Mission Possible

Mission Possible

Surviving the Challenge of English Teaching
by Joshua Lawrence

It's easy to be overwhelmed by a new job in new surroundings. With coping with a second language added to the mix, you may be wondering if you can manage the challenge! Just remember, all things ARE possible if you keep a few pointers in mind…

GETTING STARTED

Know what to expect in terms of salary and work conditions.

(click here for statistics of nine teachers from summer 2000)

Based on recent placement of nine teachers as of Summer, 2000. Placement was made at schools granting visa/work permits; salary is in NT$. For statistics that include substitute, part-time or private work, see Income.

Carefully consider your contract before signing. Bounce it off an experienced teacher. In order to process a work permit, schools need a signed 1-year contract in Chinese and English to present to the Ministry of Education. Sometimes, you'll receive two contracts; a detailed form in English only and a bilingual version for the Ministry. Review each with care. Before signing, confirm the facts (salary & wage increases; class age; max. / aver. class size; curriculum; teacher training; guaranteed hours; process for terminating contracts; materials allowance; policy regarding work at other schools or with private students). Inquire about taxes, and when you will be "on the books"; the non-resident tax rate is 20%. Discuss the National Health Insurance coverage. According to Taiwan law, your school must pay 70% of coverage. For more information, see visa and taxes sections for more information.

Visit as many schools as possible to get a "feel" for the teaching environment.

Staff, management and overall condition are key in selecting what's right for you. Choose a school that feels good, one where foreign and local teachers enjoy working. Next, evaluate your requirements for a positive stay in Kaohsiung. For example, a husband and wife team will want to work similar hours to take advantage of "off hours"; surfers need time in the morning to get back from the beach; students, pub-ers, and athletes have specific criteria for contentment.

**Editors note: This is not as practical in some times of the year as others. During the school year we cannot offer multiple interviews to our teachers, but we continue to do placements using on-line selection.**

You are what you wear. Taiwanese teachers follow protocols and do not wear T-shirts, sleeveless tops or shorts. Foreigners enjoy more freedom, however, you will gain the respect and friendship of colleagues if you dress professionally. Comfort is recommended for playground duty and floor activities. During the rainy season you'll need rain gear and perhaps a change. There is nothing worse than teaching for 6 hours in soaking wet clothes!

ESL TEACHING in general

Consider the obstacles that Mandarin speakers face when learning English. Pronunciation is one of the most difficult tasks facing students. English has sounds that Mandarin does not. These are particularly hard to teach and include "q", "v", or "th" which makes pronunciation difficult; "r" and "l" sounds are also problematic. Grammatical patterns differ greatly as well. It takes time for anyone to master new concepts, so material should be covered slowly and reviewed often. Probably the single most important tip for new teachers is to SLOW DOWN.

Prepare twice as many games and activities as you think necessary for all lesson plans. Most foreigners hired to teach English are not trained to teach ESL and often feel intimidated, but age appropriate games and activities will save the day. Prepare several options that reinforce text lessons, and rotate activities based on student's needs and class duration. Do NOT rely on just one or two options. You may get stuck and have to move onto new material for which you're not prepared. Preparation time depends upon student level:

Short Classes-Kindergarten (30 to 40 minutes): Many schools employ foreign teachers as language models and rely on local teachers to present most of the lesson content. Consequently, the foreign teacher is responsible for short lessons that are repeated to different classes 4 to 10 times a day. The Advantage: repetition makes your job easier. The Drawback: reduced time limits choices.

Long Classes-Kindergarten (2 to 3 hours): These classes are considerably more difficult. Students will require more stimulation than the text alone provides. You'll need to pack flashcards, songs, balloons, stickyballs etc., etc. (see Teacher's Survival Kit).

Elementary (7 - 12 years): For your first month, prepare two hours of lesson plans for each hour you are going to teach. The Web offers great resources (see Links) and local book stores (see Directory) carry basic materials. Experienced teachers, who have developed a "tried and true" repertoire are always happy to share ideas.

Junior High / High School (13 - 16 years) High School students are consumed with test-preparation. Typically, bushibans (or, language cram schools) do not focus on conversation and pronunciation at this level and have little need for native speaking teachers. However, there is a significant number of older students that request private tutoring. In this case, teachers rely on select readings and prepare related vocabulary games.

Reward your students! Most teachers begin each class by writing the names of each student on the board and drawing stars next to their names. You give and take stars based on behavior and give a reward at the end of class based on the number of stars the students have. Rewards include stickers, toys, candy and prize cards which can be redeemed at the school office for prizes.

Prepare a survival kit. These are "field tested and approved". Most things can be picked up for you if you ask your manager.

Sticky Ball - This suction cup covered ball sticks nicely when thrown at the white board

Blank Multicolored Cards - Don't leave home without them! Various uses

Fake Money - Good for role-playing activities, incentives or counters.

Stickers, Stamps, etc. - You'll need something to trade for good behavior!

Whistle - It can be life saver! Many teachers use clip on amplifiers if noise levels are high***

ABC's Magnets - For co-operative spelling games and relays using magnetic boards.

Balloons - Great attention getter. Write letters or words on inflated balloons

Basic Stationary Supplies - Scissors, glue, markers and pens should always be on hand.

Back up Lesson Plans! Keep some ideas at hand in case you are given a new class, or asked to substitute or provide a teaching demo.

Check out our links section!!