Job Discussion Forums

[CoryG]

Hi, I am pretty new to the board and had a question that I had hoped someone with some experience could help answer. I got a job at a University and I start in 2 weeks. The job is conversational English for Freshman students. I got my CELTA in November and I was curious as to what to expect. The school is a 211 school so I would imagine that there are plenty of others who work, or have worked, as a teacher at one of these schools. Has anyone taught conversational English? Any feedback would be highly appreciated. Thanks for your time.
-Cory

[kev7161]

Usually you "teach" a bunch of classes 1-2 times a week, length of periods vary from school to school. Usually you won't have a textbook to help you out, instead you create "conversation" activities and games using your own brain and creativity along with whatever you can find on the internet. Usually you won't get any help from Chinese teachers or staff when it comes to classroom management. Usually your students will care less about your class (unless you sing to them maybe) and you can become frustrated by their sleeping in class, message texting, seemingly lack of ability to speak or understand English, reading a Chinese book in class, or perhaps not coming to class at all! Of course, you might get lucky with a good class or two or perhaps a small handful of students in some of your classes. The sky's the limit on what you can "teach" these students if you are energetic and creative.

I've actually never taught in a university (high school though - so close to the college freshman), but the above is more or less what I've gleaned from reading posts here at Dave's.

[7969]

schools in district 211 dont have a good reputation.

[sui jin]

211 means Project 211 college, right? So the students should be better than average (according to their high school scores). In my experience you might get a textbook (Challenge to Speak in my case, pretty useless with many mistakes. I will use the textbook to set homework and maybe vocab exercises. Last year I relied on the textbook too much and it became boring in class).

I will also teach freshman conversation this term, and I have been browsing the internet and trying to design an interesting course over the last few weeks. Mine is based on conversational pair work (using IELTS type q and a and 'longer turn' descriptions) some weeks, and small group role play (using role plays such as a job interview, alibi, build a building, skits etc) in other weeks. With added work on idioms, slang, redundant language, body language etc. I am also going to try something new for me: 2 students to begin the class every week with a 'show and tell' presentation, or '10 minute teacher' presentation on idioms.

BTW, unless your college is huge you are unlikely just to be teaching freshman conversation. Probably other classes as well. My college usually tells us on the weekend before teaching begins our timetable. This year my boss kindly told me in January.

[bradley]

I have taught Literature, Conversation, Public Speaking, Tourism Englsh, and Popular Culture.

If it is a Conversation course it really depends on the number of students in the course. I used to have 26 in a class but now only have 13