Job Discussion Forums

[justme]

Criticism in the form of 'feedback' is rarely good-- there are some really small people in the teaching world. I too dread 'feedback' time-- it's more like a subtle slamming. Or, you're supposed to promise to do it better without really knowing what to do.

They just did these dumb surveys at this summer dershane stint I'm on. I got my 'feedback,' which said I had low scores in 'guidance outside of the classroom' and 'punctuality.'

When told I had to improve my guidance outside of the classroom, I foolishly wondered 'What can I do? These girls study every night. They read their little readers religiously, they watch films in English every day after class, and come to class prepared with vocabulary questions and summaries from the films, all without being told.' Perhaps I'm expected to go and visit them at their homes at night to say encouraging things. Then I asked the students about the guidance thing and they said they didn't understand the question and there was no problem. They thought the question was about field trips.

As for punctuality, I guess I'm expected to start lessons by myself in an empty room while I wait for them to wander in from 15 minute (instead of the alotted 10 minute) breaks....

Guess I don't take criticism well either. What's the point?

[ash]

Thankyou for sharing this! I've been feeling like it's 'prac syndrome' but sometimes these things occur in professional development and workplace 'evaluation' as well. I think sometimes this kind of crap is motivated by competitiveness rather than accountability or quality control.
I know it's not unique to teaching, but as you said, there are some really small people in the teaching world. You've probably noticed I'm posting like a maniac at the moment. It's because it's therapeutic to read & type here. Teflers are nowhere near as bad as some folk think.
They should've asked your students about you. They sound motivated and stimulated so obviously you're doing well.

[justme]

Yeah, or I'm just lucky.

There seem to be different motivations for this 'evaluation' stuff, but the only times I've found it useful were when I asked someone to observe me to help me figure out where I was going wrong. This week's evaluation was motivated by business-- they like to give students these forms so the students feel they're getting their money's worth and that the school is always striving to improve to their liking. The other kinds of evaluations I've had were from teacher trainers, or those studying to be teacher trainers (with the second group being by far the most petty). That time of year was just general stress all around, knowing that every little thing was going to be nitpicked and criticized in a way that's disguised as 'helping' you, but leaves you feeling un-confident and like crap for the next several days, wondering if you're really doing all that badly or if someone just has it in for you? Or if someone just needs to feel big sometimes?

[dmb]

[ash]

So they gave your students forms they didn't understand. That works
Teacher trainers: they get payed, hey. Arrrgh. Trainee-Teacher-trainers - they are paying for a qualification so that they can earn more money. Is that right? That's the tertiary ed situation in Australia in a nutshell. The price: thousands. The result: peanuts. It's not much of an education.

I'd swallow the negative if Supervisor-dude could just be generous enough to give me the positive. He said "Something's happened to this class..." and we both knew what he meant: they are working differently and it is a good thing. And he feels bitter and impotent. I do feel a bit sabotaged, and I'm sick of not being a 'real teacher' and busting my arse to be a 'real teacher' and getting dumb-ass negative criticism.
On the up-side, there're a couple of cool teachers acting a bit more like mentors. Wish they could get the money for my training rather than the uncommunicative mid-life crisis teacher.

[dmb]

[ash]

I know, but i suppose we all find it hard to praise someone who's doing our job for us and doing it better than we do.
OOOO! I promise I'll stop now. But wow it feels good to get it out. This is my final prac. I just hope I pass it. Because of course my future is in the palm of this man's hand - he can pass or fail me, and will be the main influence on my 'rating' as a teacher in Australian secondary schools. It's enough to make one ask if one really gives a shIt.

[corall]

sorry to inturrupt just a little update on the situation.

round one:
well it seems that the principal didn't go into the office after all today but left me this message:

"you broke your contract so you don't get paid."

so i explained, rather heatedly to the secretary that changes in the contract were made, blah, blah...she said - i'll call you back

in the meantime, i called a good personal friend of mine, the translator of the school and asked him if he remembered translating the changes to my contract. of course, he remembered the event word for word and offered to talk to them if the need be.

round two:

i tell the secretary about the translaor and once again explain the amendments - she says -" i'll call you back"

round three:

i am piss.ed off at this point as i have waited for 2 hrs and still nothing. i decide to call back.

what's happened now?? the secretary has spoken to the principal who now all of a sudden remembers "yes changes were made and yes she is RIGHT! we will call the translator to verify her story. she will GET HER PAY"

the big question is....what happened to the amendment signed by both parties, to the contract that would have sorted this whole thing out???? they got misplaced. am i surprised by this? not at all...

now i am waiting for them to call back with when they will put the money into my account. so far so good, but i will be satisfied when the money is with me, where it belongs.


ps. thanks everyone for your support. it was appreciated

[dmb]

Yeah, drinks are on Corall.

[ash]

so how did you go with it Corall? did they pay up? BTW, did you keep your own copies of those contracts and amendments?

[justme]

[dmb]

Its not just teachers doing the Dip. It is down to the individual. I've actually had a teacher 2 weeks post CELTA trying to justify why we shouldnt concept check. Surprising Dip teachers are the easiest to observe. A main part of the ob is the reflection afterwards. Even if the lesson wasnt great they can still pass if they know why and identify why it didnt work. Hmm just a thought, I suppose knowing that the person observing can fail you is reason enough not to take criticism too hard. Whereas in in-house obs there is no pass/fail.

[calsimsek]

I'm with justme, where's the school Corall. Just give us the word we can blow the place up Burn baby burn

[corall]

now supposedly they have sent the money to the bank today. nothing as of yet, but i am hoping that it will be in the account before the weekend. if not, i'll bring the gasoline, you all bring matches!

[31]