Job Discussion Forums

[wonderd]

It's getting to that time again. School is winding down for the year and soon I'll be discussing what school I will be with next year.

Here's my problem.

I've taught at a few schools in Shanghai. Every time I get a description of the school, it's never what they say. I have never taught at a school that I hate. I have never hated a class or a school. But, some schools have been easier to work in than others.

When someone tells me a school in Shanghai is a "top school", I usually end up having more difficulty there than I would at a school described as "not very good".

Is it just my strange luck, or has anyone else had similar experiences?

[Roger]

"Top schools" also hunt for "top teachers".

[wonderd]

Very difficult to reply to a comment like that without sounding defensive. So, I'll just make it short. I have a lot of experience teaching.

I think I should have been more detailed in the types of problems I am was talking about.

My experience in top schools is that they don't tend to care about my classes. The faculty, I mean. They hire me, they put me in a class, and I never see them again. Getting resources from the school can be difficult because of the lack of communication. Also, performance reviews are near impossible.

At lower schools, that have been deemed as "not so good" I have had constant attention. Last year, at one of these schools, they modified the entire classroom setting for me by cutting the classes in half. They constantly gave me performance reviews, and I would work with the Chinese English teachers to line up my lessons with theirs.

Above all, I found that the students in the "not so good" schools were a lot more eager to learn.

Here's a great example about the "top school" I am at. I am sitting here in class, lesson ready, and guess what? No class. One of the students mentioned exams to me, but besides that, no one has told me anything. And not through a lack of trying. I could end up sitting here for the rest of the day with no class. Maybe I will have three more classes. I don't know.

Anyways, this wasn't so much a reply as it was a clarrification of my original post.

[amandabarrick]

The school I teach at is what I guess you are referring to as I "top school." Most of the graduates go to top 10 Universities in China, such as Bei Da, Nan Da, Fu Dan Daxue, etc... Most of the people here refer to it as the best in the city. I understand what your saying about the school tends to not care about your classes, they don't give performance reviews as often and they also don't give as much attention or feedback, but I kinda of like being left on my own. This school has given me a lot of freedom to teach what I want and use my own style, etc... The students are eager to learn and I really enjoy this school, and the students are very smart and their English is at a much higher level than other schools I have been to.
AB

[wonderd]

I'm glad you're having a good experience with this. And really, I'm not trying to imply that I'm not. In my previous experiences in China, and of course in my home country, I always felt like part of the faculty. We worked together.

I wouldn't say that my performance is hindered by being in the "top school" environment. It's simply that it is not as easy, more of a struggle, and a lot more work.

I'm not giving up. The top school I am at wants me back next year, and I will come back here. Although it has been a little tiresome at times, I am happy to be here, and the majority of students enjoy and learn from the classes we have.

I have made a list of suggestions for the next year, that I have passed to the headmaster (translated) and I am hoping they will follow a few of them.

Take care and thanks for the response.

[qiaohan]

Here is a list of the top universities as of 2003
http://rank2003.netbig.com/en/rnk_1_0_0.htm