Veloce
- 2014-09-10
It makes my blood boil to see attitudes like CT's where he claims he wants to do the minimum possible and skate through to his free time
Hahaha! I think there are times when all of us, upon xia-ke (know no hyphen just want to show one of the few Mandarin words I know are inextricably involved) want to repair to the peace of our flats with some alacrity. But the skating may not be concerned teacher's wonted way- he's probably angry at the moment.
Yes, us pretend teachers (including improper ones, haha!) have to be the majority of FT's in China. I'm afraid qualified teachers like yourself would only meet a fraction of China's need. Personally if I do get a Miss Clever-Clogs student asking me a difficult question, I usually say I have that earmarked for another lesson, or something like- gives me chance to research. Though most FT's can teach rudimentary grammar.
Thanks for the offer, but have that Mr Bean episode. The one where he's compromised after leaving the pool. Doing a great job-keep it up.
EX_EFDL Teacher / Londongirl.
- 2014-09-10
Now, you, me, concerned teacher and a few others, don't really know our stuff but I don't believe we have to
If you are purely teaching conversational English, such as ordering food or booking hotel rooms, then I agree completely with this. The trouble only comes when naturally curious students ask why something is said the way it is and you cannot give an answer. Or worse you tell them the wrong thing and they apply that to their speech and it can be very hard to undo. I came across that quite often with students in China. I'm also not sure if I'd class purely conversation as teaching, more like a language exchange.
I believe if you are teaching you have a duty to your students, and as a matter of pride for yourself, to do it to the best of your ability. You're not doing bar work, what you do has real impact in the lives of your students and you owe it to them to give them your best.
It makes my blood boil to see attitudes like CT's where he claims he wants to do the minimum possible and skate through to his free time.
As for the Mr Bean lessons, I have a wonderful one centred on Mr Bean Goes Swimming, for use with either 'going to' for prediction, or the 2nd conditional. If you would like it, email me at beth.livermore at yahoo.co.uk and next time I'm in the office I'll be happy to mail it to you (can't do it on my smartphone and no internet in my new apartment yet!) 
Veloce
- 2014-09-10
I agree with a lot of what you wrote. You raise some good points. The problem with CELTA/DELTA is that it is a "one-size fits all" approach, and it's true that if one holds a CELTA certification it is by no means a sign of professionalism.This whole thread is interesting, but maybe should be moved to the discussion forum in future, as the original topic here is EF.
Cheers,
SB
Many of us FT's would barely know a CELTA or DELTA if they got up and bit us; I don't! However, I don't believe we have to. But first of all I think we should give the devil his due (only an expression) and admit that LondonGirl is one of the few highly qualified teachers to have visited this site. She actually knows her stuff; rather than merely claiming she does. She would line up (on this forum) with the likes of Cunninglinguist and Foxy from hothot.
Now, you, me, concerned teacher and a few others, don't really know our stuff but I don't believe we have to. At some stage in our lives we have all found ourselves with a degree, spare degree doing nothing (legally earned) for studies in the past, and have had a eureka moment "I could be a teacher in China! I could do that" We have packed up our Mr Bean lesson plans and scurried off. In the main as native born speakers we have done fabulous work teaching oral English. Lets face it not many proper teachers actually want to throw away pension opportunities and all the benefits of teaching in the west and slum it in China. And that leaves vacancies for us pretend teachers, and thank god for that.
So okay for us 'acting teacher' to teach; as long as we watch our conduct towards the students.