Job Discussion Forums

[Mrs McClusky]

Some might say concentrate of the good group and let the others sink into their pooh pit of lives. They will probably disrupt the class for the others so, be the boss mate. You can do this and it will help cut your teeth for other jobs............ Just don't rule out the crappy movies just yet

[wiganer]

[wiganer]

[wangdaning]

[posh]

Keep going, at least until the summer. Then move on. If you make it that far, you'll have the satisfaction of surviving. Probably the less well-off the students, the better they are.

I teach adults in Saudi and while the mass majority are fine (if not lazy as hell) there is always one in every class who wants to be the alpha male/cool guy/mouthpiece, etc and low and behold on an 8 week course I just started, there he is sitting at the back, long beard, ready to attack.

His size is the problem, or rather lack of it, and he always wants to end the class early so I told him to go and see the Principal as he sets the time not me. "You're the teacher, you decide," he said, so I told him I'd phone the Principal to see what he has to say. We have a phone in the classroom and halfway across to it he was pleading with me not to do it.

There's a lot of thinking on your feet in teaching and you've got to keep your cool and dignity. Good luck.

[artemisia]

I�m not based in China but I�ve had a number of classes with all (or nearly all) Chinese students. The fact they�ve travelled abroad doesn�t mean you�ll get hardworking, motivated students; from far it. Sometimes they�re sent abroad, I�ve gathered, because they�re a bit of a trial back home. Sometimes it�s because they failed uni entrance exams. Some students really are motivated but it�s a mixed bag.

Things I�ve noticed with Chinese students: they frequently have fixed ideas about what a good English class is and generally that means doing lots of grammar exercises. They often don�t see any point in talking to each other and believe they�ll only learn from talking to a native English speaker (if they can be bothered). Cheating is quite acceptable to many of them. Games, conversation and activities in general are not taken seriously � it�s not �real� learning. Some of this is true of many nationalities but I�ve found these ideas do seem to be quite hard to shift with Chinese students. I think they�re used to sitting in big classes, copying down notes and not being called upon to do anything. Typical English language teaching methods are sometimes a big shock to them.

Sometimes the slackers/ planks of wood will noticeably snap to attention and actively participate when the class is observed. (I�ve rather enjoyed seeing this! ). However, the lack of support from admin suggests that even if your classes were observed, it might not be of much use. I�d also say try and get out and find something else as soon as you can. Feeling constantly demoralised is bad news. I�d also suggest, if at all possible, trying to observe a few classes at a new school before you sign a contract. It�s a good way to see if you�re a good �fit� (and vice versa) for the �culture� of the place (assuming the students don�t snap to attention because of your presence).

[Delltron]

I can confirm that many Chinese students do frequently have fixed ideas about a teacher-centered classroom and view student participation as a waste of time, as a chance to be exposed, as an impingement on their laziness, and/or as an uncomfortable departure from ventriloquy toward self-generation.

The conflict, of course, and as we all know, is that modern pedagogical research from the best universities in the world has been relentlessly attacking the phantasm of a teacher-dominated classroom, including that which haunts the ESL classroom in China. When I was studying for my master's, it was drilled into my brain, constantly, that the traditional lecture-style of teaching is absolute crap. The tension between contemporary pedagogy and the inertia of Chinese preconceptions may potentially set up the unguarded teacher entering China for a "soul destroying" disaster. I think that I am living in the midst of this tension now, struggling for solutions.

[artemisia]

But hopefully you'll find something more to your liking next time.

I think a lot depends on the 'culture' of the place and the policies set down by the administration which should help to create a learning environment. One teacher alone cannot do that and the trouble is, even the motivated students seem to become bogged down by the lack of enthusiasm and interest around them. I have had really motivated Chinese students in my classes who have helped change the atmosphere of apathy. However, if the school itself doesn't care less or just has completely incompetent people running it then teachers will have uphill battles. That's been my experience, anyway and that why I try, when possible, to check that out in advance.

[sisyphus]

Often its not your fault. I had one class where a few students made official complaints that it was too hard (I realised later it was the same students id failed in another course). Ive done all sorts of things to motivate them. After one lesson one of the male students came up to me and said He really likes my lessons and not to worry about some of the others they are just bone idle. Some of them are just lazy, are used to having it their way, are spoilt at home...Ive very nearly lost my patience with some of them. Good thing is to have an alternative i.e another job or idea. Dont get too wound up about it..not worth it...

[DMcK]

Your last post sums up what I think. Don't take it personally as there can be many reasons why these things happen.

I feel I am constantly trying to get some of my groups to grasp the idea of them having to do something. Sometimes it feels ridiculous and for things that seem obvious to me, for them it's the greatest challenge humankind has ever faced. Sometimes I even painfully try to get them to answer things and see blank faces, eventually giving them the answer and finding out they knew all along. And it's not even with an "ahaaa" type of realisation, it's with the same blank look that had been staring at me throughout the episode.

Yep, teaching English needs to lose the word "teaching" as maybe in some other way they might start understanding it's as far from an academic subject as could be.

[dmocha]

If you came to Canada you could well find yourself teaching the rich version of those unmotivated students. The difference would be that the administration, chasing the almighty dollar, would put the blame squarely on you. The big-spending customer can do no wrong in Canadian �international� programmes. The grass is the same colour on either side of the hill: green. Geography is the only difference here. Try changing schools etc until you find someplace you like. Under current market conditions, the bulk of international students in Canada happen to be from China.

[MisterButtkins]

Well, personally I teach in China and engage in the aforementioned "teacher-centric" style of teaching. I spend about half to two-thirds of each class standing in front of the room, writing things on the board, giving examples, and explaining stuff. I am extremely strict and any student who talks at all while I'm in front of the class immediately gets told, by name, to be quiet. If they persist they are booted. I make jokes occasionally but if the class begins enjoying itself too much, talking when I am talking, I immediately become very serious and cold. When I'm not speaking the students do discussion activities, in groups or pairs, that use the material I went over. I never have discipline problems.

The weird thing is, my students adore me. They not only think I am a charming and interesting person, but think I am an excellent teacher as well. The other FTs at my school tell me that the students in their classes all want to be in my class. One girl who was in my business English class told one of the other FTs that she had a great understanding of business now and I had showed her, through my course, how important and useful it is. BTW, I know practically nothing about business. The administration is also so happy with me that, after one semester, they decided to give me a raise on my contracted salary. None of the other teachers got one.

In conclusion, everyone seems to think I'm doing a great job, and I'm going to continue what I'm doing. As far as I'm concerned, it is not my job to come over here and revolutionize the way people learn. If I teach the material I am told by my boss to teach, and my students remember all of it at the end of the semester, I've done my job.

[dmocha]

I can certainly see how taking a completely Chinese approach would work with students who have never experienced any other approach. It�s easier on you and them. If part of learning a language is learning the culture, does teaching �English with Chinese characteristics� short-change the students? This is not a criticism of your approach: We do what we have to do to survive and hopefully thrive.

Having said that, I go back to my earlier point that the students� money has the full backing of the administration, at any level, at least in Canada, and as a �service provider� ET�s have to keep�em smilin�. You have a winning formula for your specific time and place. Money talks.