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SeekerOfPeace Posted 19 years ago
Teaching

Advices on teaching in China

0 I was browsing the internet, looking for a way to improve my teaching.02br
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00 I came across this website:02br
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00 I agreed with most of the information I found there. There's a few things which I did disagree with however.02br
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00 Look at this excerpt:02br
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01b102. Behave appropriately.12b10 When Judith Johnson asked 250 students at the Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages in China what they liked and disliked about native speaker English teachers, the students’ main gripe was the informality of foreign teachers, who often seem to undermine their own authority by acting in undignified ways. In the U.S. teachers go on a first-name basis with students, sit on their desks, sip coffee, and even bounce off the walls without causing student discomfort or losing prestige. But these behaviors don’t export well.12blockquote
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00 I don't know about that. Actually I'm not sure as to how I'm supposed to interpret it. I'm teaching in China and my students are about 18-20 years old. I've always had really good references from my previous work.02br
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00 I really don't consider myself as conventional though. I use plenty of drawings (cartoonesque) and do a lot of acting in my classes. The students laugh and are interested in the class. I've had really good comments about my previous teaching from the students. They said I had a very unique way of teaching which they really appreciated.02br
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00 I'm not sure what the writers mean by 01b00"undignified" 02b00way. I must admit I do sometimes sit on the corner of a desk. Is it really that bad? 02br
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00 Do you think sitting on the corner of a desk is really frowned upon in Chinese society.02br
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00 "If you describe someone's actions as undignified, you mean they are foolish or embarrassing."02br
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00 As I'm teaching in Sichuan (where this survey was conducted) I'm kind of worried I might have done something considered undignified.02br
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00 I make jokes a lot, about almost everything. The students find that funny and they buy me presents and want me to be their friends.02br
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00 Here's the problem. I don't feel like behaving in a very formal way would really have some good results. I think that would end up being really boring like the other Chinese teachers classes. I want my classes to be interesting.02br
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00 I think it's true that joking around does undermine my authority somewhat. I think what I would like to aim for is for my classes to be interesting without being formal. 02br
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00 I'm also wearing jeans a lot. I find that many teachers do the same thing however. I'm always well shaved however.02br
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00 I'm a really new teacher, I've been teaching young children for about 6 months and I've been working in this college for about 6 months total.02br
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00 What is your opinion on the subject?0230hrefhttp://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/esl/articles/toptentipsforeflteachers.shtmlcTen Tips for Teaching English Abroad
  

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3 Answers
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0Hi SOP, 02br
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00Find your own way don't depend on the others and why do you ask this questions to us while you meet with the answers every day?I mean ask whether you are silly or funny to your students with a joke without being so direct.0-
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0 But you see the thing is, I don't think I have all the answers. I follow my judgment most of the time, but I also think I have a lot to learn. What kind of teacher would I be if I thought I already had all the answers and couldn't learn anything from anyone?02br
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00I strive to find my own way but I'm also willing to change my approach if necessary. 02br
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0Yes they are so sensitive but don't worry.My suggestion that find your own way doesn't mean that don't try to find new solutions. 02br
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01i00I don't think I will ask them whether or not I am. I do get the answer from their reactions every day02i00. Huhuuuuuuu!So you say actions speak louder than words, eh?At any rate, if that was valid for every time

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