Job Discussion Forums

[englishgibson]

I prepare Chinese High School graduates for western unis.

My students get 2 real hours of classroom studies in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. Not all 5 days are as full as that, but students usually end up at least a couple of times per week with such a day.

Recently, it has been pointed out that the students are too busy and they get tired. Well, the main point is that they get a 10 minute break every hour and that that real teaching hour seems to be too long since the High School kids are used to 40 or 45 minutes rather than the full hour.

Not only that the students seem to dislike the full hour of teaching, it's also some teachers, except me. So, I do feel somehow lonely on this one.

My disagreement with those (couple of teachers) and students comes from the preparation for the abroad uni studies where students are at times expected to attend long lectures and then also required to submit assignments that call for some time consuming individual studies where especially those Chinese students'll find themselves at a book for hours without a break.

I'd like to know your points of views or experiences with young students at such age and maybe share your uni experiences you've had before.

Cheers and beers to students that can learn so much in such a short time

[mjlpsu]

When I was in high school, we had classes for 1.5 hrs without a break. In undergrad it was 50 min three days a week or 1.5 hrs twice a week. In grad school it was 3 hrs with one break.

[flutterbayou]

College curriculum in China is time tabled much like high school is in North America.

Students spend most of the day in classes and prepare homework in the evenings.

However, when these same students head for Australia and the likes, they will be expected to attend class and manage their independent studies vis-a-vis researching at the library, preparing presentations, and so on.

What they need from these joint venture groups are time management skills and independent study tips, so they can learn how to optimize their study time outside of class.

Ask your students how they study, and they most probably will explain that they study when they study; they aren't sure what it is that they should do as a habit nor how to make good use of their time.

In the evenings, they try to study under strenuous conditions, with as many as 6 people sharing one room, and lights going out before late at night. No wonder they get tired in class.

[7969]

[englishgibson]

the 90 minutes aren't split into two halves yet..we're on 2 hours and 10 minutes classes, although they seem to be whinin...the worse thing on it is now that a british teacher's suggested the 90 minutes classes and i just can't imagine doing all that work in such a way...i mean there's so much to be done with these high school grads...in any case, by the time i get them really into lessons (wake'em up) 45 minutes passes...especially in the first afternoon class after they come back from their freakin'lunch nap

[jwbhomer]

When I went to university in Canada the norm was 50 minute classes with 10 minute breaks. Double or triple classes still had breaks. So there was no adjustment for me in China. Both universities I taught at kept to the same schedule, 50 minute classes with 10 minute breaks.

EG, when you say you are teaching high school students who are preparing to enter western universities, are you talking about the dreaded "foundation classes"? I had that assignment in my first semester and I have to admit that keeping foundation students awake and interested for more than about 10 minutes is a real challenge.

[englishgibson]

i think that's right, "foundation" to western unis...we call it the global assessment certificate program and the company's the ACT Education Solution Limited...they say they've got many centers around the world, but there's lil communication in between as it looks..i feel so f*ckin'lonely on my job ..don't wanna whine again

cheers and beers to chinese high school grads and their parents money

[teacherbel]

Hi!
I was interviewed first by yahoo messenger then later by phone, from Canada-Philippines, for a K job in Shenzhen. I got the job after my phone interview. The Chinese Canadian English speaking interviewer told me that she was going to instruct the first lady who interviewed to begin the process of my work visa or Z visa. I waited for any more news. A week after, I was instructed to respond to a job offer letter they sent to me, which I never received, by post or by email. Anyhow, I responded that I never received that job offer letter and I am anyway accepted the job.

My concern is" What seems to be going on?" or "Is there something I need to know?"

This is my second time to teach in China. But I had an American director the first time, who I even met when she visited the Philippines before I left for China. I was comfortable with her. And she was OK, all throughout the 2 years I taught under her.

Thanks, for any views and theories...

[Anda]

A lot of your students probably have little energy / alertness due to poor diet.

I'm currently preparing two private students for oversees study using DVDs where I stop start the DVD and talk about things with them as well as asking questions. First off they have to summarize the story for homework and later which I'm currently having them do is write a similar story to what they have watched on the DVD. I also give them other homework.

The parents of both students have employed me to assist their sons to be able to carry on English conversation for when they arrive overseas. I like using DVDs as they hear many dialects and get used to body language also.

I wouldn�t worry about hours as they will find out these things quick enough once they are overseas studying. Teaching them how to self study and express an opinion on something is much more important.

[arioch36]

Ah, you are doing GACK too? Oops, sorry, GAC?

The 90 minutes should be split in two halves. In America the only eception to breaks ever hour is the 3 hour class/lecture where it is up to the teacher and students how to do the break, but the rule is still the same, breaks every hour.

I have lots of thoughts now on GAC/ACT. But we definitely take breaks ever hour, ie, 45 minutes then 5-10 minute break. My CHinese DOS (Supposed to be a laowai) tried to say otherwise. NO

At first, my GAC school tried to pull this stuff that I teach only three and a half hours.

NO WAY. 45 minutes or 50 minutes is ONE TEACHING HOUR. That is pretty universal.

The school (school leader) gets a lot for one student ...50,000 RMB (or close to that

Your post was two months ago. Curious if you are still doing GAC

BTW, Anda is on a key point, especially for these GAC students. SOme live at home. Other live in dorms made by the school (and charged by the school) Their diet is atrocious. Also little chance for exercise. Instead of just doing GAC/ACT, the school tries to get greedy by also getting them to to IELTS and TOEFEL and who knows what else at the same time

[englishgibson]

students get some pocket money from their parents and they try to save some eating all kinda "cheap food"....it happens to me on and off that a student calls in sick due to some stomach problems...guess they can't digest anything can they?

GAC/ACT is the program to ship kids from china to western unis as it looks and it also comes for a hefty price to the parents, although TOEFL or IELTS are a part of the whole thing. the problem is that when to teach what. i mean which one do you begin with or do you begin with IELTS/TOEFL and GAC simultaneously. and, GAC isn't really ACT 'cause it does not use the ACT stuff... a lil tidbit, the two are in a real war with each other as i've heard.

[Vinnie]

3 cheers for real educational systems without "foundation programs". The USA comes to mind.

A student can not attain a degree in my homeland after studying for 3 years in another.

[SnoopBot]

[Lorean]

At my uni, a standard course was either 50 minutes 3 times a week OR 80 minutes 2 times a week. (Yes I know the times don't add up, but that's just how things were)

Five classes per semester was the standard course load.

On average less than 3 hours of classes a day.

[englishgibson]