One of the main issues I had while teaching adults in China was miscommunications causing all sorts of problems. I worked in Pingxiang Vocational and Technical College and the miscommunication was causing so many problems both the school and I decided to cancel the contract, luckily they paid me out in full and we left amicably. I enjoyed the experience of teaching in China the adult students are very very eager to learn and you are never short of friends!
Has anyone else had a similar experience and how did you deal with it?
Teaching Adults in China
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Good on you not to have lost heart over the matter! Pingxiang is on the border with Vietnam,. right? An interesting place albeit one I would not want to be posted for a long time.
Your experience is typical. If only the education authorities in China would heed observations made by thousands upon thousands of expats working in China!
Miscommunications...a lot of causes though all originate in the Chinese education system and in how parents bring up their children, I suppose.
To listen is not a typical Chinese virtue. To listen and filter out any RELEVANT and NEW information is even less of a Chinese habit. They listen to what they recognise, which often is what they have memorised before - hence their habit of saying the obvious, repeating mantras they picked up somewhere.
Another facet of Chinese teaching and learning is the communitarian approach, with classes of up to 100 simultaneously speaking and on occasion acting together, never stepping out of line, thus never learning to muster a measure of self-respect (or courage) and speak up as a thinking individual.
Lastly, the main problem no doubt is the memory-based learning which ignores the honing of any analtyical skills. People don't learn a language - they merely memorise vocables.
This explains why the majority of Chinese are unable to think in any target language other than their first tongue; translating back and forth (with the inevitable losses in the process), sluggish responses - you get miscommunications.
I have been through such experiences for a whole decade now!
Your experience is typical. If only the education authorities in China would heed observations made by thousands upon thousands of expats working in China!
Miscommunications...a lot of causes though all originate in the Chinese education system and in how parents bring up their children, I suppose.
To listen is not a typical Chinese virtue. To listen and filter out any RELEVANT and NEW information is even less of a Chinese habit. They listen to what they recognise, which often is what they have memorised before - hence their habit of saying the obvious, repeating mantras they picked up somewhere.
Another facet of Chinese teaching and learning is the communitarian approach, with classes of up to 100 simultaneously speaking and on occasion acting together, never stepping out of line, thus never learning to muster a measure of self-respect (or courage) and speak up as a thinking individual.
Lastly, the main problem no doubt is the memory-based learning which ignores the honing of any analtyical skills. People don't learn a language - they merely memorise vocables.
This explains why the majority of Chinese are unable to think in any target language other than their first tongue; translating back and forth (with the inevitable losses in the process), sluggish responses - you get miscommunications.
I have been through such experiences for a whole decade now!
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panjianhong
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:42 am
Dear Roger, It's nice to read your post about China here again, I might be sad about those things you pointed out about China but I agree on your criticisim and I believe you criticised because you wanted to help your Chinese students.
In fact, most of your criticisim is very much like what I have written in my posts in some Chinese BBS. It is a little consoling that Chinese can criticise China in a very few Chinese BBS nowadays, though still far from being "enough".
I can imagine how shocking sometimes it might be for you to be in such a different surrouding here in China. I think it really needs courage and very great patience, it also needs great interest, curiosity and sympathy in human being and humanity to help people who might not understand your intentions at all!
These are the questions I often ask myself, too. Am I strong enough to teach and think those things which only make me lonelier and more isolated? Am I strong enough to teach and think and write things which seem meaningless to the people around me? Am I strong enough to have my dream and live in the dream???
You know, dear Roger, I think only those brave and liking challenges are able to teach here.
so now at least I can see perhaps I am not the only person who is tortured by those questions, am I right?
Hope to see your posts soon!
In fact, most of your criticisim is very much like what I have written in my posts in some Chinese BBS. It is a little consoling that Chinese can criticise China in a very few Chinese BBS nowadays, though still far from being "enough".
I can imagine how shocking sometimes it might be for you to be in such a different surrouding here in China. I think it really needs courage and very great patience, it also needs great interest, curiosity and sympathy in human being and humanity to help people who might not understand your intentions at all!
