Job Discussion Forums

[nickpellatt]

I know this is only based on my limited experience, but this seems to be typical examples of life inside many a Uni or public school setting, and is one of the many reasons why I always suggest newbies think long and hard before working in these settings. I know training centres often have a bad rap, yet so many of the comments in this thread suggest (to me) that the actual work within a Uni setting is incredibly hit and miss, not conducive to good teaching practice, and in some examples, a real pain in the a**!

Again, and based on my own limited experience, the students complaining about a teacher being serious isnt endemic in China, but rather more likely to be endemic in the public school and University setting.

The private sector students I have seen complain (and they do complain too) is that teachers a) cant teach, b) dont prepare classes, c) talk/lecture too much, d) dont engage students. All of which are kinda fair IMO.

There is a difference between definitions of 'a serious teacher'. i) A teacher who has a serious approach to class and delivers lessons which engage students and have clear learning outcomes. ii) A teacher who is serious in appearance and manner...with an unforgiving personality.

[Riviello]

I basically agree with Nick. Private, training center jobs are more fulfilling if you want to be considered a "serious" teacher. But, if you "teach" English majors at a public university, I believe that is a better position because of the hours involved.

Most of my jobs in the US were in hotels. Basically, I talked to the guests. It didn't require any preparation on my part and the 40 hour a week salary was the same as that that a training center pays.

The cost of living in Shanghai isn't much, if any, cheaper than the US. When the economy perks up, I'll be gone and find an "easier" job.

That is why I prefer universities in China, less hours, free housing etc...

What it all boils down to, in my opinion, is the level of the school & students. If you are assigned English majors or "teach" at a reputable university, it isn't that bad.

My problem is that I now work with the bottom of the barrell and don't particularly care for it. I'd rather talk for 40 hours and enjoy myself than 15 and despise every minute. A little give & take does wonders for the mind.

On a brighter note, my next job in China will be better - a public university "teaching" English majors.

I hope I didn't jinx it!!

[nickpellatt]

Good luck with it, the current one sounds a nightmare!

[clarke501]

Glad I stumbled across this thread before accepting a position.

[Non Sequitur]

Try giving them an English popular saying and ask if there is a Chinese equivalent.
I recall that the Chinese equiv of 'it's on the tip of my tongue' is something about having a dumpling in my teapot.

[DosEquisX]

Geez, I'm feeling better and better about my job when I read some of these posts.

I tell the students to not come to class if they don't want to. I'd rather have them cut class than come to class and dick around with a cell phone while others who care are actually learning. I'm not too heavily bothered when only about 2/3 or 3/4 of my reading students show up. They lie on the attendance sheets and I really don't give a shit.

[Guerciotti]

[sharpe88]

Nickpellatt has the right idea.

The way I see it, the vast majority of 'foreign teachers' are of course underqualified and incapable of useful and engaging teaching. Therefore, they are least expected to be entertaining.

I'm not super-entertaining but I try to be interesting while following best TEFL methods.. and had a lot of success at uni's this way

[the_otter]

[Trebek]

"In fact, I had one student come up to me when she saw me walking outside of class who had the nerve to tell me I was boring! Only in China, I guess. I would never say this to a teacher in America. "

I've taught Junior High and High school in America for years and yes they will tell you what they think! If you are boring or not funny.....become a computer lab teacher or something.

[nickpellatt]

Otter - no problem.

I tried a new music lesson last week. It has potential, and uses 'Rise and Fall' by Craig David featuring Sting. I wont write a detailed lesson plan for this one but just an intro.

Hangman for song title 'Rise and Fall'. Draw a quick graph on the board, and ask a student to show a 'rise and fall' on a graph. Hopefully they will draw something that looks like a hill, rising and falling.

Play song - How you do this is up to you of course. Could be a gap fill, match sentences or sequence task (lyrics cut up and put in order).

Comprehension questions based on any tricky sentences and clauses, give a sample sentence and a choice of two answers or however you want to do it.

And this leads into my target language....words or phrases to describe actions and movement on a graph. (we elicited rise and fall on a graph after hangman). Give them / or write on the board, a number of graphs showing something 'bottoming out/recovering/slumpling/taking off/stabilising' etc etc etc. Get them to describe each graph to elicit language, give them a number of definitions ask them to match them .... however you want to present it they get to listen to a song, do some comprehension stuff based on the song, and learn some useful words to describe happenings on a graph (which you might be able to build into future presentations etc)

[mat chen]

Isn't this one of those oxymoron questions. If you were an interesting teacher why would you be teaching in China? I have taught thousands of business classes here in China and I have always had my directors snickering when I tell them " If I knew business I wouldn't be teaching it in China."

[the_otter]

[igorG]

To answer the OP's question, it's more than OK. However, be prepared for repercussions such as; 1) misevaluations of you from your employers and students 2) difficulties with your status in the country

[7969]

the above announcement applies more to those who don't take their responsibilities seriously and/or those who end up being more trouble than they're worth. Although there may be exceptions to that rule.