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Post by Lotus Eater on Jul 7, 2005 11:00:31 GMT 7
The first class is the easiest - they truly do want to get to know you! I also asked them to introduce each other to me, so they got to do some pair work in English as well. Be prepared for them to clap as you walk through the door. Gave me hysterics the first time it happened! But the first class is q & a - gives you a chance to assess their English level - very mixed even for English majors at university. Gives them a chance to build relationships with you - China is built on relationships - don't ignore it!! The class monitor will have the list of names - ask him/her to put it into pinyin for you. I don't use English names (Philosophical plus practical objections - although I have more older Chinese friends now calling me by my Chinese name - but I figure I am in their country, so it's reasonable). I find it difficult to talk seriously with someone called Charming Ice, Ripper, Sandpiper, Kobesniper. Sometimes they have a seating plan, but they occasionally change this depending on current status of relationships. Take some pictures of your home town and explain a little what it is like to live there. Ask them about their favourite restaurants etc where you are - they know cheap and good!! I do lay down some rules in the first lesson: - NO mobiles, MP3 players in class. You could add no sleeping as well!
- They are all over 18 (check!) so they are adults and responsible for their own education - not me.
- If I speak too fast they have to PROMISE to ask me to slow down - pick one or 2 of them to practise it!
- If I confuse them they MUST ask for clarification - again practice helps
- Losing face in my class comes from not trying, not from making mistakes.
- There are no wrong answers - just more opportunities to learn and everyone in the class will thank them for the question or chance to learn.
All of these have to be reinforced regularly. But enjoy - they are generally fun to work with.
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Post by acjade on Jul 7, 2005 12:01:30 GMT 7
MIllana. * the students are going to be more nervous than you. * Chinese people value relationships. On your first date let them get to know you and let them know you're interested in getting to know them. * Clear the room of the desks and make a circle with the seats. You stand in the middle. * play some music and pass around an object. Stop the music. The student who is left with the object gets to ask you a question. * Until the shyness wears off be prepared for formal questions and the questions that have multiplied like a virus throughout the Middle Kingdom... How long have you been in China and do you like Chinese food? * Thank the student for his/her question. Don't answer it. Instead write the question on the blackboard. * Restart the music and continue. When you have about ten questions stop the game. * Read out the first question. Ask the students to repeat it. Ask ' who asked me this question?' The person will stand up... that's just something they seem to do. Give the student a big smile and say ' What's your name?' 'My chinese name is Xiao bin. My English name is Peter.' 'Thankyou for your question, Peter. Do you mind if I ask you a question? Ask them the exact question they asked you. This gives you the chance to introduce painless corrections in grammar and pronunciation without focusing on it too much at this stage. Remember you're gaining the students interest, trust and by turning the question around gives them a little shock which is always good for waking up the sleepy ones who think this class might be as boring as the last ten years of English study. * Finally after the last student has answered their question return to the first question and answer it. Simply. But add a little colour and embellishment to maintain tempo and pace. Now an ear splitting electronic bell will ring to signify the first lesson is over. ( The classes are 50' each. There's a 10' break.) Drink your water or lu cha and have a giggie. A second earplitting electronic bell will ring to announce the commencement of the second half of the class. *Write your name on the Blackboard and under it write your Chinese name. In pinyan. Ask a student to write the Chinese Characters. Your name is now written three times. Say your name clearly and ask the students to repeat. * Take out your class book and ask the students to write their names just as you have done. 3x * Whilst the book is being passed around the class ask the monitor to hand out photocopied agreements. I agree to make mistakes. I agree to leave my 'face' outside the English classroom. I agree to keep my notes in an organised manner. I agree to turn off my mobile in class. I agree to eat my breakfast before class. I agree to be proactive in class. Eg. Ask for clarification/ help when needed. I agree to find an English buddy/ buddies in my class so I can practise oral English outside the classroom. I agree to participate in class to the best of my ability. * Read out the first agreement. Students repeat. Move onto the second agreement. Students sign the agreement form and paste ( with the handy teacher provided glue sticks) into the Oral English books. Before the class concludes play a CD. At the conclusion of the song ask students about their favourite songs and music. It will be either something sappy or hip hoppy. But this isn't about musical appreciation. It's about pronunciation. For five minutes near the conclusion of just about every class in the semester the students will learn and sing a song. Now what the heck will you do for the second time you teach the class. We...ell. That depends. I'll get back to you on that one.
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 7, 2005 12:51:43 GMT 7
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Post by acjade on Jul 7, 2005 13:03:17 GMT 7
Bu ke qi. WE love you too.
