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Q: For those who teach English.
Hi there,
I currently teach English is two different schools. One school Saturday and Sunday which is a Chinese school, and Monday-Wednesday at a Korean school. I have received huge compliments at my Chinese school with my teaching ability and even have parents joining my classroom telling me about how I do a great job during class.. Now on the other hand, the Korean school I teach at has given me nothing but complaints. Again I was messaged by my employer tonight on how they think I can do better with the children and a few other problems she wants to discuss with me at a later time... My routine is exactly the same as the Chinese school and I don't understand how I can be doing so well at one school and so terrible the other.... Has anyone experienced this problem before? or am I just being ripped off by my Agent/Employer? I feel I've done nothing wrong in my Korean school and I notice how the children are progressing so I know I'm doing my job well..
I don't get it.
12 years 22 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
That's your problem you are too routine at what you do. What works at one location/place may not work at another. If they say to change what you are doing you probably shouldn't argue and listen to what they are telling you. If your too routine they will notice that.
you make no mention of the kids or the parents feedback of your other school. as a teacher you are supposed to read your students and gage their interest. you make no mention of that. you make no mention of what the school said to you.
your post is oddly vague as if someone is describing an event that never happened. dont want to commit to details. now what could be the purpose of this post??? korean school vs chinese school??
wu mao?? mattayayayay alter ego???
HazzaF1:
I apologize for being a bit vague, I didn't want to go into full detail about both schools. Thing is, I don't get any feedback from the Korean schools. I teach the kids as I was told to teach them. I've never asked for advice, or asked people if they like Chinese or Koreans best. All I asked was if this has happened to anyone in the past. I'm not trying to be cynical about it all, I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else teaching at different schools.
crimochina:
there you go. you dance around important details again. you are not fooling anyone. it is difficult to describe something that never happened. especially if you have no experience being in those situations. such as what would they say to you. what feedback would you get from the students (word for word) other than just general terms that mean nothing "compliments" "routine" i never heard an expat refer to their lesson as a routine. what are you doing stand up?
and your "asked people if they like Chinese or Koreans best" is exactly what a local would say and it has nothing to do with the situation or conversation.
HazzaF1:
Now to be a bit more clear in my post for you. I myself haven't received any feedback from my Korean school, which includes parents, teachers, TA, or students. The last feedback I received was from my employer stating these things: 1: Not to have the children write for more than 5 minutes per day in their notebooks and I am here to speak English words to them and not have them write. 2: Hand in the student reviews on time *Report cards* as I had forgot one 3: Speak more clear and slowly for the students so they understand. I understand all of the above and have tried to make myself a better teacher for it. I know I'm not perfect, but I try very hard to be at least a decent teacher. Now after a few weeks, I felt I was doing a great job, I show up on time, I substitute other teachers, and I'm not hungover or drunk from the night before like I see a lot of teachers doing, I still get "We need to talk about your performance and your issues with teaching in the Korean school" to me it's a bit frustrating and I was just wondering if anyone had that same problem.. Not just with Korean and Chinese schools, but with two different teaching locations.. I should have made that more clear in my post. But thank you otherwise. Whatever Mattayayayayaya alter ego may mean...
HazzaF1:
Alright mate, I wrote my comment before I read your last one. What would be my point if I was making this all up? Why are you such a dickhead?
crimochina:
so the reason you hid the details is because you are in the wrong. their suggestions seem to be valid so what's the problem?? at the korean school they are not letting you get away with doing a half assed job and you expect us to sympathize
man, you teach english? seriously?
Not intending to sound too critical, but the english you're typing seems a bit dubious. maybe your korean employers noticed that.
HazzaF1:
Man, I do teach serious English.. Seriously in fact.. Not to sound too condescending, but I think you just wanted to use the word "dubious" when I mentioned I was a teacher.. I think you would obviously be a better teacher than I would...
NileRafter24:
okay man, i'm just going to tell you this straight up. the way you use tenses is absurd. your english seems very forced. like someone who's 1st language isn't english but who's done an undergrad english course. e.g
''I think you would obviously be a better teacher than I would.''
I know you were being sarcastic but the way you phrased the sentence just took all the sarcasm and english-ness out of it. But if you said:
''You're obviously a much better teacher than I am.''
(notice the verb 'to be' is in present tense coz you're already a teacher)
Now doesn't that sound much better, eh?
