Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

I was wondering if any of you are able to teach 'old school method' with your Chinese university students, or is using technology, a pre-requisite to success in the classroom with regard to keeping the students engaged and eager to come to class?

Can a teacher who just goes to the classroom with books, and uses the blackboard still be successful in a university setting? I personally think that the lecturer who only uses books and chalk would face a challenge, but I knew some teachers in Saudi who were 'old school' in the classroom, never used technology - didn't even know how to send an attachment by email...but were considered 'great teachers' in Saudi, thanks to great knowledge of the subject and a dynamic personality.

In China, however, I get the impression, that using technology is a plus, because students in Asia love to use visuals and anything to do with computers, etc.

Comments, thoughts?

Ghost in China

[zacharybilton]

I use the chalkboard, but hate chalk dust. Occasionally, I will have a single Word document on the overheard/computer projector - a still, no color, non-animated, etc. that has vocabulary with Chinese translation should I think it is relevant I give them the most correct translation. It saves me from attempting to write a few dozen Chinese words on the board.

I use chalk and paper handouts when I need them.

University students need not be engaged with animations and cool clip-art or movies and so on. Not if you're a real teacher that is.

[hdeth]

I was the only English teacher at my uni who used technology. They were considered 'great teachers' if they showed up on time and sober, reasonably clean and dressed. At the uni I worked at the freshman classrooms didn't have any technology to speak of.

Old school in this context pretty much means lazy. No, you shouldn't be dependent entirely upon technology but being able to throw text and images up on a projector screen is undeniably helpful, especially since Chinese students tend to have better reading skills than listening. Plus then you can upload the file and they can review the lesson (if you aren't using a textbook or the textbook was too horrible to use).

I taught one normal class at the uni as well as English. Can't imagine doing it without a computer. They could barely understand oral English. Can't imagine trying to teach American history or something just scribbling words on the board and depending on them to understand what you're saying. I remember some students had no idea what their teachers were doing....didn't understand a thing. Just kinda nodded and went along with it because they didn't want to seem stupid. Especially non-native teachers....the students couldn't understand a damn thing they said. Ask them what the lesson was about and they'd be like "she wrote some stuff on the board, played some song, and wrote some more words on the board."

EDIT:
Should add the school very strongly discouraged making copies (it costs money). Many things I would have preferred to do as handouts but making copies was such a pain I used powerpoint.

[Shanghai Noon]

In subject classes I use technology to show pictures, videos, and play speeches but I use the blackboard to deliver content. In oral English classes I do it old school with chalk, blackboard, and worksheets when applicable. I think showing PPT presentations kind of defeats the purpose of an oral English class.

[GreatApe]

bilton wrote:

[ghost]

[Shanghai Noon]

[hdeth]

[Non Sequitur]

For oral English the point is to get them talking. They can improve their listening fine on their own. If you spend 5 minutes explaining an activity in a 40 minute class that's a waste.[i]

At last, a comment I can go with.
Oral English is spoken English. The Chinese teachers do the grammar stuff and have done all through Middle and High School.
Of course freshers' oral skills are out of kilter with written. This is because there is no oral component in the Gao Kao and often students spend two years getting through the GK. This is not because they are backward but because a better grade will get them into a more prestigious school.

[Deats]

Where I used to teach we had computer classrooms and all the mod cons. The problem was that all the computers were knackered with viruses. Half of the time I couldn't use what I'd taken to class as it took about 30 mins for the technician to fix the computers - his method was very advanced... switch off, switch on. Even the projector often didn't work. So I had to prepare 2 lessons - 1 using tech and something to fall back on. This was BS.

Therefore, in general, I taught old school. I would just use print outs (I had a computer and printer in my house, so could do as much printing as I wanted), textbooks, blackboard and chalk. The chalk dust used to really irritate my throat if I had several lessons in a day.

[ghost]

[litterascriptor]

I use PPTs and such sparingly if they are available. They have a place, but having observed a class or two where they were used too much, I'd rather be stingy about how often I switch on the projector.

[buravirgil]

[rogerwilco]

The only time I use the computer in the classroom is to display instructions for their assignment or homework. I assign homework in every class so that we can start the next class with the students reading what they have written.

My goal is that every student speaks in every class.
The number of students in my classes ranges from 18 to 38.

The methods I use of having every student speak typically include: speeches, dialogues, role plays, and having them read the questions and answers from assigned homework.

The students do most of the work in these types of classes. I am not there to talk to them. I am there to guide their speaking assignments.

Most of the topics in my classes revolve around the students talking about themselves. That appeals to the narcissist in most of them, and I rarely have a class where I do not achieve my goal of every student speaking for a total of at least a few minutes each.

[rogerwilco]