Job Discussion Forums

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

I am being considered for an above average paying, but also demanding position teaching ESL at a high school in China, but they want someone who can also prepare students for the Toefl exam, which I have never done. They would prefer a certified teacher, but they are in a pinch and are considering me. I am not certified, but have 3 years experience teaching ESL in South Korea- in public middle schools, private academies, and to adults at a university language center.

In my research, it looks like Toefl prep is difficult even under the best of circumstances, and it seems like success depends a lot on the level of the student. I have already been told that the students at this school are at a low level at best.

I actually think I have a good shot at this position, but I don't want to accept it if I will be in over my head. That will just lead to frustration on both sides, and may put me in a difficult position regarding employment.

Also, I already have a solid offer on the table from a regular ESL Oral teaching job- still better than average but below what the Toefl gig is paying.

I looked online and found some quicky certification courses for Toefl prep courses that I could complete before next month, when they want me to begin.

My question to you - How long do you think it would take an inexperienced, but intelligent, ESL teacher to get up to speed for a position preparing students for the Toefl exam?

Your thoughts on the matter would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

Joe

chinatimes · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 478

This all depends on the student, but it is good news either way. I have been in "TOEFL" situations before. I had a small group of Korean students who came to China and were advanced. Some were more advanced than the others, but for the most part the teaching involved us reading material and talking about it, listening to audio clips of lectures or conversations you would hear on campus. Vocabulary is something better left for the Chinese teachers, but I tried to help out also with another type of class.

The other kind of class will not be prepared. They will tell you it is a TOEFL class, but when you talk to them you will notice they don't even have basic TOEIC skills. In this case you aren't really teaching TOEFL material because the students are simply not at that level. It actually means you are doing more work, but it's easier work. I give them vocabulary lists of the most frequently used words and make them talk using those. If they are bored with that, then they can use TOEFL words and make sentences. Essays are pretty much a third year thing. I have never had much luck getting the younger ones in high school to do this. In that case, fill in the blank stuff helps or drills.

Both scenarios I found fun to a certain degree. The lower level students will either quit if the school is serious about success or you will need to divide your class time up to address the mix of levels.

If you run into the situation where you need to please the school more than the students, then be ready for a lot of presentations. In this case, the school will not like it if you engage in conversation with the students. They will want to be impressed with your ability to explain things. In the end, neither the students will learn nor will you have a good experience. The school will just be able to advertise you to parents because you look like you are doing something worth paying into.

I would ask and find out their actual levels. I would find out what resources they have. The best experience I have had with TOEFL students is one to one or small groups. However, I will also be doing a TOEFL preparation kind of job this fall. One difference might be is that these students are planning on going abroad. So, they want me to also prepare them for this, not just test taking.

kungfuman · Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:31 am Post subject:

TOEFl teaching isn't difficult at all HOWEVER you need to be prepared before you teach it.

means you need to obtain the books and read and understand the methodology behind it.

How do I know this? Well last semester they told me - oh and BTW you are teaching TOFEL this semester.

Of course the books and materials they have are crap so I did much research online before the classes started.

Zhejiang_Man · Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 123 Location: Zhejiang

chinatimes · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 478

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

Thank you chinatimes! Thank you kungfuman!

kungfuman · Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:53 pm Post subject:

What part of TOFEL will you teach? Usually the foreigners teach the speaking part and the Chinese do the rest.

I teach the listening and speaking only.

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

kungfuman · Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:20 pm Post subject:

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

Ok, just had a great interview, and she wants to hire me....but she also threw me a curve.....she wants me to come over on a tourist visa so I can be there by September 1st, which I will not do.

And frankly the main reason is not because of the legal issue, though that is indeed a factor. The main reason is that if I did that I would be completely at her mercy. It would like a no-risk trial period for her..on my dime.

chinatimes · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 478

JoeKing · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 519

kungfuman · Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 5:19 am Post subject:

Coming over on anything less than a Z visa is risky. And the risk is all on YOU - not the school.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

I've been doing toefl and ielts with new oriental for the last year. It's not really that hard. Toefl is essentially focused on academic English, which rests largely on the students ability with formal vocabulary. Unfortuentely, you're responsible for the results rather than the it being purely on the student... So while most of the work rests on them, you're primarily going to have to manage motivation and where they need to focus their studies.

It really depends how the company organises your classes. If its a set course for a number of weeks or months, then it's easy. If you're getting 1 on 1 VIP students who are doing the exam next week, you're in for a struggle. Luckily enough there's plenty of information on past exams online, although be careful since most has been collected by chinese people... Sometimes it's not as accurate as it should be. Don't expect any real support from the company. They'll expect you to organise everything, which is probably better in the long run.

But to be honest, usually you'll end up focusing on logic, sentence construction, and presentation. The Chinese teachers will look after the vocabulary and the grammar although you'll have to remove some of the pronunciation errors that they automatically teach. But overall teaching toefl isn't much different than teaching normal English except that you're aiming at much more formal vocabulary. Grab one of the toefl vocabulary books. There were plenty of words i knew but had never used, but were expected in the exam.

Personally it's a toss up which is harder exam between ielts and toefl. They both have their issues... But you'll figure it out.

wonderingjoesmith · Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 910 Location: Guangzhou

It’s about what the majority of clients want to eat; it’s about how well a chef can cope with the kitchen duties where cooks unilaterally decide how to prepare dishes. Hard to separate sugar from dough for baking but I guess there may be some pros that are actually able to accomplish the daunting task.

As for the “New Oriental”, haven’t they paid a chunk of money to TOELF for copying offences?

Seriously, this is a tough market and it all depends on how we compromise with the dragon that sends so many quality products to our nations.

OP, learn how to settle your differences with local professionals. Your inexperience in the proficiency test prep, in my view, is probably a good thing, because you’ll more likely adjust to their requirements.