Job Discussion Forums

[Itsme]

Last year I was employed by a company that strove for improvement. They would come to my class, listen to it and then give feedback on how to improve. They really pushed me to do my best! It was tough but I actually kind of liked it. I had to write teaching plans and have meetings and write tests for the students (first grade.) They gave me two teacher's books and always insisted that I read them thoroughly. It was difficult NOT to make sure that the students were improving.

This year I am employed by another company that pays well but I feel like I am fighting them while trying to make my class better. For example, they have not provided a teacher's book even though I have requested it. The teaching goals that I receive consists of a 3 X 5 in sheet with a couple of phrases on it. I hand in teaching plans and never see them again. My TA stands in the corner dreaming of where she would rather be and I have to speak English AND Chinese.... and I CAN'T speak Chinese! My students are jumping off the walls and hitting one another so I have them stand up for several minutes. The next day I get into trouble for having them stand. The students do not know the words so I have them copy words into their English notebooks. I am told the next day not to prescribe such homework. I ask if I may make an examination to test the students' progress and I am told that she will "ask" the school. Two weeks later...

Then I am randomly criticised for things here and there. The Chinese teachers love to come into the class gain a feeling of importance by interrupting class and talking to my TA.

THEN... when my boss comes to class my TA flings into action, starts to translate, and I am left there looking dazed and confused. It is the first time in a month that I have heard her speak. I must change all of my activities on the spot because now my students are actually listening to me.
An interesting time for sure.

My question is this: What do 2nd graders want to do? What motivates them to learn English?

[Malsol]

[kev7161]

I'm in a similar situation, yet the other end of the rainbow, I think. I have a couple of criticsms, but they are minor.

Of course my kids can get rowdy if I let them. Since they have me for 4 periods every day, by now they know when I am "serious" about them being quiet. My co-teacher (she is their so-called head teacher and also teaches them Chinese) is often in the room at her desk doing . . . ??? lesson prep I guess. Sometimes she is obviously chatting online. But that's okay. When she is there, the class is generally better behaved (and why is that exactly?).

Another Chinese teacher comes in every day and sits and helps when I need it. I think the original plan was for me and the students to be weaned away from Chinese teacher help, but that didn't seem to work out. There are several times when the other teacher is away and the students are just fine, so they really aren't too bad.

A couple things I don't like is when my co-teacher is in the class and then sleeps(!) during my lesson! I'm sure it's totally boring for her, but go in the teacher's office next door for crying out loud. Also, I asked it to be put in my contract (and it was) that an administrative person would come to my classroom at least 2X every month to observe, evaluate, and give me feedback (good or bad). "We don't need to put this in the contract" I was told, "We will come often." Since September, I've had less than half a dozen visits - - most of those at the beginning of the school term! When it comes to "alleged" contract renewal in May and they perhaps start to criticize some aspect of my job performance (based, maybe, on feedback from my co-teacher), then I'll be able to turn that around on them. To date, they seem quite pleased with my work though.

But, most of my students are sharp as a tack and their English skills (along with Math skills and developmental skills) have grown by leaps and bounds. I think, in general, the more intelligent a child is, the better behaved he or she will be - - this is especially true as they get older.

My advice to the OP is to talk to your TA and start establishing some classroom rules both with her and the students. Maybe iron out what, exactly, her responsibilities are and/or should be. My classroom discipline would all be for naught if I didn't have my other teacher enforcing the same sort of rules when I'm not around.

[Roger]

If you need teacher improvement from Chinese then there is little hope!
And if Chinese is vitally important in an ENglish class then that class should be held by a Chinese "English" teacher.
I have always thought, and still keep thinking so, it is the CHinese English "teachers" that need improving their act. And one way of improving their English classes would be for them to use English in their instruction rather than using CHinese.

[Itsme]

Kev brings up a good point.

The administration begins their criticism when contract renewal time is coming or once they have some money looming out their in space that could be theirs or yours depending on the weather. It's sort of funny but only if you don't really care about what happens!!!

Also, I think that the TAs cause a lot of trouble !!! They never communicate with me but rather go behind my back to my boss. Then a month later the boss has a heart to heart with me about an issue that I have never heard about. This way, the TA comes out looking like fresh roses because I never complain about her. Like I wrote before, as soon as my boss comes into class the TA is a totally different person and as soon as the boss leaves its back to lala land for her.

Either I have to improve my TA handling skills or I have to take an anti-ethics class and learn how to talk behind her back.

What do you think?

[william wallace]

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