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Posts: 41

Governor

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Q: Are you proud to teach English?

Does it fulfill you?

Related question: I've found a strange trend in China - people here have a very high opinion of teaching as far as reputation goes, yet they look with a certain measure of disdain upon expat teachers. Why is that?

12 years 19 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
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Shifu

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I feel a bit proud , but for different reasons. Primarily because of my age. As a recent graduate, I have many friends back at home who can't find jobs and are living with their parents. I busted my butt the entire month of July and was able to secure a job in China while still in America. I packed up and came to China completely by myself and worked hard until I saved enough money to afford university here. Now I am studying Chinese 20 hours a week and teaching 22+ hours a week. My parents have not sent me a dime since I've been here and I budget so that I am able to save. Soon I will replace my old, broken laptop myself and begin to repay my college loans from the U.S. (If you don't think it's a big deal, ask other 22 year olds when the last time they bought something themselves was.) On top of that I handle blatant racism and discrimination practically daily and although I get down at times, I keep my head up and I haven't gone running back to mommy and daddy like I think many others my age would have. It's a huge lesson in independence for me and although there are many things about being here that I don't like, I do enjoy that aspect of it.

So, I guess none of that comes specifically from teaching but I do get a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment from my overall being in China.

bennyfulltrack:

Respect. World need to have more people like you.

12 years 19 weeks ago
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paulmartin:

Good on you very well put

12 years 19 weeks ago
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12 years 19 weeks ago

Before you judge someone walk a mile in their shoes, that way you're a mile away and you have their shoes!

 
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Posts: 1084

Shifu

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I'm proud to be here doing something with my life establishing myself in China instead of sitting back in my home country in an office as just another corporate cog.

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1197

Shifu

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My work is fulfilling. I like talking to people. I like teaching people. I like immersing myself in new things. I'm happy with what I do here and I make pretty decent money, even by American standards. Why shouldn't I be proud of that? 

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Well regarding your related question, part of the reason foreign teachers are looked down upon, is that many do not have university degrees.  I am not saying that having a degree automatically makes you a "good teacher" just like not having a degree does not mean you are useless. This is just the perception. If you don’t have a degree then you are not a "real" teacher.
Another problem is that we have too many foreign teachers who act more like clowns and babysitters (with and without degrees!).  Then you also have many others who spend their free time drinking and chasing girls (sometimes even their students).  So, in a way, I really cannot fault the negative image that we have in other peoples eyes, both local and foreign alike.
That said, I do find my job as a teacher to be fulfilling.  I was tired of the 12 hour workdays and the weekends in the office.  However, I treat my teaching job as seriously as my job in America.  For me, it is important to prepare one's lessons the night before (at the latest), to tailor each lesson to each class as not all classes have the same proficiency in language. If it is too easy, they get bored. If it is too hard, they get frustrated.
The other thing is to set rules from the get go, and STICK to them, no exceptions.  While on occasion I do employ humor in the class, I do not treat my class like a "amateur standup comedy club" nor do I show movies in class as fillers (I will however, prepare power-point lessons for special occasions like "Black History Month,  Christmas, etc.).
Now, this has made me less popular among the students than the other foreign teachers, but i have earned the respect of the "real" English teachers and my supervisors.  I gladly help students who ask for extra help especially if they have a competition or a test coming up (and they don’t ask me the night before!).
Anyway, I hope I have answered your question!

derek:

I suppose "Real English Teachers" don't use spell check.

12 years 19 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

Ooops! I ALWAYS forget!cheeky

12 years 19 weeks ago
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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
Posts: 280

Shifu

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I feel a bit proud , but for different reasons. Primarily because of my age. As a recent graduate, I have many friends back at home who can't find jobs and are living with their parents. I busted my butt the entire month of July and was able to secure a job in China while still in America. I packed up and came to China completely by myself and worked hard until I saved enough money to afford university here. Now I am studying Chinese 20 hours a week and teaching 22+ hours a week. My parents have not sent me a dime since I've been here and I budget so that I am able to save. Soon I will replace my old, broken laptop myself and begin to repay my college loans from the U.S. (If you don't think it's a big deal, ask other 22 year olds when the last time they bought something themselves was.) On top of that I handle blatant racism and discrimination practically daily and although I get down at times, I keep my head up and I haven't gone running back to mommy and daddy like I think many others my age would have. It's a huge lesson in independence for me and although there are many things about being here that I don't like, I do enjoy that aspect of it.