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Post by George61 on Jul 7, 2005 13:54:21 GMT 7
Hey, AJ...We like the way she writes,OK? We like some things she says, OK? We like her presence on the Forum, OK? We have not met the woman, OK? She is not even in China, OK? We do not LOVE her, OK? well, maybe not yet, OK? Bloody wimmen!
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Post by acjade on Jul 7, 2005 14:00:06 GMT 7
Hey, AJ...We like the way she writes,OK? We like some things she says, OK? We like her presence on the Forum, OK? We have not met the woman, OK? She is not even in China, OK? We do not LOVE her, OK? well, maybe not yet, OK? Bloody wimmen! Spoken like a man. I'm a woman. I loved my kids before I met them. Millana has been in the embryonic phase so to speak. Besides... ever heard of guanxi prune face?
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 7, 2005 14:10:21 GMT 7
OUCH LMAO, prune face? NASTY
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Post by Lotus Eater on Jul 7, 2005 14:12:26 GMT 7
Until the shyness wears off be prepared for formal questions and the questions that have multiplied like a virus throughout the Middle Kingdom... How long have you been in China and do you like Chinese food? Now an ear splitting electronic bell will ring to signify the first lesson is over. ( The classes are 50' each. There's a 10' break.) Drink your water or lu cha and have a giggie. A second earplitting electronic bell will ring to announce the commencement of the second half of the class. I agree to eat my breakfast before class. Before the class concludes play a CD. Depends on what you mean by 'formal' - my first class one student asked me to tell them about my love life. They want to know about children, families, student life in wherever you are from. My classes are 2x45 minutes with a 10 minute break. Not all places have ear splitting bells. Some universities will have music at the end of the morning session (ie lunch time), and at the end of the day. Current university has no signal to help you end class, let alone for the breaks. One time I was so involved in the class (and so were the students!!) we went 20 minutes into lunch time before anyone noticed!! Other times we have gone straight through the 10 minute break without noticing. If it is a class ending at lunch time or last class of the day, I offer to skip the break and finish early so they can get to the canteens first. Usually gets a yes vote - problem then is I have to be more vigilant about the time or they end up working longer! I don't always get time to eat breakfast, so when the students offer me a nibble of what they have, I gratefully accept! Have tasted interesting food that way Stuff that looks weird in the canteen), and sometimes they will bring along stuff that they think I might like! You may have to bring your own CD player for playing music - if you can, check out the classroom first to see what facilities there are. Many will not have anything more than a blackboard and some really dodgy chalk. If you want to make serious money in China bring a massive supply of decent chalk and sell it to FTs.! These are nice people - be nice to them and all will be well!! Sadly I have to be with George on this one. Prune faced I must be. I get really irritated when other FTs tell me how much they LOVE the students - after the first day. Yes the students are nice, yes they are polite, yes they are eager, and eager to please. BUT ... without knowing their names and personalities I think it sounds incredibly saccharine to say "I LOVE them". So without meeting people and getting to know them a little - I don't say - love! (maybe it's lust instead?)
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Post by George61 on Jul 7, 2005 14:22:09 GMT 7
PRUNE FACE?? It's a bloody LIE!!
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 7, 2005 14:26:15 GMT 7
That was m'kaying creepy, hey George I'm naked, ROFL
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 7, 2005 14:27:14 GMT 7
I seriously can't even bring the screen back up.
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Jul 7, 2005 15:10:38 GMT 7
Hey Lotus when I say I love you guys, it was a figure of speech, not meant to be taken literally. It was basically saying thanks for all the help. And I would never think of going there to be anything but nice to them.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Jul 7, 2005 22:18:11 GMT 7
No hassles Millana - but I have heard FTs say exactly these words on their very first day of teaching. " I LOVE all of these studetns (there were 150). They have gone straight to my heart" - I was close to ill!! The students are people with the same mix of good and bad as everyone else in the world, and so given that I am not enarmoured with every one in the world, there are students that I know I will meet that I will not be friends with, and that I will certainly never love!! Doesn't mean to say that I won't still teach to my best ability for them, but that I know that there are equally awful students/people in China as there are in Oz. Blanket loving is not in my lexicon. I'm not certain I felt love for my off-spring prior to their birth - excitement, protectiveness, joy in my creational prowess, apprehension etc etc. But when the little body was handed to me - ahh then love hit like a bomb! Telling us that you love us is different - we are all lovable (even George when he is in a coma on the bar floor!).
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Jul 8, 2005 7:41:52 GMT 7
ESPECIALLY George, when his razor sharp wit is in action.
I had a dog - a boxer. He was so ugly he was absolutely cute. And I couldn't help but love him once I got to know his personalily. Same thing applies to our dearly beloved prune face, I think. There's a resemblance there, somehow. Apologies to Dingo, may he rest in peace.
