Job Discussion Forums

[wuxi]

I know if private school students complain about you your basically finished as a teacher. I was just wondering which students complain the most? Your thoughts please.

1. Private School Teens
2. Private School Adults
3. University Students

[7969]

I work at a university. I've never had any official complaints from higher up in five years. I've had two or three via email from students who said the class was boring and/or questioning what I was teaching them. I dealt with those on my own.

If you show up prepared, have some interesting/useful material in your classes, and don't come off as a total knob (openly criticizing every aspect of life in China, calling the students idiots etc) you should do ok at a university job.

[auchtermuchty]

University students don't complain much unless you really suck or really offend them with stuff you say. You don't need much of a clue to avoid problems with them.

Private schools are totally different. I'd say adults complain the most in terms of direct complaints to the management, but teens complain to their parents in response to their inability to meet the high expectations placed upon them.

[Lobster]

I think we'd have to consider the attitudes and motivations of students who complain. Here are my opinions.

The adult student is a fee-paying client with a strong desire to improve language skills, particularly speaking.

An adult student at a training centre may complain if the teaching methodology is weak and they feel that they aren't making progress at a reasonable rate. They may also complain if the classes are boring or too teacher-centred. They expect the teacher to be helpful, friendly and polite.

The uni student is in a politicized environment, High marks may result in tuition deductions. They see uni as kind of a "free ride" after grinding through high school.

A University student may complain due to political differences, unfair or anticipated poor marks, if the teacher is too "attentive" to female students, or if the class is too challenging (boring). They expect the teacher to be impartial and culturally sensitive.

The high-school student is marks-oriented above all, although some are interested in improving language kills as a key to future employment.

High school students may complain mostly about anticipated poor marks or shoddy teaching methods. They expect the teacher to help them achieve high marks.

The middle-school student is adjusting to the system and its grade-based focus.

Middle school students may complain about discipline methods or anticipated poor marks. They expect the teacher to tolerate a high degree of BS while still managing the classroom effectively. They also need a certain amount of edutainment.

Primary? I have little experience with this group. Only problems were in mediating inter-student conflicts. I feel most complaints at this level would come from parents.

What are others' experiences and observations?

RED

[peewee1979]

The students most likely to complain are the ones that never come to class.