Job Discussion Forums

[mondrian]

While browing a yahoo group site I came across a posting of an old "do's and don'ts" list.
I have seen it before and it raised a smile
Perhaps some of you "newbies" have not seen it before so I append it


"Dear all:
While cleaning out my old 'China Files' folder I came across this old list of
basic do's & don'ts for both the Chinese and F.Ts. I think it has been posted on these lists in the past but it is a good occasional reminder for the serious teacher in China. In reflecting over this collection of 30 some items-rules it occurs to me that I or my univ or my Chinese friends have broken at least 50% of said rules at one time or another. How many of you think you or your employer have lived up to these rules or the perception China has of F.Ts????
Do you think the private Language schools & their teachers must follow these same rules?????
I think item# 7 under 'Inadvisable' (teaching) is a particularly significant
reminder to not take yourself too seriously as a F.T. teacher in China.
Don
..................................................................

Suggestions on the management of Foreign Teachers. Issued 9th July, 2003

Ten Forbiddens

1. It is forbidden to reveal national secrets or intelligence to foreign
teachers. It is suggested the school orders a copy of �National Safety�
magazine, a magazine published by the National Safety Administration to
popularize knowledge about national safety, which can explain which things you cannot reveal to foreign teachers and how to ensure confidentiality.

2. It is forbidden to try to obtain foreign currency or gifts from foreign
teachers.

3. It is forbidden to introduce to foreign teachers any news which goes against the national image.

4. It is forbidden to take foreign teachers to any unopen area to travel or
take photographs.

5. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to carry out religious teaching.

6. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to engage in dangerous activities (such as swimming in places without safeguards, mountaineering and orienteering.

7. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to teach part-time at unapproved
schools.

8. It is forbidden to wander into foreign teachers accommodation to have a look around, and to disturb their rest.

9. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to date students.

10. It is forbidden for foreign teachers to meddle in China�s internal affairs.


Ten Inadvisables

1. It is inadvisable to change the foreign teachers timetable, if it is
necessary inform them in advance.

2. It is inadvisable to frequently invite foreign teachers to banquets, they
aren�t used to China�s habit of eating and drinking lots at banquets.

3. It is inadvisable to allow students to visit foreign teachers apartments too often to ask questions, you should respect their rest time.

4. It is inadvisable to require foreign teachers to live according to Chinese
people�s lifestyle, as long as it doesn�t affect their work, you can let them
sleep over.

5. It is inadvisable to pay foreign teachers salary late, pay salaries
accurately and on time.

6. It is inadvisable to humour your foreign teacher too much, strictly follow
the contract, but pay attention to their difficulties in life and work.

7. It is inadvisable to rely too much on foreign teachers, Chinese people�s
English education should still mainly rely on Chinese people, foreigners can only raise interest levels and help pronunciation (oral English). Middle school and university exams must still be taught by Chinese teachers.

8. It is inadvisable to allow students of the opposite sex to visit foreign
teachers accommodation alone, it is suggested 2 or 3 go together.

9. It is inadvisable to be over protective of your foreign teachers, so you
don�t intrude on their privacy and freedom,

10. It is inadvisable to discuss the school�s internal affairs with them, keep
the internal and external separate.

Ten Suggestions

1. It is suggested that the school translates the entire terms schedule into
English so the foreign teachers know when holidays and exams are.

2. It is suggested that schools popularize English, from guards to cooks, from the school head to common workers, they should all learn polite English conversation.

3. It is suggested that the schools roadsigns, doorplates and signs be
bilingual, to help the foreign teachers get used to school life.

4. It is suggested that you buy a local map, if there is no English map,
translate all main roads, hotels, harbours, airports, stations and so on into
English, so foreign teachers won�t get lost.

5. It is suggested that the names, phone numbers and addresses of all people concerned with foreign teachers are translated and put in a booklet, so that if the foreign teacher has any problem they can promptly contact them for help. (such as the PSB�s Foreign Affairs Office, Travel Agents, hotels, airports, taxis, hospitals, translation companies, English teachers, Foreign Affairs Officer, other foreign teachers in the town, and so on. )

6. It is suggested that the school establish a weekly teaching feedback form, to understand the foreign teachers teaching progress, teaching quality and promptly pass it on to the COMPANY REMOVED head office, in order to carry out supervison and improvement.

7. It is suggested that the school supplies a foreign affairs assistant for the
foreign teacher, so the foreign teacher can get prompt feedback and help in any problems they meet in their first month.

8. It is suggested that you establish files on foreign teachers, including the
foreign teachers information, activities, photos and recordings, and invite the media to publicize it, and afterwards it can be kept in the school archives.

9. It is suggested that observations and exchange are set up between Chinese and foreign teachers, and that Chinese teachers help foreign teachers set the scope, pace and difficulty of their teaching.

10. It is suggested that the school starts an English corner, and chooses 6-10 people as model foreign language students to frequently get special tutoring and help from foreign teachers.

Ten Regulations

1. Foreign teachers should not be distributed equally, they should be fixed
with several experimental classes to concentrate their power and ensure all students make break-throughs, if they are spread over several thousand students in a school its like a dragonfly emptying a lake.

2. Foreign teachers can�t only use Chinese teaching materials, that�s too
boring, they should be allowed to add their own material.

3. Foreign teachers can�t just be used for teaching, they can also be used for recruitment and publicity, building an English environment, reforming teaching and research, introducing new teaching methods and the promotion of reform in scientific research.

4. Foreign teachers can�t get used to China�s food and drinking habits, they should be helped to go and buy ingredients and cook for themselves.

5. As far as possible, arrange foreign teachers classes in the morning 3rd and 4th period and 5th and 6th period in the afternoon, they have a habit of going to bed late and not getting up early.

6. Foreign teachers are very plain dealing and direct, there�s no need to beat around the bush, square is square, round is round, one is one, two is two. If you go round in circles they�ll lose the plot.

7. Foreign teachers make mountains out of molehills, a blown fuse, blocked toilet, blown bulb, crashed computer, for them, it�s all important, if you can fix it help them solve the problem as soon as possible, at no time delay.

8. You can help foreign teachers, but don�t expect them to return the favour and help you, or else you�ll be very disappointed.

9. For foreign teachers to do well, you need to give them some spiritual
encouragement, such as having an entire class of students sign a T-shirt, or giving them a football they like to kick, or even a peasant's raincoat woven of straw, or a small piece of students handiwork, these can all be treasured by them, and they�ll work even harder for the school.

10. Foreign teachers like probity, honesty and respect for the law, whatever you do don�t think they are too na�ve and cheat them, because they�ll have a way to meet your deception, its better to make problems sound more and bigger, and don�t make light promises, if it�s ok its ok, if its not its not, don�t lie.

[frank d]

Mondrian,
A thousand thanks for this posting! Very interesting, and frequently entertaining!

[tarzaninchina]

While I try to keep my posts helpful or informative, this is just too far out there! I'll stay in this reality.