These are the questions I often ask myself, too. Am I strong enough to teach and think those things which only make me lonelier and more isolated? Am I strong enough to teach and think and write things which seem meaningless to the people around me? Am I strong enough to have my dream and live in the dream???
You know, dear Roger, I think only those brave and liking challenges are able to teach here.
so now at least I can see perhaps I am not the only person who is tortured by those questions, am I right?
Hope to see your posts soon!
Fine observations, panjianhong. Don't allow yourself to be tortured! It's not totally hopeless, but the situation certainly is not as good as official published opinion incites one to think!
A genuinely motivated student will outsmart his also-run classmates who don't care for the subject but for the score in their final exams.
It's these dedicated students that keep me going, and enjoying my job.
Actually, the younger - the better the learners are (in general).
A genuinely motivated student will outsmart his also-run classmates who don't care for the subject but for the score in their final exams.
It's these dedicated students that keep me going, and enjoying my job.
Actually, the younger - the better the learners are (in general).
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panjianhong
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:42 am
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ottawaguy85
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:40 pm
- Location: ottawa, ontario Canada
Would it be wisse to avoid china as my first teaching locati
Should i not teach in china my first time? Also i'm wondering where i should teach? I think all i need is fellow english teachers and i'll be fine. Tell me what you think about teaching in china as my first teaching job.
Hi ottawaguy!
Should you not teach in China for your first time? I always get into a horrid logic loop when faced with such a phrase. Yes, you should not, No, you should. Oh my, this is going to take some beer, I can tell.
Seriously, I think the answer is, well, that depends. I am new at teaching in China. I have only been at it 3 years, but I hope I can keep at it for a long time. By the way, I teach college English majors, just so you know that my humble advice may not apply to your specific situation, but generally, here are my observations:
I think the hardest part for me was "re-tuning" my expectations. Once I got it sorted out how communication works in a Chinese university setting, and how to determine what the college really expected from me, it has gone quite smoothly. In my opinion, communications between staff and administration is no more (or less) political than anywhere else I have taught (I spent about 5 years working as an adjunct professor after I got my PhD. Could not find a tenured professor slot. Silly liberal arts major). BUT...
But, it is different here, and takes some getting used to. The first semester was the worst, because I spent all my out-of-classroom time huddled around with other English-speaking teachers, talking about how miserable we all were. Then it dawned on me that maybe it was my perspective that needed changing, because constant whining and *beep* about some really trivial things was getting depressing.
I started going out on my own and meeting people. I learned a few words of Chinese. I started going to the traditional markets by myself, and I learned how to do a little bit of bargaining. The fellow English teachers idea is fine for comparing notes, and it sure helps out if you get to a new school and someone shows you the correct busses to take, and can write the name of your school for you in Chinese, so you can show it to the taxi driver if you get lost, but I want to kind of caution you about spending all your time locked into the ex-pat housing area. Coming to China seems a silly thing, if your goal is to hang around people that are native English speakers.
It is different in China, but I think the “good” different far outweighs the “bad” different. I have seen some remarkable things that you must see to appreciate. I have tasted some things I never thought I would (I won’t say), and met some remarkable people here in China.
If you are ready for a real adventure, are ready to learn more about yourself than you might have thought possible, and can leave your ego home, come on over! If you come to my university, I’ll show you where to catch the bus, and write down the name of the university in Chinese for you!
Good luck!
Short Term Teaching Adults in China
I'd like to teach adults in China during a summer session or a Spring semester. My plan is to bring my 8 (then) year old son for a learning "aventure". I have a M. Ed. in TESOL and prefer to work with professionals (business people, engineers, doctors/ nurses) when given a choice. I don't have any problem with kids, just not a lot of experience! Additionally, and this might be asking for too much indeed, I would prefer a small or mid size city. I just don't want to spend my time on trains and buses, fighting big city crowds everyday. Is there any opportunity for what I am looking for- with a short term contract? Can anyone recommend a good agency/school/connection that might help me accomodate my son?
Thanks,
Maria
Thanks,
Maria