So, I guess none of that comes specifically from teaching but I do get a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment from my overall being in China.

bennyfulltrack:

Respect. World need to have more people like you.

12 years 19 weeks ago
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paulmartin:

Good on you very well put

12 years 19 weeks ago
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12 years 19 weeks ago

Before you judge someone walk a mile in their shoes, that way you're a mile away and you have their shoes!

 
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im proud to be an engl teacher because no matter what i do my job , i treat my students with respect and as fellow adults (for good and bad). i learned a lot about myself and the english language from my teaching here. i let my class know i a from NJ USA so my english as a native speaker will not always be correct. so i encourage them to challenge me and ask questions. and we have open and honest discussions about what is technically correct (they need to know for their exams) , incorrect but commonly accepted (mad=angry), and other nonsense with engl. I freely admit when i'm wrong which is quiet often Wink and they love me and respect me. and the most important part of the job is preparing the lesson in a way to make class fun and interesting. i've seen teachers have classes pulled right from under them because they tried to be too serious of a teacher. my only experience with university teaching was a student in the states so i try to model my teaching after some of the more interesting teachers i had along with my experiences as a student. when i know many students have a big exam coming up/ or practicing for the sports meeting or any bg activity  i dont   give them homework or tests and i try to change up the lessons to help them with what they're studying. we are all people so i lay down the law and enforce the law w/ some understanding (bro wedding is an excused abence) and have fun

mrpopular:

You dont use spell check either do you ? you start with im all i shoud be I what is engl God bless your students........because from your letter and grammer they are not going to learn much.

12 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

mr popular i'm sorry i dont type as perfect as you. if you are stupid enough to believe that this post is symbolic of the way i speak engl in general or the brand of engl i teach then you need to remove the stick or johnson from your ass. any idiot knows informal engl versus formal engl. bar room engl vs professional engl. where are you from i have a theory about assholes like you that go on net forums to critic people's typing skills

12 years 19 weeks ago
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Ennius21:

I think that if you want to be taken seriously as an English teacher, you should at least make SOME effort to make sure that your posts are written in proper English, with good spelling and grammar.

12 years 19 weeks ago
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crimochina:

i only care about being taken seriously in the classroom. this is an internet forum. how is it people cant answer the question? where are you from? i was born and raised in a america my engl is natural i dont need to be defensive about it at every turn

12 years 19 weeks ago
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GuilinRaf:

I'm with Crimo. This is an expat site, where we write to vent, etc. I am much more careful when writing in class and when working, but here, i just wanna relax. sometimes I use spell check, sometimes no. Here, I just don't care.

12 years 19 weeks ago
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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Yep. Proud of what I do, because not only do I teach English, but I also teach creative thinking, which most of my students have never encountered before. And logic. Another thing that is hard to come by in their other classrooms.

And yes, some look down upon the occupation because of the actions of others, but I'm quick to point out that I'm not "others," I'm me.

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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Wow, this is a good question for me. The thing is: I am proud to make an honest living in this country which I admire and love, but, as many other expats who works in kindergartens, I don’t really consider myself as a “real English teacher”. Now, I am more like some kind of mix between a babysitter and a exotic decoration, and for a person with a master degree and a lot of teaching experience… well, its not a shame but It doesn’t makes me proud neither. The day when I be a real teacher in this country, then I will be really, really proud and contented with myself.
Concerning your other question, I can’t offer you a better answer than the one of “GuilinRaf”.  

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12 years 17 weeks ago
 
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I don't teach English, but those who take it seriously should be proud of the job, it actually is an important one. 

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12 years 17 weeks ago
 
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Yes, I feel a sense of pride when I see my students learn and grow.
It's a fulfilling feeling to know teaching has a positive effect (even if it's a miniscule one) on people in the world.
It gives others the opportunity to further themselves so that someday they can do the same for the next generation!

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8 years 2 weeks ago
 
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Yeah I am proud of my job!

 

I never realized teaching was my passion until I started teaching in China. Love my job, love my life. Also I make decent money teaching English, I could make more in England but I'd be working more hours and it costs a lot more to live there too.

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8 years 2 weeks ago
 
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Love my job, would do it for free if I had a million dollars. 

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8 years 5 days ago
 
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