Most of my teaching experiences have been great and even though I have had a couple of rowdy students it, hasn't taken much to get them in line. Last Friday, however, was different. It may be because I slept horribly and had a very early morning and so I had less patience, or it may have been because so much stuff was mounting that I was ready to burst.
My workday dragged on forever, the night before. I didn't get out of the office until almost 10pm. When I got home I had to write two lesson plans and do some homework for an orientation I had to attend early the next morning. I live in Erlin and the orientation was in Taichung, about a 1.5hour drive away; I had to be there for 9am. It's a bit annoying because they are mandatory, and I wasn't told about them prior. Not during the interview, not even once I started. I was told about them about a week prior to it's date. I'm also not paid extra for attending. Perhaps I have been spoiled or I just realize why some countries are just better, or maybe I'm just lazy and selfish. Maybe it's a bad thing. I can admit that it certainly pisses me off though. At any job back home, if you were expected to do something extra, you can certainly demand pay for that, or they would have needed to include that detail in your contract. On top of my annoyance, the orientation wasn't that useful. It would have been useful at the very beginning, before I started teaching; like the others who attended (all of which are Taiwanese teachers and none have started teaching any classses yet), but at this point it seems silly. The other annoying thing is that I was expected to get there myself and be back in time for work at 1:30pm. The orientation runs from 9am to 12pm, and the bus takes 2.5hours. Unfortunately, I am someone who has never cared about the company I have ever worked for and I certainly don't go out of my way for them. If this school expects me to attend their orientations and/or workshops without pay, I won't be going out of pocket to get myself there. I am sure I come off as a total jerk, but that's just too bad. The truth is, I am a foreign teacher and even though I have to abide by their laws and learn their culture and be respectful of it, I do not have to assimilate to them. I think they are used to hiring foreigners who come over here with a ton of debt, so they are all desperate and do whatever they're told. But I take the view that if they wanted someone to be exactly like every other Taiwanese person, they could have hired another Taiwanese teacher. Not everyone I met expects me to change; there are a lot of things I do not agree with nor will I ever.
I did get to work that day, a little late though. So, I stuffed my face full of food and ran off to teach a class. I was reminded of how many people have children who really shouldn't. Yes, I judge people. This class was an upper level class between the ages of about 8-11. This was, thus far, the worst class I have ever taught. I had never been so annoyed in my life, nor have I ever had such an urge to smack someone. It's too bad that we let just anyone breed, there should be test people have to pass. Or at least a limited number of children that certain people can have. There was only one student who was seriously pissing me off. I was having such a crappy day that I had no problem singling him out and embarrassing him in front of the class multiple times. He was arrogant, annoying and just plain rude. The thing is, if you're going to act as a smart ass, you better at least be smart. At one point I told him to shut his mouth or he'd have to come up to the front and read the whole unit to the class. He didn't understand a word I said because he's not really all that proficient in English. I was finally done teaching that class and just had to observe. I am so glad this kid isn't mine because I would have went military style ape shit on his ass. His behaviour is unacceptable. At one point he turned to the girl sitting next to him and punched her, without reason, she was sitting there writing down her homework. I remeber once when I was a kid and I punched my littled brother. My father witnessed it and socked me right back. I was really hoping someone would punch that brat. Another kid should put him in his place, because as an adult I realize there are serious consesquences.
He was just the worst kid ever, when the domestic teacher took over he constantly interrupted her class by calling her fat or ugly. This teacher is about my size, and this was coming from a kid who is actually fat himself. The experience reminded me of my time in Air Cadets, I had a few brats in my squadron who were given a choice to be there by a judge. It was, complete X amount of time in air cadets or be sentence to juvenile detention. It was their choice. Even though most of them hated it, they learned when to shut their mouths and all the other things associated with military discipline. It's not like it mattered to me, if they didn't show up, it was reported, and juvie is where they headed.
I must say that I actually do not like the education system here. There is way too much emphasis on memorization. I understand why all the students do well in math and science, they memorize absolutely everything. Unfortunately, they do that with English as well. The problem is, if I deviate from what they memorize they have no clue what I am asking. For example, they memorize the response for the question "How are you?". But, if I ask them "How are you TODAY?" They do not have a clue what I just said. I get a classroom of blank stares or a couple students who say "I don't know." I would never send my child to school here, I would take the time to homeschool him/her based on the Canadian system, or at least spend the money to send them to a private Canadian or international school here in Taiwan.
I have been giving final oral tests to some students and to be honest I have failed a few students. Not because I was being malicious. I give students ample tries, and some students more than I am supposed to, but if the student just doesn't understand, or stares at me blankly, I fail them. I also don't provide the answer or lead them to the answer as some do. I sit there and wait for an answer, I don't mouth/whisper what they should be saying nor will I. If you can't keep up than you should not advance. I certainly remember how annoyed I got in school when there were morons in my class who wasted so much time. I'm sure some of the parents here are annoyed because they spend quite a pretty penny to send their kids here.
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