Job Discussion Forums

[cormac]

When I was in University, we regularly met our lecturers in the pub for drinks. A damn good way to argue out points which you didn't want to cover inside of class. But then I suppose Ireland might have a different take on things. Our universities tend to stick to the idea that if students like the class, have fun with the lecturers, then they might actually show up for class.

As for China, I suspect it will depend on your school/university and also location. It wouldn't have been appropriate for me to take any of my kinder classes out. lol. Although I did bring in cake for special events. But I suppose that's not real teaching. However I would note that when I did corporate training in Australia, I had to throw parties with my students regardless of whether i wanted them or not.

I haven't experienced University teaching in China yet. Starting in Feb if all goes according to plan. But I will say that every time I have been in China, I have met lecturers/teachers with a few intelligent students (male and female) in pubs or out in the evening (not talking about dating, just friendly). Seems to be a fairly common thing.

[mrwslee003]

I think its great to have a party that includes your FT's. The students probably have had a boring experience with their local CT's. The FTs are just a breath of fresh air for these students. That is probably the main reason they sign up for your course.

To be fair to the local CTs: you can't be too creative and flexible when you have 50 or more students in your classes. Plus the fact your bonuses are based on your class grades. So there is a lot of pressure to stick to the books.

I think it is a valuable learning experience for students to see the less than formal side of their FTs and see how human they are. And take a chip off the label "foreign devil or gui lao".

Have more parties FTs!

[Trifaro]

Yankee,

I appreciate the suggestion. It must be a trick question!!

The class is for Speaking, not Listening. The students have a Chinese teacher for Listening exercises and basically want to have fun when they see me.

But, I see your point. I could try to help with listening as well as new vocabualry. The only problem is that when I ask them "How are you, today?", most of them don't have a clue about what I just said. "How are you?" = "Fine, thanks. And you?"

Someone here on Dave's wrote about this awhile back, perhaps it was John T. Partee. The students have been trained - when they hear xyz, they say abc. If you or I say - wxyz, they seem lost.