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Lao Qiao
I found out today that our college will not offer Oral English classes to any of the third-year students, although the undergraduates (4-year program) will have a public speaking class. The English Education (3-year program) students will have no spoken English classes at all this term, although they have plenty of time with only 10 hours of classes a week. To me, this teaching plan seems counter-productive, since would-be teachers should get all the Oral English experience they can get.
My courseload is light this term, so I asked if I could continue to teach them Oral English. (I've already had them for a year and a half.) My offer was flat out rejected.
Is this the typical curriculum for all English Ed students across China? I've only taught at one uni so far, so I haven't a clue. Any advice on how I can convince the college officials to bend a little and allow me some classtime with the students?
(I suspect the problem may be a shortage of classroom space, but no one is saying.)
Thanks!
John Wheaton
Jishou University
Jishou, Hunan
Rin
Today I was given the curriculum for two semesters...
Here it is...
Grade 7. First semester. Sept-Jan
1. Personal info.
2. Hobbies and interests.
3. Family and friends.
4 Talking about weather.
5. Shopping.
6. Apartments and houses.
7. Festivals and celebrations.
Second semester March-June
1. Making telephone calls.
2. Asking the way.
3. Having meals.
4. seeing the doctor.
5. Food and drink.
6. School life.
7. Festivals and celebrations.
I have been given no materials, just this one sheet of paper. My grade sevens have 2 classes a week... so god knows what I can do with this for two semesters. Any ideas?
YueHan
Lately I'm starting to look out for a new contract for the new year and I stumbled accross a potentially excellent position being advertised on the TACA Jobs Board in Luoyang, Henan, by Joy School China. The introduction reads, "Excellent teaching position in Luoyang now open", and location is 'Luoyang'.
But, as we are advised to do prior to getting excited about a new job, I'd done an Internet search on the Joy Schools. I however found two negative references about the Joy School in Harbin. First one on www.teflschoolreviews.com where some controversy has been pointed out regarding the Harbin branch (it's even appeared in a US newspaper). Secondly, on the www.abroadchina.org website I came accross an article by a Canadian parent warning teachers against the very same Harbin branch of Joy School.
Would you regard those negative reports to be sufficient to put one completely off from the Joy Schools? Should one expect the same kind of issues at another branch so far away as Henan from Heilongjiang? I could not get any comments (whether positive or negative) specifically on the Joy School in Luoyang. But if one looks at the remuneration package ... Wow, what a pleasure to work for a school who's prepared to look that well after a FT!
Does anyone of the TACA members have any knowledge about the Joy Schools in China?
YueHan
In the post about ESL ideas, Robert has referred us to other areas of the China Teaching Web. I stumbled on to this article, "Those darn Cellphones".
We all know what the current situation is in our classrooms regarding mobile phones. The article is correct there. But, I can't agree with you, Robert, about this just being part of Chinese culture! The Chinese people have only started using mobile phones a few years back. It was NEVER part of the culture. Can something just be accepted (or labelled) as culture if it was introduced to a country a few years earlier and it got embraced by its people because of the absence of such conveniences over so many years?! About every British, American, South African, etc, has a cellphone, but that doesn't make it part of those cultures. Would a cellphone ring during a class in those countries (or be allowed to without punishment)? It's unheard of! Or am I completely out of touch these days?!
So, what do we as teachers do about this in China? Do the Chinese teachers allow this in their classes (ringing - and even answering of - cellphones, text msg tunes, qq ...!). I allowed the using of cellphones in my classes last semester (except for not making calls!). The students could make and receive text messages, do qq, etc, as long as I could not hear any sounds and it didn't interfere with the lessons. But, it didn't have the right effect - you were absolutely correct, Tom! It was an experiment. But I agree, it jeopardized the general class discipline and I have to (and I'm going to) change it.
How do I introduce a new rule about cellphones in class ...? NO cellphones? That's my intention - "but we are using it as dictionaries" - no, NO cellphones ...! Can I do that? Would I be allowed to do that? I know you said, Elly, keep the phones on the tables where you can see 'em, but you know they still cheat with them! But, importantly, that means the phones would still be switched on ... and a potential disturbance (as Robert has described in that article) which I want to avoid. I don't even want them to receive a 'silent' call (on vibration only), because then some of them would still answer, or at least leave the classroom (often without even caring to get permission to do that) and chat outside.
This semester I'll have a different experiment with class discipline (Tom, I can imagine you're applauding now), a much sterner one. But what is the best avenue to follow with "those darn cellphones"?!
Robert Vance
This is for Rin and anyone else who needs some ideas for the classroom.
Here are a few articles from the public edition of TeachAbroadChina.com (The China Teaching Web) that you may find useful:
- Using Skits in the ESL classroom
- How to make your ESL Class fun
- Your first days as an ESL teacher at a new school
- Discipline in the ESL classroom
- Camels and Sandstorms - The power of telling stories in an ESL classroom
- Free downloadable ESL lessons
- ESL conversation topics & ideas
Actually, we have quite a few ESL tidbits on TeachAbroadChina.com that are probably quite useful. I encourage you to browse & search. Hopefully you will find something that works...
BrandiChan
Well my friend is a fellow teacher whom is going to China on her way today actually. She told me a nice trick on how she saves on room and weight in her suitcase. She uses Airbags!!! When she first mentioned it I thought she was talking about the ones in the car lol. Airbags, as some may already know are baggys that come in different sizes. You place the items in the bags of your choice then you suck the air out with a vacuum and theres your space and your weight. Though it only works on cloth lol. I personally would have never even thought of this. Has anyone ever tried this method of packing?
toverocker
Someone on TACA has had the same experience and learned from it - let us help you! What is the problem or what are the problems? I know people in Handan who can help you - just ask!
toverocker
Found out today that I will teach four classes of grad students (oral English)! Need some info, if you have done this...competency? class size? motivation? Any advice will be appreciated!
