Job Discussion Forums

[sharpe88]

I understand all the venting, and Chinese uni's have serious problems, but i would worry more about young Americans than young Chinese. High dropout rates, low interest in maths and sciences and among the worst tests scores of developed countries..

Young Chinese may not be very expressive but they are not robots. They have great intellectual curiosity and this will continue to develop

[igorG]

Either young Americans or Canadians, that've come out of their own educational systems, see the student evaluation process in a much different way than Chinese students do. This topic underlines a difference and the issue we are discussing on. Comparing some developed countries educational systems with the US one, I see how Americans may score less in their tests. I see them more practical rather than driven towards higher scores. As for the dropouts, don't we see so many filthy rich yankees out of their own educational system they have never accomplished. Honestly, isn't it better to put in practice that 40 out of your 45 % test rather than 10 percent when you scored 90 %? But on topic that 99% test takers on mainland are something, aren't they?

[El Chupacabra]

I blame the society.

[igorG]

I blame the local leadership that wants to control just about everyting in the country. From losing dignity to losing sanity is not too far around. Then, there surely are reasons to point fingers at FTs, aren't there?

[mrwslee003]

Certainly the leaders from top to bottom play an important part in creating the
screwed-up environment in the education system. However, one must admit the monumental task of education for 1.3 billion is not an easy endeavour. Thus contributing to the backwardness of the situation.

The solution is not an easy one, definitely more complex than what we can describe here. It is easier to blame it on the system or whatever. It just makes the situation easier for outsiders to tolerate (by blaming the system).

One must also look at the successes to balance our evaluation, otherwise we just see the negatives and become blind to the positives.

[7969]

[mrwslee003]

Not so much anger but frustration, which is natural, that is how our physical systems deal with things beyond our capacity to resolve.

Ft's and local Cts all have limits, the difference is the severity of their frustration. Their tolerance is dependent on their up bringing and their natural capability to absorb life's problems. Living in a foreign country is challenging at best. One must realize your system is coping with unusual situations, not your normal circumstances that you've been accustumed to in your hometown.

So make allowances and don't allow the situation take control of you, but mindful that you only have control over yourself, nothing beyond that.

With practice you will become better.

[igorG]

[mrwslee003]

Well, if one day one problem arises and it makes you want to throw up. And next day the same problem comes up and you are able to keep your guts down.
That means you've become better!

With luck you may even smile at the same problem on the third day. Then I'd say you've conquered!

[mrwslee003]

Igor, I feel you are very serious about your job and committed too. However, be very mindful that you are hired to instill some English skills in your students.
Your primary job is not to correct the problems of the system or solve problems of social nature or problems that you see as problems. I mean if you can do anything more than teaching language skills that would be icing on the cake, but don't fret or get mired or emotionally spent on them. Those problems are part of the local environment, part of their history, part of the local politics, and part of the local and national culture, etc., etc.

If you, as a Ft, think you can attempt to solve their problems then I'd say you are giving yourself too much credit feeling you have the ABILITY to tackle their problems, thinking they cannot do it themselves. I might add arrogance in there too.

It does not mean I don't admire you for trying. If you are really, really, reeally serious about solving a certain problem then I would suggest that you talk to one or two locals about it and try to involve them in the attempt to solve it. If you do that, now you are inclusive and in the process probably learn all sorts of things from the locals as well. Then, you will have a lot more appreciation for their problems. I bet then, your frustrations will go south towards the pole!

Am I making sense or am I out in the left field some where? I've been there too.

[El Chupacabra]

[7969]

[mrwslee003]

And I feel those FTs, everyone of them, have good intentions. But good intentions is not a license to impose your ideas in this country. They rather make the mistakes and learn from their own mistakes than to have you tell them what to do. That is why those politicians in the 50's wanted answers for the question " Who lost China?": And of course the answer would have been clear as the summer day when they look into the mirror.

Yet I understand the intentions. Good as they are: like the many missionaries in the early 1900's. The people in this country are a proud bunch. They don't like to be second class citizens in their own country. So when you behave like you are doing them a favour trying to tell them what to do, they just turn you off. They close their ears and minds and hearts. Especially the latter one.

The one approach is to let them know the problem you see and that is the best you can do, as a FT. Or get into a "team" situation and contribute in that way. You have to be accepted as part of a whole, team.

Otherwise, you just get frustrated and bang your head against the wall, then they don't want to deal with you. They feel you are just looking for glory for yourself. To them that is just too individualistic to be of any public good, period.

[igorG]

[igorG]