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Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
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max81
Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Posts: 59
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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mrwslee003 wrote: |
Funny you should mention "exclusion". Remember the Chinese Exclusion Act in Canada. It didn't work, but you think it would work this time?
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the exclusion act did not work....mass migration by the chinese to Canada also does not work. |
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SahanRiddhi
Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 267
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:31 am Post subject: |
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I detect a sense of entitlement and an unwillingness to accept any personal blame. I sense a person who has come to have a good time, not to work. I suspect inflexibility. I have not read a single word about any attempt to improve teaching skills. I suspect that the OP truly does not teach as well as the school would like. |
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Mr. Kalgukshi Mod Team


Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Posts: 6613 Location: Need to know basis only.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:14 am Post subject: |
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Mrwslee003 is no longer with us.
He may be the first of several to leave us if the insults and attacks continue on this thread.
Rather than lock or delete this thread, it will be left open to see who doesn't understand this message.
Members are requested to advise the Mod Team of inappropriate postings as soon as they are noticed. |
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steve b
Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 293 Location: China
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:21 am Post subject: |
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Are Chinese propagandists who infiltrate also deemed inappropriate? |
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t-dawg
Joined: 03 Oct 2011 Posts: 13
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:05 am Post subject: |
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As for my performance--my co-workers, both Chinese and foreign, believe that I am not a bad teacher. I take time to write lesson plans for all of my classes, and arrive in class as prepared as I can be. I am friendly and talkative with the kids, and do my best to get them to speak in class. I have requested extra training, and I go faithfully each week. If I'm not sure what do to with a group, I do research online for games, and consult with my co-workers.
On the other hand, up until today my employer has refused to supply me with books or classes of my own. I have asked every week since arriving if I can have access to course books and teacher's manuals for my classes, and am told no every time. I have never seen the same students twice. I get the information I request about the students (age, language level, current topic of study, books) only about a quarter of the time, and ine the other 3/4 of cases, I have been as flexible as possible. My co-worker is leaving at the end of this week, and I am to take his place and do a two-week stint as him, to "prove" that I belong here. My employer unceremoniously dumped 20lbs of books on my desk this morning. I am going to write lesson plans for each one of those classes. My co-worker and I are going to meet tomorrow to talk about the things I need to know to be an effective teacher for those kids, and any discipline issues.
I am genuinely trying to improve, and I will do the best I can do. |
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steve b
Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 293 Location: China
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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None of us are perfect. However I would expect to be spoken to privately if I was doing something wrong, including helpful suggestions. Thankfully the only "criticism" I have had resulted from student feedback wherein not giving enough opportunity for them to speak in class was the issue. I nearly choked! All of you know that on occasions you have to beg them to talk! Unbeknown to me afterwards, the messenger eavesdropped outside my class and thankfully received the truth, laying to rest that nonsense.
You seem to be doing everything you can with little help from the school. I have only written one lesson plan here in 16 months, but then I teach at a uni and lesson plans fly out of the window the moment you are successful in getting the students to be active. Other than the aforementioned rot I have received glowing testimonials from my "chicks" and on the whole lessons are lively in a good way.
You do not have to justify yourself to anyone here - they can "sense, suspect or think" what they wish - nothing you say will alter that. The worst thing to do in class would be to make your students think you are boring!!! |
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Baozi man
Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 214
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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Deleted
Last edited by Baozi man on Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Lobster

Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 2040 Location: Somewhere under the Sea
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Public comments or questions regarding Moderator actions or decisions have never been permitted on this board.
Instead, address your comments/questions by PM to a Moderator.
Public posting of such comments/questions here will result in a permanent ban to include the iSP.
This policy is applicable to all forums on this board. |
Terms of Service. From the newbie forum. Something about this you don't understand?
RED |
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Gtomas
Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 100
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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t-dawg wrote: |
As for my performance--my co-workers, both Chinese and foreign, believe that I am not a bad teacher. I take time to write lesson plans for all of my classes, and arrive in class as prepared as I can be. I am friendly and talkative with the kids, and do my best to get them to speak in class. I have requested extra training, and I go faithfully each week. If I'm not sure what do to with a group, I do research online for games, and consult with my co-workers.
On the other hand, up until today my employer has refused to supply me with books or classes of my own. I have asked every week since arriving if I can have access to course books and teacher's manuals for my classes, and am told no every time. I have never seen the same students twice. I get the information I request about the students (age, language level, current topic of study, books) only about a quarter of the time, and ine the other 3/4 of cases, I have been as flexible as possible. My co-worker is leaving at the end of this week, and I am to take his place and do a two-week stint as him, to "prove" that I belong here. My employer unceremoniously dumped 20lbs of books on my desk this morning. I am going to write lesson plans for each one of those classes. My co-worker and I are going to meet tomorrow to talk about the things I need to know to be an effective teacher for those kids, and any discipline issues.
I am genuinely trying to improve, and I will do the best I can do. |
I was in the same situation as you about a year ago (minus the funky mind games, we're-shipping-you-out-to-the-sticks thing).
I taught at a school that wasn't very professional. They paid me well, gave me a nice apartment and everything was great outside of my teaching. Why was my teaching sub-par? Well, the school never provided books so I could plan my lessons. They knew I didn't have a TEFL certification yet gave me only 2 hours of training before working an 8 hour day.
I ended up watching many foreigner classes on my own time.
I complained about not having books, and they gave me the old editions. The headmasters of all the schools I taught at were told to send me lists of the pages I would be teaching. I would get these lists around 9pm when classes started the next day at 8. And the lists were almost always wrong--either because the Chinese teachers (who I was always friendly with) didn't know themselves, or because my old version of the book didn't match up with the new one.
Like you, I eventually needed to accept that if my lessons sucked it wasn't totally my fault. I made my effort, I told them I wanted more training. I made lessons plans when I could, and didn't plan when I couldn't. I actually got pretty good at free styling lessons, but in the end felt he job was a little soulless. Many foreigners who care about the pay check and free time don't have this problem. And I'm not sure that's a bad thing, considering it's exactly what the business wants from them.
Basic advice from someone who has taught in China 15 months:
Accept that your classes might suck and it isn't your fault. Your school seems to want to do everything they can to make you perform worse and becomes upset when you rock the boat by trying to do better. Let's remember these people earned a bad reputation before you even got there.
Don't believe the line about you not being good enough, and how you should be shipped out to some godforsaken outpost where a drunk was tolerated as a teacher. They likely need a teacher there and will do and say anything they can to get you to go there. It's a business, you're a product. They will make more money if they move the product to that location.
Don't believe the threats. Nothing happens in China until it actually happens.
I hope that's helpful. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner

Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Gtomas wrote: |
Accept that your classes might suck and it isn't your fault. Your school seems to want to do everything they can to make you perform worse and becomes upset when you rock the boat by trying to do better. Let's remember these people earned a bad reputation before you even got there. |
Best advice I've seen in a long time. |
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peewee1979
Joined: 30 Jun 2011 Posts: 167 Location: Once in China was enough. Burned and robbed by Delter and watching others get cheated was enough.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:44 am Post subject: |
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T Dog. After reading your posts I can say my belief is simple. Your TRUE work attitude, behavior, or teaching outcome should not be considered. I would say that your employer is simply trying to SHAME you into doing more for less by making you feel that you are an inadequate teacher / person. This is not a new technique of course and is quite common that Chinese employers will lie to and shame their employees.
They can NOT send you home. That is laughable.
And they can not change the contract in the middle of it.
YOU have to decided what you want to do and stick to that decision. I worked at DELTER and DELTER is by far the worst school chain in China and like you I knew that before I got there. Ironically Delter has gotten so bad that they can not recruit any new teachers. I think they got some Christian missionaries there now.
So don't let them dictate your life and put pressure on you.
use some of the advice given here and go forward. Be strong and hold your ground. DON'T sign a new contract / addendum with them. And DON'T give them your passport. They WILL threaten you as you are a female, alone in a strange country. Not sure why people beat up on your for have a local boyfriend but certainly that's not part of your problem equation.
DON'T be afraid to ask for help from the local police if you feel overly threatened and stop letting the employer intimidate you.
DON'T RUN away, but if you choose to, walk slowly away with your head high. |
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Guerciotti

Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 842 Location: In a sleazy bar killing all the bad guys.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
Gtomas wrote: |
Accept that your classes might suck and it isn't your fault. Your school seems to want to do everything they can to make you perform worse and becomes upset when you rock the boat by trying to do better. Let's remember these people earned a bad reputation before you even got there. |
Best advice I've seen in a long time. |
Yea I just had to second that.
And I also second PeeWee1979. |
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