Job Discussion Forums

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

I would like to ask other teachers about their workloads. I work for a language centre so most of my work is in the evenings and even though I may only work 2 hours a day I work 7 days a week, heavier loads on the weekends. Its getting very hot and humid in Guangdng now and the summer camp looms ahead. I feel I tire more easily due to the heat.
Last night I had a 3 hour class and had to stop after 1 hour due to heat and exhaustion and also the long travel times. So to you vets out there, can you give me some advice on how to keep up my energy levels. I would like to hear from you Roger, you do Kindergarten and to me that is exhausting.
Regards Carol

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Dear Carol,
heat and humidity drain one's energy indeed! I agree, it is worse in the evening when the wind has gone. And fluorescent light is adding to one's exhaustion - I found that too.

But kindergartens are open in the morning, and my day actually begins at 8:50. It is over by 11:30 a.m.
I work in a second kindergarten, from 3 to 5:30. Here, the time flies past without tiring me. Part of the explanation may be that lessons are shorter as kids aged 3 to 6 have a shorter attention span. And you can recycle a lot. Besides, you do not need to follow a strictly-laid out plan. A lot depends on intuition. Apparently, I am relatively good at gauging my charges' mood! And, there is plenty of physical exercise, which takes tiredness out of my body.
I organise PE lessons, orienteering, races - this is not mind-numbing, especially as I try to nudge my learners to doing the action.
I taught adults until a month ago, in the evening. Two hours and a half drained me of my vitality! People coming late, others using their mobile phones in class (with me invariably threatening "either I go, or you go, but the two of us canNOT stay in class with your mobile phone on..."). Plus the commutes in a limousine, without interior light, just sitting in the dark and feeling the road bumps.

Unfortunately, Carol, most training centres cater to adults, and adults are available only in the evening. It is your choice - you have all morning off? Try to find an employer whose clients are younger!

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I'm working between 6 and 7.5 hours a day, but I'm at a cram school and it's summertime. That's just the way things are in China. I'm thinking about going to Taiwan next and working at a kindergarten. I'd reather have the afternnoons free than the mornings.

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

Bertrand its not long hours, I probably teach on average around 20 hours a week. I suppose I am just having a whinge. I'll get over it. Its more to do with the heat and travel. I agree if your tired the quality of your lessons suffer, we had one guy here working 60 hours a week but he was just a greedy *beep*. That's why I cut the class short because I need that energy to deliver.
Cheers Carol

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

AKA · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 184 Location: China

I have pondered Dr.B's posts long and hard, but yearn to know one thing. Is it G O O d or B A D to work long and hard? Somettimes we who do are berated as fools and dullards. If I do work L O N G and H A R D in this life, will I come back in the next a more superior being who can work S H O R T and S O F T?
Thank you for posting in upper case, and using spaces. My small brain copes much better.

Thanx to DRAGON