Living and teaching in China

Here is an interesting site. Lots of expats working in China.

http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/our-china-efl-adventure-part-1.htm

Blog from China

Hi

One of our Tefl Lab trainees has blogged his experience of living and working in China. It is a very insightful and well-written blog and will give any prospective trainee, thinking of working in China, an interesting perspective on life there.

http://willphilipps.wordpress.com/

Field Guide to working and living in China

One of our Tefl Lab trainees' has written a short piece on life in China.

Taiyuan, Shanxi province, is a Chinese city like any other. Ancient, yet utterly and essentially modern. The modern entity is the product of a coal boom, and thus although there are some much-touted yet initially unapparent ancient dimensions, the place is in the main a glorified farming settlement. There are the rich coal baron types, for whom shopping malls have sprung up filled with imported luxury goods. Then there is the rest of the population, for whom such goods start at around a month's wages. There is little in the way of what might be described as a middle class, although it is growing, tending to congregate in pricey but tasteful cafes. Though some of the international fast food chains, namely McDonald's and KFC, have multiplied in the last few years, there is still no H&M or similar outside of the bigger population centres like Beijing. However, for the shopping-minded there are arcades filled with Chinese clothing boutiques and electronics (usually very reasonable, but the electronics may not be durable, and many of the clothes are pretty wacky. Cotton and leather shirt anyone?).

It may read as if I dislike the place, but after living here for the best part of a year it's grown on me. And I have received help along the way. As with most ESL teachers here, I received help with accommodation, a bank account and practically anything else I could want. Buses are around 10p at the time of writing, although taxis or bikes are perfectly viable. Overall China is more foreign-friendly than, so I've been told, parts of South America. Despite this, there is a slight tendency among a number of the fairly tiny expat community to get 'China rage,' which might be explained by culture shock if it weren't most apparent among people who have been here longer. I have no idea if this is common in other provincial cities, but there are some understandable sparks such as public spitting, defecation (nappies aren't really used here) and sometimes obnoxious behaviour from people who aren't used to a foreign face.

There are some advantages to living outside the large international cities. One is forced to pick up some Chinese fairly rapidly, and the lack of decent nightlife means at least it can be easier to save. Not that there aren't ways to abuse one's wallet. Around Taiyuan there are reservoirs, ski slopes, an enormous seated Buddha on a mountain and a famous ancient town called Pingyao; all of which are viable day trips. Getting further away is not too much trouble by train, bus, or plane – the amazing tourist destinations of China are quite accessible. In the city there are ice rinks, karaoke TV places, bowling places, pool places, massage parlours and more. Parks are something of a highlight – though my local park may be an extreme example with a gaudy in-built funfair, a video game arcade, motor and pedal boats, a small museum and even an aquarium – it still has the staples of public aerobics, elderly people kicking trees repeatedly, practicing tai chi, playing cards, playing instruments, singing songs, playing 'jianzi' (a sort of hackey-sack with feathers), flying kites or simply walking and sipping hot water. As a second-tier city, Taiyuan has its fair share of temples for those who enjoy calligraphy and other old stuff (there are churches and a mosque too). And as eating out on an ESL teacher's salary is affordable, like me many who work here have some of the best and worst gastronomic experiences of their lives. Much of this applies to any Chinese city of this size it seems; the main differences being climactic, linguistic and culinary.

Not that teachers have all that much time off to do these things. The private language schools such as the one I work for will offer around 10 days leave per year plus public holidays, which adds another 2 or 3 weeks. Universities allow more, though the pay is often lower. But, whereas university teachers work in the week, private classes are mostly during weekends and evenings, which means days off are during the week. Another difference is the students. The majority of students in private language schools are between 3 and 10 years old, with some teenagers and a smattering of adults. This seems to be broadly the case across East Asia. In a place like Taiyuan, the average ability is fairly low – though demand is high many parents don't have an excellent grasp of the language. Depending on whether one likes kids, or playing active language games that change every five minutes, this can be a positive or negative aspect. Aside from regular classes, there are marketing activities, Halloween and Christmas parties and more that teachers are expected to participate in. This past year I have also had public school classes (imagine being locked in a small room with 40 odd kids) and corporate language classes (think a similar number of office workers) put into my schedule, both a result of contracts made with the school. The school itself is equipped with electronic white-boards, as are many today, and all the other office equipment one might expect plus more. I have had little training or observation, though this can vary.

Here I have tried to give an honest impression of China as I have experienced it. Some of the better aspects include the general safety of the streets, relative freedom as a consumer, beautiful countryside, and the possibilities for Chinese acquisition (there are plenty of books and courses), whilst the worse aspects include the lack of safety standards in, say, electrical wiring, a government that makes using the Internet fully a real hassle (without a VPN there are no blogs, no foreign social networking sites, no Youtube), and a broad lack of professionalism in many areas from plumbing to medicine. It is not a hard place to live in, and can be quite an experience for those who seek it whilst here.

Getting it Right in the Interview

It's such a pity, when you've worked so hard to get through the TESOL course, that you, so to speak, fall at the last hurdle, by under-performing in the interview with the Trinity Moderator.

Nerves often play a part, but they don't have to. If you start to get the jitters, shift in your seat, or move your hands while speaking, so as not to clam up.

The most important thing, though, is in the discussion of your materials to use as much of the metalanguage you've learned on the course. That seems to be key.

So, when practising, ask yourself, 'How can I show the moderator what I've learned in this answer?'

It will prove invaluable to do so.

Mike

Here we go again!

It's hard to believe that we've just said goodbye to a full course of teacher-trainees and now we're saying hello to a new bunch. But we are. Hello!

This course is going to be tough, but it's also going to be interesting, rewarding and life-changing.

Remember, read your assignment guides carefully, try to stay on top of the course work and if you 'hit the wall' come and talk to any of our tutors. That's what we're they're for, you'll never be rebuffed because we want you to finish this course proudly holding your certificate, with a worl of possibilities spread before you. Good luck!

Mike

Accommodation Solutions Summer 2011

FANTASTIC ROOMS AVAILABLE !

Available short term rooms to rent in beautiful university residences throughout the summer.

We have rooms available in the following two residences Liberty Fields (zone 2 nearest tube oval) and Liberty Court (zone 1 nearest tube Barbican)

You can choose stays from one week up to 8 weeks depending on availability in the months of July and August.

Prices start at £17.5 per person per night.

Contact evaldo dutra evaldo@englishstudio.com

Accent

I recently corrected a fascinating extended essay from a TEFL Lab online trainee who, in the course of outlining the different sound systems of Hebbrew and English pointed out that certain phonemes exist in different dialects of English and not in others.
It set me thinking about how fascinating the whole area of accent is. For example, while aware of the fact that I'm laying myself wide open to charges of pretentiousness and inauthenticity, I would freely admit that I have modified my accent for the purposes of teaching.
Why? Well, it's certainly not born of any desire to 'Come over all posh, like.' I think there are two reasons: the need to provide a clear model for my students and the fact that the accent of my home city is one of the language's ugliest accents.

'They grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw.'

Milton - Lycidas.

If you want a full flavour of just how vile the Limerick accent is, google The Rubberbandits and you'll see what I mean...

I am, however, a proud son of the Treaty City, just hate the accent..
The funny thing is that this weekend I'll be home for my dad's 70th birthday and boy, will I 'Limerick up' for that one! I will be posting more on this subject in the coming weeks and would welcome your thoughts....
Mike