I taught one of my new classes today. 500 new freshers started yesterday, having arrived late: the harvest has only just finished and they've been working with their families in the fields and factories. I was worried that they were going to be 'challenged' (I'm learning teachers' euphemisms), yet they were surprisingly good. I felt like quite the celebrity, having to do a photo call at the end. I caught one girl filming the class - her first English class, what an occasion - on her phone. I say 'caught', but it was no bad thing, as I set them off on an activity and proceeded to show hobbies flashcards into her camera - she can use it to revise later on.
Speaking of being watched, I had two observers in class yesterday - Lin, who works in the office, and a teacher I don't know from the Dean's office. Things went well: I had already taught that lesson plan twice that morning, the students were awake (which sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't), and I tweaked things so that there were fewer aimless games and more grammar.
I was a bit nerous afterwards as, when I left the room after the class, the students and two observers stayed behind, presumably so they could tell Lin and the teacher from the Dean's office about this maniac who jumps around at the front of the class twice a week, speaking in tongues and making them repeat 'zzzz' and 'tssss' and 'shhhhh'...
Bryan (Canadian) reminded me that they write a report (not good), you never see it (gets worse) it doesn't affect your pay (what's the point then?), they can't fire you (keep going) and you don't get any feedback, students' opinions or constructive advice (ah).
I got feedback. Sort of. At least I think it was feedback. This morning I came into the office and there was a tall Chinese gentleman standing in the middle of the room.
"You're... teaching.... style... is... excellent!" he said, apparently recognising me.
He looked like the observer from my class. Normally, I wear my glasses in class so I can see the kids at the back playing on their phones/ sleeping/ smoking. Yesterday, I didn't, finding some comfort in being short-sighted and therefore unable to see the two observers at the back of the room. The smokers got a free ride, but I felt more relaxed not being able to see the observers making notes, and got on with things as normal.
"Thank you," I replied, "Did you enjoy the class?"
A blank look.
"You, you were in my class yesterday." I tried again, switching to TEFL English.
Another blank look. Actually he looked as if an invisible butterfly had just landed on his nose, and he slightly strained to focus on its wings through his spectacles. Really, he looked entirely surprised to find himself in front of me, talking to a white man, as if he had no recollection of beginning a conversation with me at all.
I retired early, turning back to the water cooler (total misnomer - you can have warm water, or hot water, or go without water) knowing that I was about to ask 30 students who speak more English than the man sent to assess my teaching capabilities to repeat 'zzzz', 'tssss' and 'shhhh' for two hours.
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