Elly
For nearly four weeks I had two students from Shaoxing visit us here in Brisbane, Australia. I found homestays for them and I was their 'tour guide" most days. Exhausting but most interesting as they learned about our culture. Discussions were interesting, and a couple of things are worth sharing.
Warm-Ups - were we ALL taught about these 'games' we play at the beginning of the class? One of the girls asked me about these. Why do FT's always play stupid games at the beginning of the lesson? I did laugh - but explained that (a) we were taught to because (2) it helps focus the students on the English lesson and (c) many students do say they enjoy the activities. I asked her if she had spoken with her FT about this. Of course she had not. I said how will the FT know your feelings if you do not tell him/her. Mmm. She was thoughtful about this. Then said - Our culture does not allow us to criticise a FT. I explained that it could be couched in non-critical terms. Can you not discuss preferences of students? Can you not HELP your FT to engage more with the students? Is it only the clever students that find these 'games' a waste of time? We had quite a discussion about the options students had - and that FT's for the most part like constructive feedback. (FT's reading this can somehow find out from their students about their thoughts - or find a way to evaluate their own work.)
University feedback. I asked if there was any feedback/questionaire for classes or the university. Yes, there is. All students are asked for feedback and each semester they get a form to fill in. It is all done ONLINE - and they never tell the truth. They always report in a positive manner praising the university even though they do not believe it. They are very critical of their university - but as the feedback form is online - they are afraid to tell the truth as they are sure it can be traced and they will be in trouble if they criticise the university.
Nader EL-Mahdy
Just for the record!
Which airline did you use to come to China?
Advantage, disadvantage!
Rin
Any ideas for good games. I have around 80 students and they are middle school age. The chairs and tables cannot be moved so they will have to stay seated maybe? Or come up to the board a few at a time.
Thanks.
Rin
Today, to my horror... I found out we have no control over our radiators... they come on on 15th November, go off on 15th March. Throughout the whole of China!
So,if there is a heat wave in February, or snow in October... what do we do?? Apparently we cannot control them in any way.. cannot turn up, turn down or switch off.
Anyone know anything about this?
Elly
When packing to go to China to teach there are many challenges. For many it is "the unknown" - not knowing much about the city/town/education facility that you will be going to, and not knowing how easy it is to shop where you are going?
Just for fun - can you list the 10 things that you can not live without? (Not including clothes, undies etc)
YueHan
I realize very well that this is a teaching website per se, but I've also noticed that various non-teaching topics are being discussed from time to time regarding general life in China. Over time I've also discovered some kind of 'family' sentiments on this site; so, I guess it won't be too inaccurate to refer to the 'TACA family' when referring to 'us'! This is then the motivation behind this topic.
Dandong: How many members are aware of the fact that one of our senior (in stature - and age!) members is teaching and living there together with his Chinese family? So, though I've noticed some movement from that area on this site recently, I was just wondering how Toverocker is managing to escape the excessive flooding? The death toll already stands at 4 this morning. It even appears as if the ocean has pushed up through the rivermouth up to some high rise apartment buildings (not what the authorities had in mind when they started calling it the 'Port of Dandong', I guess).
So Tom, would you mind giving us some feedback about your own situation? I won't find that on the CCTV9 news (except if they have to include you in the stats ...). I sincerely hope that you guys haven't been affected as badly as some of the residents. We are surely all aware of the damage and loss of life the recent flooding in China has caused. I'm so glad I'm here in the North East and nearly unaffected (yes, Liaoning is my province, but fortunately we don't have such a big river close by). Last year I've even been looking for a vacancy in Dandong (just missed out on one) and I've still contemplated that city up to now - but I guess I'll reconsider after the latest incident ('cause that river will always be there!).
Well, good luck, nonetheless.
YueHan
Again I couldn't find the thread where you once suggested that we look at this Guide and comment on it, Robert! I noticed that you've lately shortened the lists for 'latest topics' and 'new members' to about 20; so, one can't go further back (and lately a lot of new topics were started!). So, again I guess this is the section I should utilize to get my message accross ...?!
If my memory is serving me correctly, Robert made the comment at a discussion I started about a new Job Guide by ICAL. You (Robert) then referred to 'our' own guide. I'd downloaded the Guide with the intention to go through it later (but 'later' became months later ...!). As I'm slowly starting to check the market out for another contract, I happen to stumble on to the TACA Jobs Guide and here are some comments!
Apart from some minor spelling errors, I agree that this is equally as great a guide as the ICAL one, although I would trust this one better as it's been compiled by somebody with years of experience in China! However, I'd like to comment on two sections:
Section 7 - Making the big decision: I'll change the wording slightly where you refer to the principal so as to support a more professional approach. Sorry Robert!
Section 8 - Signing the contract: With due respect, the US is not the only country supplying the world with English teachers! I would've changed that section to include the global community by supplying a more general view (and if really necessary, one can include an addendum to assist the US teachers - although this may imply that teachers from the US need additional assistance!). We (the British, South Africans, Australians, Philipinos, etc!) can give advice there if required although I don't see much difficulty in amending that section as it doesn't differ much from my own experience.
Well Robert, that's just my personal feeling; I realize I might miss it again! Nonetheless, thanx for the effort (and many others) to make it easier for us to adapt to this foreign country and culture!
