Job Discussion Forums

[americaninbeijing]

How do you feel about a college administrartor sitting in your class to observe it? Is this a normal occurence in China?

[Yu]

I think one class is fine. It is standard procedure. I don't like it when people from my school monitor what I post on message baords.

[brsmith15]

Yeah, it's basically o.k. I don't even mind surprise visits although it's always been common courtesy in the west to ask permission of the instructor. But, TIC and as we all know, the right to privacy is non-existent.

[tofuman]

I have invited administrators to my classroom but no one has ever showed up. One time a lady came in that may have been an observer.

In my school, a student is appointed to report the substance of each class to the administration. How thorough the report is escapes me.

[Talkdoc]

I had one visit, last semester, from a university-level administrator who did first introduce himself and the purpose of his visit before taking a seat. Apparently, his report is integrated with the students' completed "teacher satisfaction questionnaires," to produce a final teaching evaluation for each faculty member.

It is normal procedure for administrators to occasionally observe your classes in China as well as have local teachers sit in as well (some of them will be there voluntarily and some will have been asked to participate). Like Tofuman, I invite it.

Doc

[Sheep-Goats]

It's fine, get used to it.

Since admin is generally clueless as to actual classroom teaching they'll generally be just pleased as a peach if your students interact and speak English at all.

BTW, those of you with Chinese assistants should be and probably are quite aware that they are likely to regularly inform your boss(es) of what they think of you.

[rickinbeijing]

Just by showing up your administrator is at least conveying that someone is actually interested in what you are doing, either for good or ill. In seven years of teaching at key universities and middle schools, I have never once been observed by an administrator, so count yourself lucky unless, of course, you've been reported as underperforming. That's doubtful but still possible. Usually a class monitor makes little reports on you, most of which will be innocuous. Then again, this is the land of the Cultural Revolution and Chinese are notorious for gossiping (ask any Chinese).

I wouldn't let it worry me if I were you. Go with the flow, as they say. If your students show signs of life, he (or is it she?) will probably walk away happy. That is, unless, you are propagandizing.

[Roger]

I have given a number of TRIAL lessons, which is probably more taxing since your job depends on the impression you give those observers (and the students during these lessons). It always went very well.
In a couple of instances I felt all was a simple setup just so as to test a foreign face and see how they act in a Chinese environment - but then again, these jobs were not advertised publicly or as fulltime jobs.

Lastly, I had principals come in to my classes; in a kindergarten the principal didn't know a word of English (althoug she had been taught it by me and my predecessor for a total of 3 years...), and she rrelied on a Chinese English teacher to act as interpreter. Personally I must say I prefer being observed by Chinese who have a solid grasp of English rather than someone whose English is bookish and unsteady... and who might find themselves at the mercy of one of my students to act as translator...

[millie]

Roger wrote:

[Old Dog]

Roger wrote:

[latefordinner]

Mixed feelings, mostly positive. It depends on who is there and why, and that's seldom clear. Is the observer there to evaluate my performance? How qualified is he/she? What feedback do I receive and when do I receive it? Is it a case of the company spy, er, administration keeping a sleepy eye on me, or a teacher who is curious or who wants to learn something or who has simply been told to make herself look useful and get busy doing something? Has the student I sent out of the class last week complained about me? Feedback is important to me, I like to know what other teachers think. That clueless amateurs may observe and pass their own judgement rankles, but that too is a fact of life in China. When people observe but don't say anything, I become suspicious.
I like to observe the Chinese teachers when they teach the same classes. I don't often get to because there is rarely a time when it is convenient, but I try. Simply asking though (both the teachers and administration) is an interesting experience, and will tell you something.