Job Discussion Forums

khmerhit · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 8:53 pm Post subject:

Hey Doc, are you for real?

Just kidding. Laughing

Let the students decide who is and who isn't real... they will anyway, accurately or not.

Just my two cents

khmerhit

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Actually Doc, my feeble attempt at humour was implying that we ESL teachers are in need of mental health care. I guess my use of the word masquerading resulted in a misdirection.

However, in view that we're heading down 'that' path; one of the jobs I held in Thailand was part-time, evening work at a language school teaching oral English to adults. I recall 2 colleagues, in particular.

One was a 68 y.o. gentleman who was working part-time as a TEFL teacher just for fun, he didn't need the income. He was on a "retirement" visa and did not have a work permit, nor did he have any qualifications. He had been a factory worker all of his life. He was always cheerful and I never heard him say a bad word about anyone or anything. His students loved him. They would be laughing and chatting away on exiting the classroom after each lesson. I saw for myself that, after one term studying with this man, their confidence when speaking English with myself and other teachers had greatly increased.

The other was a career educator. He had a Master's Degree in Education and had been teaching for many years in his home country. He had a full-time job at a university in Thailand. He was apparently a strict disciplinarian inside the classroom. Many students told me they were scared of him and they were scared of making mistakes when talking with him.

For teaching of oral [or is it better to say conversational?] English, I think that the attitude, demeanor and ability of a TEFL teacher are far more important than formal qualifications.

Digressing somewhat, you wrote:-

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Seems that Chinese uni's don't pay very well. It might be better, if you are looking for money, to teach at a private language school.

Talkdoc · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 696

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Well, Doc,
you are a pretty hard-nosed chap, that's for sure. You have a right to be that, and to demand your dues, but I wonder why the heck you are doing it in China of all places, and not in a developed country where you belong?

I still think, teaching in China requires not merely good qualifications - most of the time, they are not really that important - but a modicum of altruism or idealism.
You probably know that China only opened up a quarter of a century ago; we are here not just to "teach" English but also to build soical and international bridges.
The salaries you mentioned are quite good by Chinese standards, and I for one can't understand why the Chinese should pay us that much more for the relatively undemanding jobs they offer us.
This is not to say that I neither advocate higher pay nor more professionalism; I think, in the long run, China will have to accept more of our teaching advice and stop being so parochial and self-willed; that will be the time when this country can demand that we all have a M.A./s and 5 years of experience, beside being bilingual or multilingual, preferably with Mandarin as one of those languages.

Meanwhile, I am grateful to any Chinese employer who pays me a decent local salary, respects my input and my rapport with my learners, and allows me to earn extra on the side, which I have always done.

Our contribution to this system and its students is minimal because we don't do a serious enough job (in most cases).
Before China adopted English as its first foreign tongue at its schools, only elite students could learn a second language, and Russian dominated.
Now English is really "in", but it's so in that it is in danger of being too popular, and that resources are being wasted.
How many Chinese English majors can confidently apply for a visa from an anglophone country? How man can pass an IELTS or TOEFL without an extra 4 years of studying?

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Sorry Doc, I don't mean to offend but I think Roger's assessment is fairly accurate. You seem to have a jaundiced view. Perhaps some soul-searching may give you an answer as to what you really want at this stage of your life.

With regards to

Talkdoc · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 696

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Upon reflection I think Roger and I have been excessively critical.

Victoria · Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 137

i missssssss you sooooo muuuuuch lindsay

bdawg · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 526 Location: Nanjing

Clancy · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 162

Shanghai Foreign Affairs Bureau is now setting uniform salary rates and refusing to issue Expert Certs if the accompanying contract does not comply. The schools can not even deviate in the teaching periods.

The only flexibility left to the public schools is the overtime pay.

The public schools can not negotiate. That is now a fact.

Private schools and corporate training companies are not so limited yet, but their work is usually evenings and weekends.

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Clancy wrote:-

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Oh, and Victoria, you can walk upstairs and visit me anytime.

Cheers

Talkdoc · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 696

Talkdoc · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 696