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Q: So I finally accepted a job, and... uh, am I just a white clown? What rules do you have?
Finally got my visa situation under wraps. Thanks to everyone for their help earlier!
The school has 50 students per class, strict curriculum, and no extra work. I just show up to class and read from a book. I can't help but feel this won't help them. I really want to help in any way I can, so I've taken all the advice you guys and gals have offered in the other thread. I'm going to have them shitting down, etc.
Yeah, I know, I've heard about the dreaded white monkey/clown, but I thought that was limited to kindergartens! Am I just a white monkey? Am I deluded in thinking I can actually develop a lesson plan to help all students?
I'm supposed to follow the lesson plan, unless I can get something else approved. While I haven't seen the curriculum, the fact that there are no other foreign teachers (apparently, they all quit over the class sizes) kinda worries me. Oh well, Hulks can't be choosers.
For those of you who have set the rules clearly in each class on the first day, what rules should I add? I'm thinking "You can cheat if you want, but cheaters never prosper and you'll only suffer for your choice later in life when you're working at KFC and can't understand that the foreigner in front of you only wants a bucket of chicken and nothing else. Run-on sentence."
13 years 31 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
I'm not going to sugar coat it for you, even though you seem like a nice guy. There is a reason all the other teachers left, and that reason is because the job sucks. The school sucks. They know you are working illegally, and they will use that against you every chance they get. They will abuse you and cheat you.
So let's try to improve your situation. Use this job as a fill in until you can secretly find something better. Bite your tongue, and give them what they want, knowing you will have the satisfaction of walking out eventually.
The reading I provided previously outlines exactly what the Chinese believe is the only way to teach English. It is also what the students expect. There is little point trying to change their expectations, or impose new ideas on them in this type of environment. This is the link to it:
chinadailymail.com/2005/12/31/basic-english-language-education-in-china-an-overview-by-hu-guangwei/
Start at page 16. The Chinese focus primarily on grammar and vocabulary. The four macro skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) seem to be secondary. That doesn't mean, however, that you should ignore the macro skills altogether.
Find out what their Chinese teacher has taught them in the way of grammar and vocabulary. Reinforce this on the board. Do some group speaking practice of practical uses of the new vocabulary and grammar. Try to do a few one on one conversations with different students.
One on one in classes this big is almost impossible. If you have 50 in a class, and 20 different classes, that's 1,000 names you need to remember. It's not very likely that you will remember them. Use class lists to keep track of which students you have done one on one with.
Make it appear that you can hear each and every one of them individually. With a little experience, this is actually possible to a certain extent. Show some concern about improving pronunciation. Do pronunciation drills.
In reality, there is probably very little you can teach them with classes like this. But TIC. It is all about appearances. Keep them happy until you can find another job.
And learn a few things from the reading, so that you can sound knowledgeable about Chinese methods at future job interviews.
Hulk:
Never sugarcoat anything. I hate that! Actually, I got the visa situation handled by the school. They flat out told me that "foreigners hate large classes."
I'm not here in the long term. I need something to hold me over until I finish the wife's CR-1 visa, and I'm getting the hell out of here. That doesn't, however, mean that I want to half-ass the job.
Hulk:
I'm reading this article now. I guess I can just show up in class, play a movie and sleep through it. They want appearances? They want to be happy? Well, screw it all: I'm going to play F.R.I.E.N.D.S. in every class, and farm gold in WoW while they're busy watching.
Scandinavian:
why Homeland or something more educational ? (or at least a current series so you can watch yourself, it is most certainly possible to farm gold while The Big Bang Theory is on)
Hulk:
Sounds great. And you were dead on... 1000 students. Are you sure you haven't worked there before? Lol.
use it as a stepping stone. try out lesson plans. see what works and doesn't work.
Hulk:
That's actually a very good idea. Just in case i get stuck here longer than i intended. Thanks, crimo. I hadn't considered that.
check out this website for english corners and activities and written lesson plans if you need them Apples4theteacher.com
good luck
