Job Discussion Forums

starlight · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 37

Well said, basman.

For many foreign teachers in China, there's often the ongoing inner conflict: maintaining integrity or succumbing to indifference.

For me, it could have gone either way, but in the end, I was never quite able to forfeit my integrity -- although there were times when I felt as though I might.

In terms of the Chinese student body, I certainly never "... moved things forward by one centimeter"; on the other hand, in terms of myself as a teacher, I certainly never moved things backward by one centimeter. Very Happy

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

Trifaro · Joined: 10 Nov 2010 Posts: 152

Keep in mind that they are still young. Those with connections will get good jobs and then really be taught how life works. Then they will end up doing fine.

Obviously, my Father didn't have enough connections!!

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

If you think hard enough, you will probably be able to find some middle ground-keep some of your integrity or lose all your self-respect. After all you have to live with yourself-whatever decision you make now will likely make you a proud human being the way you were brought up to be or it will make you detest the very ground you tread on without any chance of happiness.

Whatever you decide, nobody can blame you. Don't drive yourself down the dark tunnel, try to keep your sanity above the water line.

Good luck.

sainthood · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:50 am Post subject:

The uni I 'work' at has a 5-class minimum rule - students must come to a minimum of 5 classes, or they fail. The dean herself (and her assistant) told me this.

Shock and horror to the 3 students who only came 2 weeks before the final exam!!! (and I've got this problem with a girl who changed major...almost 3 months ago.. she's now come to all of 2 classes).

Last year, I advised those powers that be that I was going to fail them Twisted Evil

Turns out they went to another teacher for the exam Sad

Then, there was the last student, who was about the best in the class (unfortunately - even without the 30% class participation mark, he still would have passed!). Because he showed up to a whopping 1 class before the exam, I deliberately failed him (59% Twisted Evil

). Given what I've heard from other teachers, that they are given another exam if they fail, I presume he was just passed by someone else (probably my co-teacher), as I never heard from him again.

As for what to do? I would have done similar. I will kick students out of class, I've made it clear that cheating is a no-no (but since I'm oral English, and it's all one at a time examinations...).

For me, my response would be to find a better place to work. It might be fairly accepted (or condoned) in China, but there's a lot of other places to move to.

sojourner · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 11:25 am Post subject:

Most likely, those FTs who fail "students" simply "don't have a loving heart" !

Many of those "students", after "graduating", end up in Aust/NZ/UK/US, etc for the purpose of obtaining some vocational qualification - or, even a Master's degree - and, still expect to do the same amount of "work" that they put in back home.

I've just come across a thread from the Aust/NZ forum about a teacher in Auckland who refused to play ball, as expected by her school (Chinese run ?) - and failed most of her "students": http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=85664

Peter

Randolf · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 15

What an embarrassment!

Firstly, if you are giving tests all the time (an absolutely useless thing to do anyway) and they are not 'passing' your absurd tests, then you are obviously not capable of teaching them anything and are thus simply providing proof your own ineptitude as a teacher to all and sundry.

Secondly - if one can believe the sort of thing that one often sees written here - there seem to be a lot of foreigners 'teaching' in China who for some reason become deluded as to the degree of their own importance. I'll tell you now - your opinions don't matter, your classes don't matter and your ridiculous 'marks' don't matter. Refer to point one above.

Thirdly, I have been teaching in China for 12 years and though it was hard to learn the ropes, now teaching here is a joy, and that although you do get the whole gamut of students from those who care to those who don't, never have I blamed the students when something isn't going right. That's how I have got to be so good I guess.

But I guess if stamping your little feet in rage, casting aspersions and concocting ridiculous generalisations helps to soften the awful truth for you, then carry on at will.

p.s. the awful truth is that you do not know how to teach englsh.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

mgafunnell · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 89

just put a red stamp on a piece of paper and move on to the next piece of paper. collect pay. go home. live life.

JohnnyTrippia · Joined: 19 Sep 2010 Posts: 22

[quote="Old Surrender"]I have an odd situation.

I can fail kids, however, the class average has to be between 68 and 82 percent. So, in other words, if I fail kids I have to some with flying colors to make up the difference. :roll:

Thankfully, most of my kids are hovering at around 70 percent this semester.[/quote]
which...might be why your kids are now all stagnating around 70. The "top" kids have been reminded that they are super-awesome and have started to slack off with their inflated grades. or is it a different group.

As an aside, I suppose if we call a spade a spade and say that they're not helping, but rather cheating, we can be accused of not understanding the hive mind or something... I have to admit, most Western kids are too selfish to ever want to help each other..

JohnnyTrippia · Joined: 19 Sep 2010 Posts: 22

[quote="sojourner"]Most likely, those FTs who fail "students" simply "don't have a loving heart" !

Many of those "students", after "graduating", end up in Aust/NZ/UK/US, etc for the purpose of obtaining some vocational qualification - or, even a Master's degree - and, still expect to do the same amount of "work" that they put in back home.

I've just come across a thread from the Aust/NZ forum about a teacher in Auckland who refused to play ball, as expected by her school (Chinese run ?) - and failed most of her "students": http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=85664

Peter[/quote]

If we're going to beat the inverted commas to death, I propose new definitions for said "students" - participants maybe.
"graduating" waived through
"don't have a loving heart" - those that feel that you have to be cruel to be kind sometimes in this world.

sharpe88 · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 226

I wouldn't say academic cheating is Chinese culture at all. Chinese value education and intelligence more than any society. Just the system is f*cked up. How many of you download mp3s ? Are you inherently thieves? No, it's just the system is not controlled enough.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

The bottom line is that locals learn how to get to whatever they want inappropriately. Then, if this begins at early age, it'll only go on and gets carried over to their later lives. Mainlanders have brought cheating to new levels, just like the wikileaks have brought the freedom of speach to. Any reasoning, explaining, suggesting, providing facts or opinions isn't in the local books, is it? But memorizing the choices of answers, or reciting lines without paraphrasing is, isn't it?

Today, I was SUGGESTED not to participate in the local employees meeting as I could possibly get something out of it..i assume. However, I was not given any reasonable explanation to why. The supervising local teacher did not want to offer his opinion too...but he said there were not enough chairs in the office.

Agreeably with the OP, I too am losing some pride and I am worried. If my work is compromised next month, I will have to seek some drastic measures.

DixieCat · Joined: 24 Aug 2010 Posts: 263