works here, if there's a problem, the finger points to me.

Since it's the first week I'll go easy on the guy but after that he's on his own, and I'll focus more on my own job. I wish I had more support, but there are no other FTs here (the closest are in Jiading, up the road). Getting along well with the Chinese teachers helps, though.

Leaving the guy alone would be nice, but as you can probably guess he is very high-maintenance. He constantly talks to me and tells stories about the past. For all his talk about hanging out with locals, he hasn't introduced himself to a single Chinese person in this school.

It's a real tough call, and I want the best for this guy, but clearly he has to learn to take responsibility for himself.

Steve

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I am not sure if it is a question of being a "newbie" to a country or to the gneral field of education.
We have an Aussie teacher at the school who has been in China for a few years and still manages to do things that a newbie would do, both in and out of class!
just last week, he allowed one of MY students to stay over night in his appartment for "conversation" ...she is 19 and he is 65 Shocked

keep in mind we live on campus and we are watched 24/7 for our " security"... how in hell do you explain to the guy that teachers just do not do those type of things... not with students!!!

I have just realized that he has just spent the last 7 weeks teaching the kids the lyrics to every Eagles song on the "hell freezes over CD".... I keep trying to give him hints about theri boredom and how inapropriate the material is for English majors that can carry a good conversation... I teach those same kids litterature and writing and they're much better at english than this fellow!!!!

He is in noway a newbie in China, but he is still a newbie to Education...while I am not technically responsible for him or his action, I still have to watch out because his action will affect me, my wife and my students.....I hate that

Guest · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:05 pm Post subject:

Nolefan

I am sorry but I would be reporting the 65 year old AUSSIE! That is not acceptable behaviour as far as I am concerned - IN ANY COUNTRY - a 65 year old man having a 19 year old student in his room all night! B**L S**t

It sounds to me like he is using and abusing and that is the sort of person who gives ESL a bad name - we do not need them here.

Ger - I will heed your advice and try not to become like that American woman when new people arrive here in the future.

Struelle - This new teacher "shares" seven classes with me. They split into two groups - so I am thrown with him quite a lot duing the week.

I have noticed that he is late to class quite often and this is hardly necessary due to the small amount of classes we teach each week and the fact that we live 5 minutes walk from our classes.

Otherwise, all has been quiet on the western front for 8 days now, so I am crossing my fingers that he will indeed settle down and not make any more waves.

I only see the other teacher (whom I like very much) about once a week, We have been here together for 7 months now - I arrived a month ahead of him.

When I first got here there was an Australian lady, about my vintage, who showed me the ropes and I did appreciate it, but she was also a bit overpowering and wanted me to go everywhere and do everything with her and I am a bit of a loner so that got to me after a couple of months and I had to back away. However I did appreciate her help in the beginning.

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:25 pm Post subject:

nolefan reported

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

The world according to: Struelle, Nolefan, Roger & Rhonda.

Or, perhaps, Do-gooders Anonymous

I don't have anything very positive to contribute because, simply,
I am unable to stretch my imagination sufficiently far to empathize
with you guys.

I am an individual. I am responsible for only me.

I am not perfect morally, ethically, sociably or professionally.

I am not qualified to judge my peers.

Cheers

johnslat · Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 2:23 am Post subject:

Dear Teacher Lindsay,

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

I wouldn't call myself a do-gooder, but I try to be professional and do the job as best I can. More to the point, in this country especially, individual actions have a communal effect. High-quality work tends to spur others to do likewise, and rapport is contagious - this kind of stuff.

On the other hand, unprofessional behavior doesn't just affect one FT who slacks off, but others who work with him and/or follow him later on.

The latest trend today is that my partner keeps disappearing. Meanwhile my Chinese colleagues keep asking me, "Where's the new teacher? Isn't he with you? He has a class in 10 minutes!" I feel like I'm defending myself when I try and explain what's going on.

Steve

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Okay John,

I am not perfect morally, ethically, sociably or professionally AND hypocritically.