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Post by George61 on Jul 8, 2005 8:14:01 GMT 7
I bear no resemblance to a dingo!...Funny, in China people call me a wolf!....colour wolf, they all say.....can't think why!!
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Post by Lotus Eater on Jul 8, 2005 13:05:28 GMT 7
Yan se lan? Not lao se lan? I would have gone for the latter.
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Post by Hamish on Jul 8, 2005 14:22:15 GMT 7
Millana,
This post is difficult to write, as I am not accustomed to mincing my words and trying to be gentle. I am opening up here and telling you what I honestly believe to be true. My thinking is based upon many years as a classroom teacher, and a mere three years as a college teacher here in China at a VERY hospitable location.
I have come to think that it will be a great mistake for you to come to China.
I don’t know what your educational background is, but you have told me that you have no experience as a teacher. That would not be a problem except that you have also made clear that you don’t like being the center of attention or to be placed at the focus of attention.
In China you will continuously be at the focus of many people’s gaze. Every word and action will be closely observed by at least several people around you. You will never be able to communicate with most of them, and a sizable portion of them are not going to like you because of what you are - a foreigner.
The chance is very high that you will be told very shortly before you go to class what you are doing and with what and expected to hit the floor running never missing a beat. Students will be very interested in you for a few days, and then will be very critical (unfairly so very often) of what they think you are doing (or not doing). Your Chinese supervisors are going to drop you like a hot ember very quickly, after the welcoming dinner, and expect you to sink or swim, not caring much about the choice you make.
I think, based on what I have seen you write and heard you say, that this will be a terrible experience for you and feel I must warn you as your friend. I hope others will tell you what they think. Perhaps I am the only person who feels as I do.
I would start by getting some teaching experience there in Canada and see if you enjoy that part at least.
Best of luck whatever your decision may be.
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Post by Arlis on Jul 8, 2005 16:01:41 GMT 7
I've seen an ex-teacher and friend leave China for good due to the very same reason that Hamish gave. I've also heard that same sentiment being echoed through ex-pat locations (bars/western restaurants) and of course various boards. It's something to certainly keep in mind. It's certainly crossed my mind a few many times. PS. Bah! With over 700+ posts Millana will be just fine!!! She's going to be a celebrity here! Cheers and have a safe flight here!
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Post by acjade on Jul 8, 2005 16:19:36 GMT 7
Hamish I hope this is as difficult for you to read as it was for you to write your post to Millana.
We women are gentically encoded to share our feelings with our friends. This includes our fears. As well as our hopes and dreams. We share.
Someone once remarked that women are like handbags. We pull everything out and examine every lipstick, lost key and squashed toffee before we locate what we need. This is what Millana is doing and in the process she is gaining the support of her friends. How like a man to jump on her like that and invalidate her feelings.
If you sent me a post of such a nature I'd be humiliated. Now McKay off and post on all those esoteric subjects at whhich you're so brilliant and which I enjoy reading immensely.
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Post by Hamish on Jul 8, 2005 16:29:56 GMT 7
So much for trying to help.
Are you?
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Post by acjade on Jul 8, 2005 16:37:32 GMT 7
Help whom?
If you mean you then I suggest you read one of the many publications around which deal with the intrinsic differences between men and women.
Millana doesn't need my help or anything else. She wants my non-judgmental support. And that's what she's getting. You're getting my indignant wrath in regard to your invalidating suggestions in your post to Millana and my esteem for your many left-brained discussions on many interesting topics.
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Post by Arlis on Jul 8, 2005 16:39:58 GMT 7
Women do share. Indeed they do. So why not share priveledge on the Ladies Lounge! Please! Just a peek!
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Jul 8, 2005 16:41:43 GMT 7
How like a man to jump on her like that and invalidate her feelings. Academic Jade: I am not defending Hamish in any way. However, I am insulted by your reference to men in general and take a great offense at such. While I understand the differences often found between the sexes, It is statements like the above that tend to make the gap wider and harder to bridge. Welcome to the show Millana. Just relax and be yourself. Nobody really knows how they will enjoy (or not) something until they try it. If you don't give it a go you will never know for sure...
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Post by acjade on Jul 8, 2005 16:51:59 GMT 7
Yes. An unpardonable generalisation. I retract the phrase like a man. And extend an apology to all members of the appendaged gifted.
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Post by Hamish on Jul 8, 2005 16:53:52 GMT 7
You're getting my indignant wrath in regard to your invalidating suggestions "invalidating suggestions?' Show me. I have seen two foreign teachers, as it happens both women though I don't consider that material, go home shattered in the middle of the year because they could not cope with the reality of China. I have concluded from what I have heard and read from Millana that there is a high probability that she will have the same devastating experience. Do you think it would be kindness on my part to conceal my opinion?
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