Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MA_TESOL]

I lecture in a University and though I may have a Basic English Conversation class, my students come from all levels. They have to take the classes as they are English and English Literature majors. Probably 1/3 of the class has lived in an English speaking country for over a year. Many of my students are fluent speakers. A true LEP (Limited English Proficiency) has no chance of getting an A when I have to grade on a curve. Of course I look at effort, but that wont help them much on the exams. I have about 90 students and spent about 20 hours determining grades on their midterms. I hate doing it! Also, many of them complain if they don't get an A+.

But I understand a little. They should get credit for having learned a language, even if it was situational. In graduate school, I had to take either a two years of a European language or a year of an Asian type language. I was fortunate because they offered Cantonese on campus. I had lived in Hong Kong 15 years and knew enough Cantonese to get a few semester of easy A's. I guess that is the same situation for those who speak English well because they had lived in English speaking countries.

[Paji eh Wong]

Everyone hates grading. In the long run, it is a waste of time.