HazzaF1:
Your post makes no sense my friend. I absolutely LOVE the fact that you're "Straight up" trying to teach me how to use words in a forum post. So my English sounds second language to you after reading a few comments? that's a bit ignorant ain't it? Considering we invented the language where I come from. Your grammar sucks and your usage of certain words doesn't make any sense. Maybe you "Straight up" need to have some lessons yourself? cuz your English is terrible... But hell I don't know, maybe you speak better than you type.
NileRafter24:
okay, my fault. I shouldn't have prejudged or attacked you like that. I'm really not the type to enter arguments and i'm not into the business of making enemies. It's just that recently, there have been too many trolls on this website that just piss everyone off. Again I sincerely apologize for my immaturity.
GuilinRaf:
HazzaF1 My two cents: Just so you know, NileRafer is one of the decent ones on this site (and i definitely exclude myself after last week!!).
nevermind:
Considering you failed to start two sentences with capitals, I don't think we need to care what you think!
I work for a Chinese school and I'm telling you right now, most of the boss people there wouldn't know a good teacher if one jumped up and bit them in the ass. Take the constructive criticism and see if you can use any of it to help you be a better teacher. Don't ever think that you're the master at something because some Chinese people who are starstruck by your laowai-ness say you are. There's always room for improvement.
HazzaF1:
I've never considered myself a master at anything but I will take your advice. Thank you.
tmestep8:
Agreed. Listen to them and consider their advice, but don't take it for gospel. Some bosses do simply like to swing their weight, and have no idea how difficult it is to connect with people when you can't speak their language. Try to be creative when you can, but don't panic too much when no ideas come.
HazzaF1:
Best thing I've read in this whole conversation. I appreciate it mate.
After reading your clarification from crimo, I agree with them. Your class should focus on oral communication, not writing. They can write easily for their Chinese teachers. However, your pronunciation is perfect (I'm guessing), and the Chinese can't replicate that in their classes. Correct their pronunciation, help them realize that English is for communicating, not just words in books (their English classes are 90% Chinese spoken). Writing is good for seeing how they construct sentences, but they will simply repeat sentence structures they've seen before. Show them new sentence structures, and practice them orally. They can use them in writing for their Chinese-taught classes.
Lastly, don't panic that things haven't started perfectly. It's a learn as you go job. Take it in stride.
HazzaF1:
Appreciate the comment my friend, I understand what you're saying. In fact, I never knew they had a teacher teaching them how to write. Now that I've known for a few weeks, I haven't really made them write anything.. As for taking advice, yours so far has been the best. Thank you.
Right, so after reading my own post and the comments I've received, I now know that I have to be a lot more specific in my details regarding any question I have towards China, it's people or expats. But if you have questions to me or want me to clarify anything all I ask is that you don't be like "Crimochina" or Nilerafter 24" and please be mature adults when speaking to me. As doing so I will respectfully treat you like the adult you are..
Thank you.
NileRafter24:
okay, my fault. I shouldn't have prejudged or attacked you like that. I'm really not the type to enter arguments and i'm not into the business of making enemies. It's just that recently, there have been too many trolls on this website that just piss everyone off. Again I sincerely apologize for my immaturity.
HazzaF1:
Respect, Thanks for that. When I first read Crimochina's post it didn't make any sense to me. He kept claiming my post wasn't real then called me a "local". After I calmed down a bit, I kept re reading what he had said and I started to put 2 and 2 together. I'm quite new to China and also to Echinacities. I understand that my post was out of frustration from my employer and I left out hefty details about my situation which I've tried to correct. Anyway, I understand now and I appreciate it. Thank you for your time. :)
Ok, it says you're in Qingdao, so I assume it's a Korean-run school in China. So I'm going to point this out:
1) The supply/demand balance for foreign teachers works in your favour, in China. The supply is extremely low, and the demand extremely high. You might not get quite as good a deal in Qingdao, but you are still hot property and you need to start acting like it, because what would be considered hard-working employee behaviour back home is considered weakness here, and they will squeeze you like an orange.
2) You are the native speaker, and no matter how much they say "Me Engrish speaka so good than you." They are in no position to judge your classes. And I doubt they care, they're just angling to manipulate you, no one in China cares what a foreign teacher actually teaches. They want to make you feel weak and afraid so they can pay you less for more work.
You've mentioned that your co-employees were showing up to work hung-over and so on. They've likely figured out how it works, and I would turn to the most drunken and lazy ones for advice: they are playing the China game, an d any Chinese person who can pull in more than minimum wage does it, albeit more descretely.
