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Q: Students now complain about my teaching
I've been teaching in China for half a year now and recently my supervisor have told me that some students had complained about my teaching, that I don't follow the materials and they don't learn anything from my lessons. Now the way it works in our school teachers can't talk to these students can't ask for details and it is all anonymous - you just get the info that some tutors go to your supervisor (you can't even know the tutors that go and complain on students' behalf) and pass their students' complaints. Everything was fine till now and I haven't changed anything in my teaching but now I feel vulnerable and I can't improve anything when I don't know WHAT I should improve. In my understanding I teach by materials and I provide with info on new words/phrases/grammar and a lot of students have expressed their liking. Well as far as I know if 95% like you and 5% (all of a sudden) complain about you it's no good in China and you have some serious talks with your management 'cause this is all about business not teaching anyway. As of today I have another complaint... I have no idea why it has started to happen. I understand I can't be liked by everyone but what would YOU do in this situation? I don't want to be terminated but have no idea what I should do in this case and maybe I am doing something wrong but how do I know what when you can't talk to the students and just ask. Also students don't tell you whether you're missing something or your explanations not to them, etc. so you're in limbo in terms of any valuable feedback or info. The management says "you need to improve like you used to be"......... So what would you do?
8 years 33 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
leave your computer open on job web sites and jobs available, put your resume and documents on a folder on the desktop at work, in the file create a letter from a school offering you a job when your contract is up with a higher salary and some promises like a better internet and smaller classes, leave your computer on and the nosy bosses will see your looking for greener pastures, they will drop the whole thing and maybe offer your more money, or they have some cheaper foreigner in mind and are setting up your fall for the replacement they have had planned, probably a free intern fool coming from utah.
Find another job ASAP.
That is employer's right to terminate you for this or that (real) reason. It's allowed by the Contract, so if you don't fit to that school, you might be successful at another.
'If students don't like you, your employer can't get more students for the class'.
Thank you, icnif77. There are 2000 students at this school, I'm not the only foreign teacher here, I assume that there will always be someone that would complain about your teaching and probably some students complain about other teachers as well (i don't know), I also have a feeling that this may happen anywhere, however I kinda thought that it's ok for a few students not to like you... Looks like it's not and in order to stay at this school (or any school) you gotta be liked by 100% students.. Otherwise you should leave for another school? Well, ok, thank you for clarification. I'll think about it.
icnif77:
The first, most important thing for me at English teaching in China (as Non) is to make students like English and me as a teacher. At my 1st class with 3rd graders in Fuk., I was teaching kids how to make paper plane and paper boat with Headmaster's observing my class.
English language must be annoying for Chinese students
in the same level as it's listening Chinese for me
, so I always give them few minutes break, either with discussion or anything else they like it. Make them active with asking questions, and include some games last 10' of the class. 'hang-man', 'counting game' and similar.
Think about 'students must like English and you to be successful'.
Shining_brow:
Icniff - that depends on the age/grade you're teaching. Young kids, ok... older university students who are actually intending to use English for work/career - nope!)
icnif77:
You must adjust considering the age of the students.
Point is 'always give them their time (break from lecturing) to enjoy the classes'.
Why don't you just ask the students in class ? What's the problem?you will try to be better , but you want to know why they complain and what
Yes VoiceG, I would if I had known the problem exists but in the class they don't say anything of that sort. As I mentioned in my Q students complain AFTER class, even in a few days, so during my teaching I have no idea that in fact there's something wrong for some of the students.
once the students start complaining it will effect all of them when there talking outside of class like a virus
once the students start complaining it will effect all of them when there talking outside of class like a virus
A) I suggest you use the "Add Comment" function on people's replies here, not start a new post!
B) your question is "What would you do?" What I would do depends entirely on the fact that I've got the qualifications and experience to not have to pull punches! It's a type of mini-guanxi. I've also got the reputation of being a good teacher who actually gives a damn about my students. Do you??
