Job Discussion Forums

[GeminiTiger]

I've been teaching in China for 3 years when I first came here I taught oral English for a year and the next two years I got stuck with courses like writing, A&B culture, reading and business English. Quite frankly I was never as happy teaching any of it compared to the Oral English course which is perhaps 'easy' but also more suited to native speakers who are not by training English experts. Not only that, I see clear results when I teach Oral English that gives me a some sense of accomplishment.

Recently I put my resume on several sights titled "American Oral English Teacher 3 years experience", stating "Looking for a position teaching oral English to English majors" and so far I have 40 emails and most of them are saying, "all of our teachers teach 4 courses.. " it's so frustrating..

It can't be that difficult to find a job teaching oral English exclusively.. it just can't be..

[Leon Purvis]

Maybe it's just the people I know, but it seems that in some schools, the FTs are teaching a more diverse curriculum, which can be quite difficult for non-English majors, especially if one must teach literature with the study of criticism and archetypes.

My area is literature as well as writing. The first trick to the writing is to give the students assignments which require them to draw from personal experience. (That is, of course, the writing isn't across-the -curriculum. Then the problems become multiple).

Five paragraphs of five sentences is all that it takes. The second trick is to require the students to REVISE last week's assignment as well as work on the current week's assignments. After two assignments, they catch on that you're reading their work and expect good writing.

Good luck

[Mydnight]

I enjoy teaching Literature and sometimes other subjects but for the most part, the schools and training centers completely fail in supplying adequate materials for such courses. I was asked once to teach a Lit course in the local "UNI" here, and I was supposed to get "all of my own" materials for it.

"What do you want me to do, download an entire textbook from the internet?"

"Yes, great, just keep the students happy."


Asking FTs to teach subjects in any UNI less than the top tier schools is simply for advertisement purposes, I think. Why ask anyone to teach Literature or History if they don't even have a degree in the subjects they will be teaching?

I refused to teach the course and left the school the following term.

[shenyanggerry]

Mydnight, teach Robert Service. That should get you out of the 'Literature' field. Academics hate him - he became rich writing poetry!

[Lorean]

Last year, I had the same frustrations.

The school did not care that my background was computer science; I had to teach English writing regardless.

The solution? Find another job.

[Mei Sheng]

It's what you find in the sticks late at night, Mydnight.

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

Good Luck. Hang tough.

[Mei Sheng]

I think it is interesting out here. Frontline.

Paco

[wulfrun]