3) The worst thing that can happen if you quit is that you'll have to go back home and reset your visa, before returning to China to work for a school that has a more realistic view of things.
Now that's what I needed to hear, I didn't understand why I was getting this flack for what I believed to be no reason. I consider myself a hard working individual no matter what I do and I hate the fact that something as petty as some of these complaints occur. You've made very valid points my friend
Also I want to point out that even though we had a discussion earlier on about grammar and English lessons, NileRafter 24 is actually a stand up guy! I do also apologize on how I acted. lol those tit for tat arguments are quite funny when you read them again... Thanks again for everyones insight on living in China.
kchur:
When I came to China, I took the same approach to work that I took in Canada, which always worked really well for me out there. Some of my co-employees who had been in China a long time tried to explain things to me but I refused to listen. My first two years in China were a real nightmare, and things only got better when I started doing things the Chinese way. The Chinese way sounds bitter and cynical and selfish, but that's just the way this country is run.
getting flack for no reason!!! please you were killing class time by making them do writing assignments instead of doing your job which was teaching them oral english. you were handing your paperwork in late, which in a school pucks up other people's jobs. you were not speaking clearly in class (that critic comes from the students, they will complain to someone at the school they trust rather than to you ) all except for the last one are evidence of not respecting the job.
here's the answer you've been looking for if you want to get away with your normal "routine" stick to chinese run schools (most want a foreign face in the class). some korean schools actually have standards they will give you time to correct yourself but if you dont they will let you go. if you think not coming in hung over makes you a decent teacher you should take your act somewhere else, there's enough frauds in this country giving foreign english teachers a bad name
HazzaF1:
How do people put up with you? you think that having all this time on this forum and being one of the most active people on here makes you have respect from people? I've read a lot of your questions and answer and a lot of them seem pathetic. You may have a little click here with some of these people because you blog or spend a lot of time on this forum asking away and answering questions. But I tell you right now, this makes you NO expert on anything on here. I don't care where you come from or how long you've been in China. But when you start acting like the prick you are makes me feel sorry for wherever you came from. I know it was probably hard for you to make friends with your BIG MAN attitude. Go "puck" yourself dickhead.
HazzaF1:
You know i was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt by thinking I was a local person trying to start a fight with you, but even after clearing facts with you, you still act like an ass. It's people like you the reason why people hate other Expats. I'm calling you Mr. CHINA from now on since you know everything and criticize everyone else.
crimochina:
i dont come on this forum looking for respect, i get it from the people around me. students supervisors , co workers, and anyone else who encounters me. my opinions are my own and i am not polite when speaking my mind. in my opinion, if your little story has some ring of truth you are a fraud. that comes from what you said. first you claim to be an actor but know nothing about reading your audience to gauge interest (public speaking 101) you ask for our thoughts but you leave out the most important details (what did the school say) according to what you repeated as the schools criticisms, they are valid and have a right to do so. and you consider those "huge complaints" you turn work in late , ofcourse you're gonna hear about it. because that means whosever job it is to file those and get them to the parents is screwed over. you are the foreign english teacher there to teach oral engl but you give them writing assignments. that's cheating the students out of the time they paid for. but yet you say "i feel i've done nothing wrong"
you see a lot of other teachers drunk and hung over where?? at the korean school?? you were careful not to mention. becoz if that school allows other teachers to come in drunk or hung over but they nit pick you that further discredits your story . which smells . it has been carefully crafted to manipulate. but why?
That
Korean International School Qingdao
is on many teaching blacklists
I've never tried to teach in Korea, but from what I hear, your answer is really obvious! Korea has higher expectations than China! They work you harder... you're not living up to their expectations and standards... simple! (that, btw, is why Korea pays better.. and you do longer hours).
Hi Hazza,
I HAVE taught in South Korea, and they are the BIGGEST complainers! They will complain about anything! :( Take my word
for it. * Oh, and your school being on many teaching blacklists also says a LOT! Good luck!
My neighbor is a Korean student...he's an absolute a-hole 
I like their movies though 
Worked in SK, before, much more serious than China, the likeness is similar to Japan. That being said, you really have to know your stuff to be able to teach Korean kids, especially in the parents eyes. Whereas China, if your can act like a monkey, have some English but your not from China, you can teach, if you are a Native Speaker, the looks out weigh any teaching capabilities. The one thing that China and SK have in common, little emporer syndrome