And thus, I confront the manager, and demand if they're going to provide this sort of Mickey Mouse BS, I won't just kowtow and go meekly with my head held low. If I'm getting complaints (and trust me, I"m sure I've had them - it happens when you kick students out of class for being very disruptive, or playing on their phones). If they're going to complain about my teaching, give me details, or go shove it up their egotistical "I'm more important than you" arse. Also, if the complaints are only from 1 or 2 students, and they haven't had any support from the other students, again, they need to deal with it!
If, OTOH, it's legitimate, then as you said, you can't do anything to improve without details!!!
Another factor - do you think there is a class management problem going on? These 'complaints' may be coming from the worst or most disruptive of the students? There's an easy solution to this - tell the manager/ HoD that you're here to teach, not babysit. If you have disruptive students in the class, you're going to send them to his office to explain themselves (this includes repeated lack of homework). For this, you will need to be a little "on-side" with said person. Many years ago, I sent 5 (almost) whole classes to the Dean of English to explain why they all hadn't done their homework (bar the... 5-10 students out of 150+ I had).
As I said, if you've built up a "I am a good teacher, who gives a damn about teaching what they need, and about the students' future", they'll be more than likely to listen to you.
If not - find somewhere else to work! (plenty of jobs available - they need you much more than you need them!!!)
peter02:
Thank you. I am a good teacher and I do give a damn about my students but the management will never disclose students' info or complaints' details (I've been told so, it's their "policy"). Also their policy is that they hate complaints, they don't know what to do with them except just letting teachers know about it (very lame approach) and if even if you're liked by 1980 students 20 "dislikers" would spoil the whole thing for you.
Anyway I understand it's probably not a good employer and I should start looking elsewhere but isn't it the same almost everywhere in China and I should just hop from one school to another until I find "my" school? Also it seems impossible for I can imagine what kind of "recommendation" letter they may write about you in the end.... Anyway, I feel lost all about it. I am sure if I'd talk to those students I'd sort everything out. But I can't.
icnif77:
'The worst is, when you think about yourself you're good' IMHO.
Only students are 'required' to judge about that.
peter02:
I agree, but when 95% don't complain about you (besides your qualifications and what you think about yourself) you kinda do your math in terms of whether they like you or not, but of course they may just no complain about you... I haven't mentioned in my post that I've got numerous compliments towards my teaching from a lot of students. The post is actually about those 5% (or whatever that is) and what to do with it 'cause management want you to be 100% liked.
Shining_brow:
What sort of school are you in? Ages and all? And why are they there?
At the very least, point out that you're coming from a different background - and that's why you're there. So, you're going to teach your way (sort of why they pay you to be there). So, in our education system, the students have a RESPONSIBILITY to tell the teacher what they don't understand.
I've had complaints about not showing movies or playing games. I ignore them! They can do that any time in their own time! You get 1-2 hours a week with them - it's time to knuckle down and learn - you're not there to entertain them.
As for this 'policy' - it's an excuse to not have to confront anything or fix it. Policies everywhere in China are broken on a daily (hourly... minutely... secondly...) basis!
"...hate complaints, they don't know what to do with them" - yeah, management's problem, not yours!
So - you can happily tell the boss person that if they can't supply any details, don't expect any change!
peter02:
Thank you, good points.
This school is private and the ages are 11-50 ("teens" and adults). I would love to tell them what you've said here (no details? - it's your problem then, not mine) but in this case they can terminate the contract... I know. My choice. I'm thinking on my next step. But you helped me, Shining, anyway - thank you!
Shining_brow:
Oh, 11 years old?? You didn't play games or show movies! Bad teacher!!!!
Stiggs:
So you have an age range from 11 - 50.The picture is becoming clearer.. My guess is that someone told an 11 year old, or a 50 year old that they would be perfectly suited to that class despite having no English ability at all, and when that student couldn't follow the class it was obviously your fault in their mind.
It's easier to blame the teacher when they can't work miracles than to admit that the school is a shoddy, dishonest joke who will tell the students anything to take their money.
hi2u:
Agreed with Stiggs. The school just put students of different levels into one classroom and expect you to be able to teach each student effectively.
