Job Discussion Forums

[yogurtpooh]

Is it fairly standard in the higher end professional schools like ILA, Cleverlearn, VATC, etc to require their teachers to attend workshops and have other teachers and other admin sit in class to observe in a prolonged basis? Should I expect to be micromanaged if I work for the bigger boys when I don't have experience?

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Trainings, evaluations, workshops, and observations should be good things, especially for newbies.

Sure, they take up extra time and can cause some stress, and if they're not conducted well, they can definitely be a drag. But in general, a decent school does these things to make sure that their teachers are doing something that will keep the chairs full, and hopefully, that at least partly relies on quality teaching.

I'd actually be suspicious of a school without such kinds of feedback and professional development programs.

So long as the people observing you, giving feedback, and giving trainings are actually competent, then look at the bright side of things and take what you can from it.

Most of the "big ones" do these things, coming from knowing or having known people who work at one or more of the places you've mentioned. The competency of those who are in charged, of course, is always relative.

If you're a good teacher or willing to work at improving, don't stress too much over this.

And if you've got spies, parents, constant "surprise" observations, then, by all means, jump ship!

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Not sure if I would personally describe ILA, Cleaverlearn etc as "higher end professional schools", but be that as it may

At my school, attendance at workshops are expected, but you only need to go to one every five weeks (obviously they would prefer you to go to more, but one is the minimum). You don't get paid for it, but workshops are only forty-five minutes and the school provides lunch (but some schools don't even do this).

Observations are fairly standard and, depending on how they are done, can be very useful. I try not to view them as "micromanaging", but I guess that depends on how often they occur. When you start I think you should be observed in the first few weeks and, assuming everything is OK (i.e. good first observation and the students are not complaining) than every four months or so thereafter is reasonable. Schools have every right to ensure that certain standards are being maintained. Besides, some of the feedback I have received after observations (both good and bad) has been very helpful, especially when I first started.

[Oh My God]

[Andy123]

The key in �most� cases is not to care what they think. It is a procedure that is mandated in their �regulations�. I have been evaluated by well educated and competent people but unfortunately this has occurred rarely. Many have little to no experience on what the goal of an evaluation is and often critique you using a Vietnamese lexical approach.

Several times I was evaluated by individuals whose language skill level was no better than pre-intermediate and most outrageous of all was the two individuals who were no older than 25 years old.

A sure fire way of getting a bad evaluation is to present material that the evaluator does not understand or when the evaluator wants to participate. This is an arrow straight to their ego and a recipe for disaster.

The advice I was given many years ago is to always dumb it down. It sounds terrible but it is the best advice I ever received regarding evals.

[snollygoster]

It has been my long term experience in Vietnam that observations and evaluations are USUALLY conducted by people who do not have the slightest idea of what they are looking for. Incompetent whimps with an ego they want YOU to massage.

Before there is a tirade of howling down, notice the word USUALLY. I have also seen and/or experienced such exchanges by competent individuals whose judgement I would trust.

Mostly, however, its an ego trip by an incompetent with no academic credibility- If the kids "like" you, then you are a good teacher. "play game teacher-Moi muda ee or how why"