Job Discussion Forums

[robot]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently mulling over a couple of job offers in China, the better positions are at Universities.
I have a couple of concerns about this, as previously I've largely taught to children or basic English classes, also I'm fairly young to be teaching at a University (24).

Was wondering what your thoughts on the matter are?
(i know this is a bit vague but) What is a typical class like?
Also any tips?

[johnslat]

Dear robot,
First tip - you'd probably be better off posting this on the China forum.
Regards,
John

[robot]

Dear John,

Thank you for the tip.
I have already posted on the China forum, and am positive some one will help me.

However think the question of a young teacher at University level is fairly general, would also assume most tips would not be geo-specific. Finally the more the merrier, more people view this forum.

Do you teach at a University?

[johnslat]

Dear robot,
Sorry - didn't realize you'd posted there.
I've taught university level here in the States, in Kansas and New Mexico. But then, I've taught literally every level, from Head Start upward. In my twenty+ years overseas, I taught at Pahlavi (now Sghiraz) University in Iran (until my time there was truncated by the Islamic Revolution.)
But most of my teaching has been to adult continuing Ed. students,
Currently I'm teaching GED to Level II inmates at the New Mexico State Penitentiary.
Regards,
John

[robot]

John,

Uau! looks like you have had an interesting career.

With your experience do you think I should be concerned about my age? Any advice to help with this?

And I do realise that this next question is best suited for the China board or for the employer, but in your experience does the job role for university teacher differ widely from elementary teacher? How?
I guess what I mean is, do you need a better than average command of the English language or teaching skills?

Are there any websites or textbooks that you would recommend?
I'm feeling like a lazy so and so just expecting people to help me like this but I find it difficult to find anything not child/beginner related.

I appreciate your time,
Tom

[johnslat]

Dear robot,
Should you be concerned? That depends on whether you encounter (in hiring, admin or as colleagues) those who are foolish enough to be "reverse-ageists." There will probably be some who think being young is the same as being unqualified. But you'll run into idiots of one sort or another everywhere.
Hard to think of any advice - I mean, you can't prematurely (so to speak) age yourself. Maybe you could tell them you're another "Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Does university teaching differ from elementary. Boy, it certainly does (and, of course, in some aspects, it doesn't.) It's MUCH easier, in my opinion, but it all depends greatly on what age level one likes to teach. I've always preferred the upper levels (they tend to get my jokes better.) And you shouldn't have as many "classroom management" problems. I'd say that yes - you'd need a better than average command of the English language, but, in my experience, one needs MORE teaching skills at the lower levels (well, not Head Start - that was crowd control and clean-up.)
As for books - are you going to be teaching EFL (at Shiraz, I taught English Lit?)

[robot]

Dear John,

with regards to the age was concerned with the students opinion, the Button idea may work especially after the story gets the Hollywood treatment, but might be even harder to pass myself off as Mr Pitt.

The contract states "Oral English , Listening , British and American Literature", I would imagine mainly oral English for undergrads.

I should have/will talk to the school first, then return with some more specific questions.

Just prefer to be more informed when something might damage me in 'real' life.


Thanks again.

[johnslat]

Dear robot,
This one looks good:

The Joy of Teaching: A Practical Guide for New College Instructors (H. Eugene and Lillian Youngs Lehman) (Hardcover)

http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Teaching-Practical-College-Instructors/dp/0807829420/ref=sid_dp_dp

Regards,
John

[Marcoregano]

Robot, I can't help you on the specifics, but I wouldn't worry about your age too much. In China and Asia in general it's quite common to have young uni staff, and as a foreigner your bizarre appearance (assuming you're not Chinese!) will supercede any other 'appearance' considerations.

[robot]

Marco, thank you. Wish it was the first time i had been called bizarre.

John, thanks very much.

[denise]

I started teaching right around my 24th birthday, and I had classes of students who were just a few years younger than me. At the time, I really didn't feel... how to explain this?... fully in control, like in terms of discipline, because I didn't really feel old enough to discipline them. (Luckily, they were quite well-behaved.) I'm 33 now, so there is quite a noticeable gap between me and my students (uni-aged, 18-20ish). I just feel like I have more authority, because there is less of a chance of becoming buddy-buddy with them.

Oh, and on a related note (discipline)... the hardest thing that I've had to learn about university teaching is that, with one notable exception, the university students that I've taught are nothing like university students back home in the US. I'm constantly reminding myself that my kids now (and yes, I do think of them as kids) haven't spent much time away from their families, haven't been trained to think for themselves, and sometimes haven't even been trained to come to their classes with paper and pens every day. In my mind (and from my own personal experience), university students are adults who can function on their own--get themselves to class, check with their classmates or teachers if they've missed a class, develop some sort of intellectual curiosity, etc. Not so in my current job. I like my students--they really are charming and sweet--but maturity-wise and intellectually, they're sort of a few years behind.

d

[SueH]

I've taught adults but not at university and some students up to - say - IELTS level 7ish. As I'm (ahem) mature I don't have those problems with appearing young. I do remember at my academic school, many years ago that we had young teachers who we used to probe mercilessly for their weaknesses. The guys on TP, and in the early stages of their career always seemed to arrive from teacher training college with beards, for some reason.. Would a beard be a possibility? Ah yes, Tom. (unless it's Tomasina!).

[TheLongWayHome]

I've been teaching at Mexican unis for about 3 years now. Here are few things I learnt the hard way so that you don't have to:

- be consistent in everything and with everyone, don't make exceptions
- don't tolerate lateness
- don't be their friend
- throw someone out during the first week of the semester (this will save you discipline hassles)
- don't smile
- don't let them go to the bathroom during class, they are really just going out to make phonecalls
- lock anyone who arrives more than 5 minutes late outside the classroom, especially on the first day
- students can concentrate for only about 8 minutes (the first 8 minutes)
- don't let them choose partners for pairwork or anything else
- keep the pace up
- don't give a grammar explanation that lasts more than 2 minutes

[wfh]

[MO39]