Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Hello

It would be interesting to know what are your average grades for Oral English, for Freshmen and Sophomores at your normal average Chinese university?

It is that time of year again with exams coming up and the allocation of grades. There is always some degree of subjectivity in allocating oral English grades.

On the one hand - so many of my students tell me 'my English is so poor' - but this is countered, on the other hand, by students being dissatisfied with grades lower than 90, for their final exams, so I think there is a certain amount of grade inflation expected here.

At this time, my averages, up till now, have been in the 80- 85 percent range which is a good percentage, back home, but it seems that this is considered low in China. So when Ms. Chen/Wang/ or Yang complains about her grade, I feel like telling her 'but you told me your English was so poor, and I could barely hear you during the oral exam test!' - but she is still disappointed.

In Saudi, where I worked for 7 years, most of my students accepted their grade (fate handed down by Allah Akbar) and did not complain, post grade posting. This despite the fact that Saudi students (males) tended to be rather boisterous (to say the least) in class and outside class. Here, in China, it is the opposite dilemma, that I am facing, with compliant behavior in class, generally, but frequent dissatisfaction post grade allocation.

Thank you for your feedback, which might help me in my grade allocation this semester. A revision of my policy may be in order, following your feedback and reasoning.

Ghost in China

[mitsui]

Sounds like the little emperor problem.
Growing up as a single child, they don't realize they are not as smart as they are told.

[twowheel]

This:

[mitsui]

It happens to Japan to the degree that you feel that you must mollycoddle.
I don't but then I am considered strict.

Some cannot listen to reason. I had a student from Xian who had a tirade in class after I told him that he had been absent too much, and could fail.
He walked out and never returned.

Compared to Japanese some Chinese can be emotional. Other Chinese are very easy to teach.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

My observation in public universities is that most FTs couldn't find their own butts with two hands, put in no effort toward preparation for class and wind up playing guitar in class or teaching the class obscenities and insults. To prevent blowback, they give no tests (incriminating evidence) so they hand out A's to keep everyone happy.

I have been lucky. Most of my classes actually responded to my attitude and curriculum.

The foreign languages departments have come to expect very little from the numpties who arrive claiming to be teachers, and the attitude spreads to the students.

In the low-performing classes I grade on their improvement. If they don't try, they fail. If they struggle but make little progress, they earn a C.

I have had quite a few students who hadn't given much effort in English class since high school, but who performed admirably by midterm. They struggled, failed miserably, then started making progress. Those kids made A's and B's. I think that much had a lot to do with the fact many of them wanted to be part of the Friday lunch or dinner discussion group. Lunch or dinner with Mr. Bud was usually the only thing going on campus.

My advice is sort of a Charlie Parker attitude. Learn your ABCs and the basics, then forget all that and just talk.

It works.

I'm not a pushover. I put the responsibility of their education on their shoulders.

[ghost]

[joe30]

It might be so in Canada, but the idea that one needs 1 million dollars to be financially secure in most places in Asia is obviously complete rubbish.

Noting of course, there's a difference between 'financially secure' and 'I'm never going to work again, and I'm going to retire on a beach in Bali drinking champagne every night'.

[rioux]