Job Discussion Forums

[fallon77]

What's everyone's feeling on doing a demo lesson for a school? I can see the point from the school's pov, but, I've heard to many stories about teachers doing a demo for a company, a free lesson, and never hearing from the company again.

I went to a school a couple of months ago for an "interview". After the questions I was asked to do a demo. I was completely unprepared. They handed me a textbook and said "Teach page 1" Of course, the lesson was pronouns, and we are all well aware for easy that is to teach to Chinese students. I taught, trying to think on my feet, but it wasn't my best moment.

I am currently looking for a position at a new school and was told by one agency I would have to do a "demo". I'll do it, if they pay me for it first. No one gets anything for free. I have references and education that can atest to my abilities. You want to watch me teach, pull out your wallet.

What do you other folks in China think about this topic? \

Regards,
Fallon

[Roger]

Since your putative hirer declared his intention of seeing you in action my advice is to go there in a relaxed mood and bite the bullet - it might be a sugar candie!

Those demo lessons are not so formidable as some might think. Of course, if they expect you to follow their own script you are at something of a disadvantage; mostly, however, you are supposed to conduct conversation classes, and in such circumstances the good vibes you may create are far more important than your handling of a text book.

I hate demo lessons too - not because I am afraid but because I feel it is the wrong people judging my action. Mostly, however, I can convince them.

And, by the way, you are perfectly entitled to asking them how much they would pay for your trouble.
In 9 out of ten trials I get paid.

[latefordinner]

Roger:

[Brian Caulfield]

Are you a professional or amateur ? Amateurs work for nothing . If you can't afford to pay a teacher , don't open the school . I have been nailed since day one with freebees and with total disrespect to me and my profession . My first boss asked me to go to her husband's school to watch . When I got there he had me in over thirteen classes doing little rutines of song, dance and TPR activities . I did it as a favor and was given 100 rmb for 5 hours of work . I gave it back and was forced to take it . I was then cornered into coming back the next week . I feigned ilness . This was not conected to my contract at working at an international school .
Chinese need to get away from using us as Ronald Macdonald replacements .

[vikdk]

First of all 13 lessons isn�t a demo - it�s a farce � if you can�t say stop after lesson 1 then you�re not really cut out to be a professional teacher. I would also say stop if I was forced into teaching something like TPR- something I had no interest in or experience with � that isn�t a demo that is playing the foreign monkey � anybody who allows themselves to be pushed into that can�t be called a teacher, and does the rest of us a great disservice.

Demos can be used to your advantage � in China you yourselves test the ware to see if it�s up to scratch � since nobody abides to the �rules� regarding quality. I�m afraid in our games the rules are just the same � it�s usually either a demo or a probationary period. The trick is to negotiate what kind of demo your going to do � make sure it�s something that allows you to sell yourself as a product � only a rank amateur sells themselves as a monkey. A good demo not only lands you a job, but gives you an insight into your potential employer/client, and if played properly gives you extra strength when negotiating a fee. I never worry about charging for a demo � I look on it as an investment � but I certainly wouldn�t invest my time in 13 classes!

[Roger]

a trial lesson shouldn't be longer than one period, full stop. Actually, they often last but half an hour - enough time for your observers to gauge whether you have similar wavelengths to your students'. That is my personal impression, anyway - I have sat in on trial lessons given by other teachers and became aware of this aspect.

But it is true that some operators try to take advantage of foreign faces just to advertise the fact they have, occasionally, a white face in their classrooms (but entre nous, les chionois, we can't trust a white face to be able to teach US his or her first tongue!). These are not so common, though.

It is far more common for Chinese to have to demonstrate their suitability when applying for a job - in hotels they have to man the reception desk, in restaurants, they have to wait on tables, and, of course, aspiring new teachers have to give a lesson - it is virtually NORMAL in China, it may be less so for you (and me), but you have got to get used to it.

This is a true episode: last year I was sought out by some education official on behalf of his woman training centre boss friend. She hosted me for dinner, then announced I must put in a trial lesson in her classroom.
It was a long haul out to her school, which was a training centre inside a middle school on the eastern outskirts of Guangzhou.
I demanded remuneration for my troubles, and was promised it.
THen she took me to that middle school and placed me in front of a bunch of teenagers whose parents paid extra for extra-curricular English. You know the picture and it might ring an alarm bell with some...

