| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
withnail
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea.
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:07 am Post subject: Who do you try to please? (if anyone...) |
 |
|
I've heard that in some universities, a certain percentage of unfavourable feedback from students will mean you won't get renewed.
Many say that the best way to get positive feedback is:
To be a genuinely nice guy.
To show a caring attitude.
To be a generous grader (although sts often have to complete the feedback before they know the grade)
Not to go mental about tardiness or absence.
Not to forbid or cause problems about MT trips etc.
Not to give too much homework.
Making them laugh.
To be a good and effective teacher (well down the list)
Others maintain that it's not the students you have to please but the university's administration. These folk focus on never making waves, never biting back when faced with all manner of BS. Always doing whatever is asked without question. Basically keeping your head well below the radar. A former colleague called it "watersealing" or taking pains to make sure that every angle is covered - taking control as far as possible, of the Korean admin's perception of you.
What do you think? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Unit DAV412: Advanced trolling. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dorian_gray
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:33 am Post subject: Re: Who do you try to please? (if anyone...) |
|
|
| withnail wrote: |
I've heard that in some universities, a certain percentage of unfavourable feedback from students will mean you won't get renewed.
Many say that the best way to get positive feedback is:
To be a genuinely nice guy.
To show a caring attitude.
To be a generous grader (although sts often have to complete the feedback before they know the grade)
Not to go mental about tardiness or absence.
Not to forbid or cause problems about MT trips etc.
Not to give too much homework.
Making them laugh.
To be a good and effective teacher (well down the list)
Others maintain that it's not the students you have to please but the university's administration. These folk focus on never making waves, never biting back when faced with all manner of BS. Always doing whatever is asked without question. Basically keeping your head well below the radar. A former colleague called it "watersealing" or taking pains to make sure that every angle is covered - taking control as far as possible, of the Korean admin's perception of you.
What do you think? |
It's absolutely not the students that you have to please, although a very low score on student evaluations (let's say less that 70%) will cause you problems. For example, at my current position I had an 80.10% approval rating by students (one of the highest among the professors on staff). I also had a very favorable evaluation when I was observed by the head of my department and his crony (I know this because I spied the evaluation sheet when it was laying out in the office). Despite these high evaluations, I got the axe at my uni because I dared to complain about the scheduling and a book that was chosen for us to teach. The reason that I complained about the scheduling was because of the obvious favoritism that was used to decide who got the better schedules. For example, all NTPs were told that we were not to make any requests about scheduling for the fall semester. However, it was later discovered that several teachers had not only made requests, but that those requests had been granted. When I complained about this discrepancy, I was basically told I could like it or lump it. Later we were informed that a professor from the aviation department had chosen the textbook for students who would be taking a second semester of English. The book, JUST SPEAK UP, is absolutely unteachable and of a totally inappropriate level. Again, when I complained, I was told that I could like it or lump it. My complaints resulted in my non-renewal, despite my high evaluation scores and my substantial credentials.
Just more proof that teaching English in Korea isn't really about the students learning or attracting qualified, credentialed instructors...It's about playing the game... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
withnail
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea.
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| bump |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| me |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Playin' with the Queen of hearts... you know it aint really smart. You can't please everyone, so ya... gotta please yourself. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I learned a very important lesson. I have one co-teacher who thinks I don't play enough games with the students. I think I play enough games. In fact I'm a member of EFL Classroom 2.0 and use most of the games on that site. I think she thinks English with a foreign teacher should be non stop games. Well too bad I forgot my Mickey Mouse ears at home.
Despite that when confronted by the(so called) allegations that I wasn't playing enough games. I acted genuinely concerned I told her that I would change my curriculum according to her kind feedback. Finaly I went back to doing what I had been doing previously. I changed nothing I contunued using token games for the good classes. She has not confronted me about the fact that I have and will continue to ignore her bad advice. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dorian_gray
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Fishead soup wrote: |
Well too bad I forgot my Mickey Mouse ears at home.
|
LOL ~ that's a classic line, I will have to use it sometime.
But seriously, it is kind of sad that there are teachers (and co-teachers) out there that think this way. There's nothing wrong with the occasional game, but learning a language takes dedication and hard work ~ it shouldn't be reduced to game-time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
withnail
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea.
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| bumping it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
