englishgibson
- 2010-06-08
Evaluations of teachers may be helpful as well as obstructive and destructive for all parties involved. It depends on how they are used and/or what they consist of. This practise is fairly new to mainland and locals often do not know what or how to ask and then what to do with the results. Then, I doubt Chinese unis use the same evaluation process for their local teaching staff as for their foreing one, but forgive me if I am wrong. Further more, teachers evaluations when students get their chances to answer some questions on their teachers, usually get that feeling that they've got some "powers". So, knowing this, both, the teachers and students approach their jobs in less academic way. My observation is that many evaluations of foreign teachers on mainland are poorly done and quite inefficient as the local employers and their management staff aren't up to the task. I don't believe other unis around ask for such documents, although there's a regulation for letters of Recommendation. Evaluations, if they are positive, could protect a ft in a long run then.
Cheers and beers
It seems overall, it was a 95.3, or 95 point something. Regardless, the score seems really good. But when I said that to the lady at the FAO she replied "If you think so" in kind of a patronizing kind of way. So I said: 1. "How many points is this out of?" "100" was the response. 2. I also asked, "What is a good score in a typical Chinese UNI". The response was "students try to get over 90." Now to my knowledge, based off of experience talking to students, many are happy with over an 80. Just like in the states. So this seems like a great score to me! But she just could not bring herself to say it was a good score, it seems.
I was middle of the road out of all the teachers. 4 or 5 out of 10 (or maybe it was 11). We've discussed our scores and students generally like all the teachers (minus one) and I must admit, I am in good company here. All the teachers are skilled and work hard. We have a teacher with a phd, a teacher who graduated with an English teaching degree and a BBC reporter, among others. So I am happy to place somewhere in the middle of the pack with a mid 90s score with the teachers we have.
But what does it mean in the long run? Is this a good sign for the future? Will it impress other schools?
Is a 95 good id at your UNI?