Job Discussion Forums

[chinatimes]

Interesting day today. A freshman class in college was talkative and engaged in my lesson. We couldn't cover everything I had because they spoke so much. The sophomore classes in general are very ambivalent towards speaking. I don't know why, they don't have their head down as if they are tired though. One girl really pissed me off and I went off on her this morning. She was sitting outside of the classroom, and I called her name from the attendance list. I saw her come in and say, "I am here."

What on earth? Has this ever happened to any of you? She then proceeded to lie to me. First she was in the bathroom. Then, she was in the hospital. After I investigated, I found out she was in the classroom on the other side of the hallway. It was one story after another. She even came up to me after class to "explain". She was upset I didn't respect her for whatever reasons.

Then, I got a senior class in the afternoon. I teach 2. One is understanding, cooperative, and essentially a mellow group. I call on them and they perform well, but for just that moment. The other group today is "creative". I am giving them a practice test because at the end of October they will finish an 8 week course with me. They got all worried and don't want to do it. It's actually more work for me. I will give them feedback on their answers and it won't be part of their grade.

One student actually said, "Teacher, what if we listen to you talk and then you pass us all?"

Seriously, this was the question. They didn't want to take a test. Then, the next offer was a little more realistic. They want me to give them a reading section and then answer a few questions. Fair enough, I have resources which have that and it's ok. However, I want each student to reply with also their opinion. I don't want them to just read and answer 4 questions from the reading. The next class the following day could also memorize the answers. It's not difficult to cheat with that style of test.

I am new to the college scene, is this really how college students address teachers? Am I really being too difficult? I actually had both classes write the questions in class from textbook readings, and then I corrected the questions so they knew what to expect. I put them in .pdf format and gave them to anyone with a USB stick.

It was a rather entertaining day for me to hear the excuses from this girl in the sophomore class and negotiating with the seniors. It's amazing how the seniors can speak English when the word "test" is mentioned.

So, anyone who teaches at a college, how do you go about grading? I have never done it. Right now, I am taking attendance, keeping track of the good students, but at the end of October I will be wrestling over how to specifically grade. Where is the line? Who should I fail or can I pass everyone?

[kungfuman]

Ahh. I should ask, are you new to teaching university in China? it's a serious question.

I went through this same thing last semester. Students never show up, never participate, sneak out or in during the break and then proceed to tell you they are there the whole time.

My advice: DON'T let it piss you off and DON'T yell at them in front of the class or ever. They are like little children - BUT like little children who can get you fired easily. If they complain about you too often or if the WRONG student complains then you are OUT. Some of these little snots are well connected and all it takes is for them to not like you. Plus the word spreads quickly - take down one student ( even if you are right) and they tell other students and it spreads like a wild fire.

Don't use the values from wherever you came from - they don't exist here. Jump on board with the other teachers - don't make a fuss and don't bring unwanted attention to yourself.

I worked with a teacher who yelled at a student in class and used the F word at her. It didn't end nicely for the teacher and two whole grades ( sophomore and junior) level classes refused to accept him as a teacher and it caused a bad situation for the students and the teachers. A bunch of students complained to their parents and their parents complained to the school. The parents pay the bills.

Seriously, fail the students for poor grades and for not attending BUT ONLY if the syllabus says they must attend or attendance is part of their grade. And DON'T expect the administration to side with you. Often they wont.

CYA is for real here.

[LarssonCrew]

This will against ALL of those who say 'be serious etc.' BUT, I don't bother too much with people not showing up. They don't want to learn from a foreigner, that's their loss, don't make a big fuss.

I don't take a register, because I know if I do not know their name at the end of the year then they haven't been to enough classes or participated enough, simple as that.

I find that the first class EVERYONE shows up 'see the laowai!' then it thins out.

Honestly, they are frightened of the Chinese teachers, some of my student's asked if they could skip my class once to take part in an inter university basketball competition, of course I let them go.

It's college, even if they don't pass the test the school will pass them. I try not to take it TOO seriously...

[GeminiTiger]

Pardon my short but sweet approach but here goes.

Generally classes will be a bit random, one class will be everything you hope for as a teacher and another in the same year and same major will tempt you into wanting to pull a midnight runner.

I usually give about 80% of my students (across all classes) a grade between the 70% and 90%. I reserve anything over 90% for someone truly excellent and anything under 70% for someone who fails to communicate or is poor and has a combination of attendance or behavior problems. Last year I failed 3 English majors who simply could not communicate in basic English.

Good luck.

[7969]

[Shroob]

When I first had to give a test at university, I got told by other foreign teachers, 'Never fail a student'. This was backed up by my FAO when he called me in for a meeting and explained, 'Make the test simple, Shroob. Do you understand? Simple, Shroob.' If that wasn't clear enough they phoned me up later to say the same things.

My grades are made up of a combination of factors. Oral exam = 60%. Presentation to the class = 20% and effort during lessons = 20%.

I also agree with what others before me have said, it's not worth getting stressed about students who don't attend or put in the effort. A lot of the time the students didn't choose that major and their only hope of going to university would be to accept any course they got. Due to the above, there is also the fact that few students fear failure. I'm not saying everyone's like this, but most know that foreign teachers' grades mean little in most places.

[wonderingjoesmith]

[MisterButtkins]

More or less, I basically grade as follows:
Attendance: 10%
Listening Test: 40%
End of semester interview:50%

I teach the generic 'oral English' classes common at schools here.

I save A's for students who are good, probably less than 15% of each class gets A's.

B's are what most students get. Probably 60% of my students get B's

I fail any student who never shows up to class. Maybe 2-3 students each semester, out of all my classes, fail. My school has a rule that if a student misses too many classes, they can't take the final exam, so when I fail these students I don't have any problems with the administration.

Everyone else gets C's and D's.

If you're wondering how I make sure I'll get these scores, I basically design a test or whatever that will be fairly hard for the students, then grade it on a scale of 0 to 40. Then I add 60 points. Yes, I know, I'm really professional with my grading methodology. Whatever. The kids who do the best get the highest scores, most kids get an OK score, everyone passes, and the administration is happy. It's not like our grades really matter, since everyone is just a hongbao away from an 'A'.

[rawera]

syllabus? I wish.

[kungfuman]

[chinatimes]

[chinatimes]

[GeminiTiger]

I've got a 30% daily grade mark. (30 midterm, 40 final)

That is earned by,
Attendance and proper materials (book, notebook, pen)
Proper, creative and energetic solutions to tasks.

And that is lost by:
Speaking out of turn during presentations.
Texting during class with mobile phones.
Talking Chinese.

I explain very clearly that I am not responsible for grades. I do not give grades, I simply record the actions of students. Students are responsible for their own result. I also tell them 3 English majors failed last year.

My classes this year are going quite well.

[fat_chris]

[doogsville]