If you are told you have received a complaint, then in China it means one of two things. The first, is that some students have indeed complained. It may be they have complained because you told one of them to behave, not necessarily due to your teaching (like you said you have not changed teaching style). A lot of students, may not be used to being told what to do and so it can make them mad if you tell them off.
The second is that the school is greedy/not getting enough revenue, and so wants to lower your salary, and will offer you the choice to stay with a lower salary, inspite of the complaint. Of course, they know that demand exceeds supply, and however wrong it is, it is the foreign teacher who brings the money in.
I've had friends in the same situation, anonymous complaints. Sometimes the only feedback they get from students is things like they should sing in class, show more movies... in other words dance monkey dance. You can't take those seriously.
Sometimes they find out where the complaints came from and it's usually the entitled emperor who never came to class then failed, or the angry resentful kid who hates all foreigners, or the clown who lost face when he was called out for being disruptive and couldn't answer the basic questions behind it. You can't take those complaints seriously either.
Of course, there is the chance there is something genuine in the complaints. I would go to the school with your lesson plans, maybe ask someone in management to sit in on your classes and give feedback, or even record your classes and show whoever is in charge.
If you can't get a straight answer after that then it's not your problem, it's the school that is a joke and you should either just start showing the kids movies or whatever, or look for a better school.
leave your computer open on job web sites and jobs available, put your resume and documents on a folder on the desktop at work, in the file create a letter from a school offering you a job when your contract is up with a higher salary and some promises like a better internet and smaller classes, leave your computer on and the nosy bosses will see your looking for greener pastures, they will drop the whole thing and maybe offer your more money, or they have some cheaper foreigner in mind and are setting up your fall for the replacement they have had planned, probably a free intern fool coming from utah.
Agreed with Stiggs. The school just put students of different levels into one classroom and expect you to be able to teach each student effectively.
Its the same all over the world these days
The student knows they can get revenge for failing a test and the management will change thier grade
Ive failed people ohhh wait i cant say that
Ive found people not yet competent and management just give them a licince so they will not tell others bad things about the company
It does not matter what you teach or where you teach it
Its all about the money
Mostly nobody cares about teaching standards just $$$. 'Complaining students' is just a weak ruse to justify you being replaced by someone cheaper, or more often there might be a bonus at the end of the contract and geez 'You weren't very popular, so you don't get the bonus'. Also you 'can stay for next year as I'm a friendly boss but don't expect a pay rise, as you aren't very popular'. Heard it all before. These Bosses all heavily skim the FTs.
Find somewhere else where they appreciate you.
iWolf:
Find somewhere else where they appreciate you. Ha ha ha. Excellent joke my friend
Complaints should be anonymous to protect the accuser. Its up to the management to have a fair investigation process.
If you want feedback, how about setting up a new wechat account. Call it TeacherPeter02. Then say you will give free chat to your students in written English. Then subtly ask for feedback. If the students are young, tell them they cant join the wechat group unless one of their parents do too. Then you can get feedback from the parents.
Could be a good way to interact. Spend class time developing rules for the wechat group, and from the wechat you might get good subjects to talk about in class.
Oh wait... 2000 students!!!!! Maybe not
Or maybe yes. Set up a limited number group. Not sure how to do that.
But anyway, I have loads of people on my wechat who had English lessons but are too scared yo speak it. But commenting on my wechat posts gives them a reason to use the language.
Good luck
they can't just tell you "we've got some complains" . they must ask students about facts and details. Talk to your supervisor. I'm sure they'd be happy to "teach" you how to teach))
At least that was at my school))
Some classes need more action, some are ok with books, some really hate books...
If there are no details, it is likely to be a scam. Maybe they want you out or to reduce salary.
If they don't want to identify the source, that's fine, but they need to identify the complaints. Teaching is not mystical.
If you're a good teacher, don't worry too much about complaints. You can find another place. Parents are usually very unhappy with frequently changing teachers.
