Job Discussion Forums

[highland52]

I have researched till I'm blue in the face. I compare it the following:
I can read Driving Manuals for days on end, and most likley pick up useful information, but until I get in the Driver's Seat and put my reseach to good use, I will never learn to drive.
This is how I feel, up to this point, about traveling to China to teach Oral English, (with "0" Teaching experience mind you) should I be a scared? What can I do to prepare for the Classroom? Is teaching Oral English difficult? Is the college level the way to go?
I have read numerous articles on this subject. What I need is feedback from one who has been down this avenue.

Highland 52

You can also E-mail me at [email protected]

[beck's]

If you just read the threads on this page you will find information about visas, salary scales, cost and standard of living, lesson plans, contracts and classrooms from hell. My suggestion would be to keep reading the threads on Dave's. Then when you have specific questions ask them and the regulars here will be more than willing to answer.

[lostinasia]

Your next best bet would be to attend a university and receive a formal education to become a teacher. Barring that, attend a two-month long TEFL course.

[Anda]

To teach oral English to say a classroom of bored college students requires teaching skill and a fair amount of showmanship. You need to able to maintain class control but at the same time keep your students interested in what you are teaching.


In all probability you will be given some boring reading textbook with stories that were written 50 years ago and pointed to your first classroom and left to fend for yourself.

Colleges, universities and public schools normally have a printing room where you can get a handout printed to pass out in your classes. I think it's a B3 size sheet that most use. You can trim off 4 A4 pages and join them together to fit on one B3 sheet front and back. Find stuff and produce stuff that is interesting to your students and you are half way there in this game.

20 year old students here are like 15 year old students in the West as far as worldliness so keep this in mind when selecting material.

With classrooms of 50 to 60 students you can�t be expected to run your classes like conversation classes. You can use conversation scripts for pair work provided their ability is up to it. Short stories, poems etc, anything that is supplying English in a contextual setting.

As you can see it requires effort to teach and unless you put effort into your teaching you won't have much fun working here.

[stillnosheep]

If you have the time do a TEFL course (preferably a one month one but anything is better than nothing) If you don't ask to observe an EFL class at a local univeresity or private langauge school. Ring them up and explain your predicament. Also contact the school your heading for iN China and tell them you want to do lots of observation of their best teachers when you arrive.

Read lots (harmer, scrivener) and offer your services as a volunteer assistant to theteacher at any local place offering ESOL lessons to immigrants etc. Do what you can.

Of course you're scared. On the other hand thousands of (other) idiots have managed it without training and there's no reason to think that they are all any less of an idiot than you are so if they can do it....

Ps it is a bit like driving a car. I'd always recommend taking lessons but in a pinch as long as you know how to start the engine, let out the clutch (or not even that if you're a yank), change gear (ditto) use the accelerator and brake and point it in the right direction eventiually you'll get the hang of it. The ride might be a bit bumpy at first but you'll probably be too busy panickin to notice...

Enjoy!

[peepertice]

excellent thread on this topic - http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=56254&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[therock]

Just bring along your guitar, sing songs, play games and generally do anything besides teaching English. If you can do this you will be fine. No need to do a TEFL, CELTA etc just make sure the students are laughing and having a good time.

[foreignDevil]

[Insubordination]

You need to them to build a relationship with you and each other.

Brainstorm questions What, Where, Why, Where, Who etc. It works for any topic.

Every time you do a topic, think of a million questions beforehand. Questions will save you in a conversation class. Make the students have to do something by the end (present group work to the class, find a list etc.).

Finally, write down mistakes they make throughout the class. Towards the end, write each sentence on the board and, as a class, decide why it's wrong.

If you have dominant students, you will have to ask quieter students by name for their response.

[patsy]

May I recommend bringing a substantial amount of extra cash.

[arioch36]

Well, you might not to bring your stereotypes, such as no sheep. I don't know if he has ever actually been to America, but I have driven a shift most of my life. And you know what, when I was in England, I actually drove a standard. So his bigoted bias makes him fit in well here the same as students here with their idiotic biases based on a total lack of real knowledge

Seriously, first get rid of all your expectations and blind stereotypes, because you can not prepare for here. If you like teaching kids, teach kids here to. Use your strengths. Just go into the classroom prepared to care about the students and try. The students truly know which teachers try, and which don't, and appreciate it. Use music. Make the kids do dialogues, mock interviews, whatever gets them talking to each other, which changes with the school/department/students

The main purpose is that they talk with each other

Glenski said http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=58651