They were rowdy indeed, but much to my own amazement I got them to behave themselves. I introduced a bit of classroom etiquette (that many FTs apparently neglect in their well-intentioned endeavour to befriend their charges): when I entered they had to stand up and greet me, and I insisted on using my surname, which they accepted without any resistance.
Then it was regular classroom activities including some get-up-and-go somewhere games, drills and Q&A role-plays.
The time flew, the young students cheerfully bade me "good-bye Mr..S."
and I left the school. I wanted my wage but the boss was nowhere in sight. Instead her assistant took care of me: she said her boss was nso impressed she had charged the assistant with booking me into as many classes as I could take over.

I did get my dues at the end of the next month. That was, incidentally, my last day on that job: I left because I couldn't stand the hierarchical confusion created by a western manager who placed himself as a filter between me and that woman boss. The job was really likable, I assure you all, but the overbearing attitude of that guy (freshly arrived from overseas and hired on a contractual basis as DOS) combined with uncertainties about my workload and income decided me to quit.

[friedrich nietzsche]

Demos are an understandable part of teaching in China, provided that they are paid for. If I was hiring teachers, as I often had to, I would insist on it simply because so many "teachers" in China are untroubled by the slightest notion of how to teach. It is also a small price to pay for steady and well-paid employment. If you have any say in the matter, teach a lesson that has worked very well in the past with students of the same age and language level.

[Brian Caulfield]

Sorry to make this a story of me but the real issue here is that if you know how to teach you get exploited .
I did the demos as a favor to my new boss in my first job in China. The director a Chinese lady knew I could teach because I went to the same school as her son was in . McGill University with a degree in teaching English . and over twenty years teaching experience .
I was naive and didn't know my position in China . If I walked on this Sunday morning favor maybe I wouldn't have a Monday to Friday job .
I have done the same thing a few times here as favors ending up being hauled to many schools in one day . My last job was the same story . I was given the bottom levels of middle schools where the other teachers with no experience could handle the large classes . Class number 19 in number 19 middle school . I kid you not I taught this class .
What I am finding now and before is that I get the garbage dumped on me . The classes the Chinese don't want to teach and the classes that the newbe teacher can't teach . I have a five year university class that is called European Culture that comes with a 200 page text that covers Greek history to the Beat Generation of New York(No idea how this fits into European Culture). 2,000 years of history that has nothing to do with English other that about 30 pages of Boewoelf . It is totally incomprehensible . My purpose is to allow the students to vent over their poor relationship with me . You see I should bring in Rennaisance art and show them films that I purchase on my own .
So since being in China each secession I am working a load of over 1000 students . I see the retired mormons at my school teaching half the classes and packing in there free time with privates and making at least double that I am by just chatting with people . They work 6 months and then BYU replaces them and the new teachers takes over their private load .
Sorry I am having a bad day my dorm caught fire today . Everything I owned is trashed . I lad that's the rub.

[Brian Caulfield]

Excuse me do you ask a doctor to do a demo for you when you need an operation ? Do you ask a mechanic to see him work before you get your car fixed ? Do you think the famous Da Shan does freebees ?
The proper way is to have the teacher send you a filmed demo of your teaching before you are hired . This is done in Japan .
As long as people will do these classes , Chinese will keep on asking for this free chance to show the student's parents their trained monkey .
This one trick poney must be put down . You don't get to taste the food in a restaurant and decide later if you want to pay for it or not .

[Keath]

If a school asks you to do a "Demo" you should be paid for it. Can you just imagine a school that might interview 20 potential candidates in a month. . (Using conservative numbers)

20 Periods, figure 35 students in a class (again Conservative numbers probably twice that much) x 40 RMB / Period.

20 x 25 x 40RMB = 28,000 RMB
________

Or if 20 teacher candidates is too high..
lets say 10tchrs demoing x 50realistic#ofStudents x 35Rmb(poorschool) =
17,500 RMB and in this case #of Teachers = teaching 1 period. Teach two periods and calculate x 2


PS> Brian, WELL SAID!!!
Ding Ding Mao!

-Keith

[vikdk]

In china -
1. if I ever have to go to doctor or dentist � no demo � but I really make sure that I find one that has been recommended by somebody else � if you can possibly avoid it never never never never go to one (especially dentist) without knowing if they have a good or bad reputation.
2. I have a car here � when I found my mechanic I gave him small jobs to do first � like a demo � and he was recommended to me!

Papers or titles mean nothing here � demos on disc sound a really good idea � good demos give you strength in wage negotiation.