Job Discussion Forums

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Just read in a news site that a school in the United Kingdom has come under fire for offering pecuniary rewards to students achieving above-average examination results!
One student was given U.K pounds 410! That's a whopping RMB 4000 (or a little more, I think)!

I then thought it would really be worth considering this scheme for Chinese schools. And the judges that elect students for their English proficiency should be FTs!...

I am sure this way we could motivate five times as many students to really make an effort and just try to make that difference...
It wouldn't have to be RMB 4000; I think 1000 would be a large enough sum! A runner-up could get 750, and third-placed competitors (up to 5 with identical examination marks) could get 250 each.

And, of course, instead of this crummy "oral English" subject we would be focusing our efforts on changing their minds: the subject that earns them a prize should be English Literature!

That way we could ensure these learners would be lifelong practitioners of English!

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1700769,00.html
also in the UK, you can read here about a ridiculous proposal in the british education system..... shades of orwell!!!!

7969[/quote]

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

the motion didnt succeed i might add, but the subsequent article is from the bbc and i cant open it, even in a proxy.

here's a related article:

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/education/s/166/166470_exam_failure_equals_deferred_success.html
in it, note that the individual who proposed this whole thing is a RETIRED school teacher.

sorry to go slightly off topic, but not sure if anyone else had heard about this.

7969

Paul Barufaldi · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 271 Location: Beijing

Forget it. I just ran an English writing contest for Jr. Grade 3 students offering a first prize of 200 RMB, two second prizes of 100 RMB, and four third prizes of 25 RMB. The results have been underwhelming. Out of 250 students, only 10 papers were submitted. Now, when I announced the contest there was a lot of enthusiasm, but the reality turned out to be that they just couldn't be bothered to compose a mere 100 word essay or story in the two weeks I gave them to do it. "Not enough time" they complained when the submission date rolled around and they found themselves empty handed. (I guess it's MY fault!) The good news is that every entry won a prize -well other than than the three I eliminated for plagiarism.

Anyhoo, I won't be doing THAT again:)

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Some uni's in China already have this.
my girlfriend got 200 kuai for her results. She was the best in her class or something.

Anyway, I think they need to get their motivation from elsewhere.

Besides I don't want these poor kids to be 'lifelong practitioners of English'. There's more to life than that fortunately.

DJ