For those of you that know me, you could skip the first paragraph. For the rest of you, I'll enlighten you a little. When I was in college (a long five months ago) I had some struggles in my senior year with regards to my choice in career. When I was student teaching I was not sure that I'd made the right choice, that I'd make a good teacher, that my students would learn anything besides sarcasm from me. Well, after some consideration I decided to finish out my endeavor.... a.k.a finish college... after all I was so close to the end. Then, because the timing was right and I was still unsure about teaching (and traveling appealed to me) I chose to come to China.
Well, I'm here to say that teaching sucks. But keep reading... Teaching sucks much of the time because of the setting. Teachers in China are not a unit like a faculty in America. They are very independent, and they don't care so much... At least, that's the vibe that they give off. In my school in particular this seems to be the problem. I've been talking to some more veteran teachers - they say my kindergarten has not been able to keep any one teacher for more than a year because the teachers are unhappy. If it were America, I'm sure there would be someone saying "we should look into this" but here in China everything is very non confrontational.
Other reasons that the teaching sucks is because I'm a foreigner. The kids don't speak English besides what they've memorized, and I don't speak Chinese (at least nothing useful in a classroom). The teachers don't participate (although it depends a little) and it's hard to do anything with the kids apart from flash cards (which they become sick of or stop paying attention to).
But the point of this blog is not pure negativity. I'm here to say that sometimes teaching doesn't suck and that's what I like to focus on. Today, for example, was a good day. This morning during classes we reviewed shapes and I had the kids put bean bags on certain cards. Then I read them 'I'm a little teapot' (tomorrow we'll learn the song). One class had a shortage of kids due to sickness. There were only 9 of them. The teacher asked if we could have class outside because the kids needed more sunshine. It was pretty gorgeous today. So, the nine kids and I walked the 30 feet outside and had class for 15 minutes and then played on the jungle gym for the rest of class. I enjoyed being able to interact with them in a non-class setting. I biked home during lunch, rested a bit and caught up on some tv, then biked back. Today, we spent the afternoon in the small classrooms (those are the ones I teach-we rotate based on the day). I visited D class and caught them during snack. Afterwards, we went outside and sang 'London Bridge'... I was half of the bridge. That was fun. Then I went to C class. This is the one that had only 9 kids earlier in the day... now they were down to 6. We played with clay/playdough and made shapes!! Which was great to see them making the shapes we had talked about earlier. I had a lovely conversation with Gary and Frankie. I knew their names because they are some of my favorites, and C class is my favorite. I know that as a teacher, we're not supposed to have favorites, but let's face it... it happens.
So, moral of the story is that teaching sometimes sucks, but then there are days like today where things just go right.... Today just might get me through the week.
Until next time.
I like this post alot. Today during my educational psychology class we watched a video about the public market in seattle, you know all about that, but anyway the fish stand or whatever had great workers that had alot of energy. Their four principals for working were to play, make the customers day, be there with the customer, and Choose your attitude. The last one came back in mind when i read this. What i have learned in my few weeks of college is your attitude changes everything! Make teaching fun and worth while! :) Thats my younger more naive perspective. I love you and Miss you! Have a great day!
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