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Post by burlives on Mar 22, 2005 21:47:30 GMT 7
They haven't told me I'm boring yet. Mostly they're playing along. But this is only my third week of post-course teaching, and I'm only on light duties -- listening and extensive reading.
I'm certain I will become bored and lose my enthusiasm, but right now I'm trying to plot ways to get out of this dump and into a decent basic teaching job, somewhere I can try out all that stuff.
While here I will nonetheless try my best. Tomorrow's lesson will include the phrase "any examples of the past perfect."
The sky is the limit.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Mar 22, 2005 22:32:14 GMT 7
Oh crap.
I am sort of confused, but i think i see the point.
There is no point trying to really teach them anything since they don't want to learn.
They don't listen, and when they do listen, they only want the answers and not the substance. No understanding is desired nor required. Just the certificate.
Only chinese teachers are actually allowed to do anything constructive and they incapable of doing so.
It is the culture, and nothing can change that either.
There is no point having any qualifications since they are completely disregarded, and even if they are regarded and they are dismissed as either irrelevant or as actually negative.
Neither the school, the students, nor the adminstration allow any changes.
Job satisfaction seems about nil.
Hmm. that last cannot be right, you guys like what you do.
Guys? This sounds more than a little negative. Thank Damo that i know there is a positive side from previous posts, so i know that you don't completely mean it, although i have seen posts that indicate previous burns.
So, guys? Help me a little here?
Maybe we can use a little of that irrepressible spirit that is inherent in the Wu Kong that is resides in all of us.? (added this after seeing monkey king's motto)
Maybe a new thread, why i do this stuff? positive side only. surely the positive outways the negative or you would go home and stay home.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Mar 23, 2005 0:12:29 GMT 7
Thanks, Mr. N. Got the recipes. Now to see if I can get wormwood in China. I love the paintings of the French Impressionists. Might be interesting to see the world as they did, oui?
Burl, New Interchange definitely has a beginner level course. The original books are in 3 levels, but the first set is too stiff for beginners so they created the set at true beginner level.
Gerge, NI is not bad for grammar. Oddly, I also think the dread Side By Side is not bad for grammar. Unfortunately that's about all SBS is good at. And let go of the "too stiff for beginners" phrase. I was talking about something else, pervert.
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Post by George61 on Mar 23, 2005 4:16:57 GMT 7
You talkin to me?? In my experience, it needs to be stiff for "beginners". To Nobody in particular, (hmm, I like that) teaching the little darlins is really good fun.....especially the little darlins. When you finally get one of them to remember something you taught, a delicious shiver runs up your spine...at least I think that's why. Mostly "generalisation" is a sweeping reason for the negativity. There are rays of sunshine out there, and that's why we love it. Me, anyway.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Mar 23, 2005 8:05:20 GMT 7
Mostly "generalisation" is a sweeping reason for the negativity. There are rays of sunshine out there, and that's why we love it. Me, anyway. Yeah, i know, but after writing the summary i depressed meself. I wanted cheering up.
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Post by MK on Mar 23, 2005 9:17:45 GMT 7
I didn't mean to be so negative, I actually have a great time teaching here and the students can be wonderful...I get a lot more respect as an educator than I really deserve, it's just that my ideas and theirs about education are often very different. I resolve to post some 'Chicken soup for the China-foreign-teachers soul' type stories too in future...
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Post by con's fly is open on Mar 23, 2005 11:54:02 GMT 7
No worries, dude. Where can you bitch, if not here?
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Post by burlives on Mar 23, 2005 12:03:54 GMT 7
I think the thing about FTing in China is you are instantly your own boss. You have constantly to deal with people who want your movement and opportunities restricted, but basically you get to do a lot of stuff for yourself. In that way it's a land of opportunity.
Fun stuff.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Mar 23, 2005 12:49:03 GMT 7
I was teaching the "Unspeakables" today - different topics in different cultures that are taboo. I found it fascinating how for a collective society there is so little real interaction between the students. One student told me that despite being with this particular group for 2 years, living with them cheek to jowl, that he would not know if other class members had divorced parents, major debt or a number of other things.
When their interactions with each other are this limited, I no longer find it strange that they hold their peace in class about anything real.
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Post by con's fly is open on Mar 23, 2005 14:00:17 GMT 7
Okay, I'm far enough into this online course that I can say: - the material is appropriate to teaching; - the price is right- $250 US; - they got me started promptly; - the tutor knows what he's doing (as it pertains to TEFL course material- perhaps even actual teaching, for that matter). - there's some kind of sanctioning body that blessed the outfit. Has a bunch of initials, so it must be legit. Plus I did a bit of research and it was mentioned in several places as a reliable stamp of mediocrity. So, to sum up: cheap, convenient, material that applies, not completely lame package. I think that this would be a stupid way to train, unless you could find a way to watch some real classes, but if you just need a cheap, quick piece of paper like I do, this does just fine. teflcorp.comI'll update as the course goes on. 30% done at the mo.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Mar 24, 2005 17:19:24 GMT 7
Hey, it looks like i scammed the Uni into letting me sit in on a ESL class or two later in the year. If i am a good boy, maybe they will let me have a go . . . . (hope their insurance is paid up.)
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