Job Discussion Forums

[flyingscotsman]

Where I work the Chinese teachers are NOT AT ALL friendly. Ask them for help? Never.

The regular campus students are very friendly - my students are lazy morons and I am surprised they can tie their shoes by themselves.

I am however, very friendly to all the students in the school and often have casual chats with anyone that feels the need to speak to me, and always say hello to those that glance at me and smile.

But its truly pathetic when the school police, maintenance men, cleaners, and peasants rooting through the garbage are much more friendly than the teachers who live in my building.

[igorG]

What's been said above is my experience as well. It seems to have become the norm around and i'd go as far as to blame the local educational system that overemphasizes the local traditions, patriotism, all sorts of local myths etc while casting shaddows on the modern world and/or whatever we stand for.

On topic, the bottom line here is that most locals are supposed to be available to their employers at all times and so it appears that there are attempts to brings us on the same boats too. Asking FTs "to be available" seems a very nice way to go around our employment agreements, doesn't it?

[slareth]

[Happy Everyday]

Take all the useful advice here into consideration.

I'd suggest being a little more friendly with small talk. Office hours are designed for meeting with students. There is no harm in meeting directly with your department head or FAO to have a friendly chat... and ask them. What do they want exactly? Don't be afraid to ask them. They suggested it

[Teatime of Soul]

Agree with above posters.

Write them a memo explaining you are confused by what being "more accessible" means. Nonetheless you are ever eager to improve your teaching, so could they write down some specific examples so you can clearly understand what is asked.

Cheers.

[El Macho]

I've set up a weibo (Chinese twitter) account for my class. I post class news to it along with music, movies, jokes, etc. when the mood strikes me. Students seem to really like it.

I also give students my email, mobile number, and schedule an office hour. They never come to the office hour, very rarely text me, and sometimes send an email. It's very little sweat on my part (during the office hour I mark papers) and makes students and administrators happy.

[mat chen]

Always keep all doors open. Don't get angry with your students when you have problems with your superior. And remember your superior is just following instructions from their superior so don't get angry. They play this card everywhere. Make you mad so they can say that foreigners are not good people.