Reflection Assignment 2

Prompt:
1. Think back to your first paper on what you expected to be the challenges and similarities and differences in Chinese and American students.  Were you right?  What did you get wrong?

2. What have you learned so far about teaching in China? 

3. Now that you have some experience, what 2-3 goals do you have for yourself as a teacher in the remaining time you have in China?

Response:

          One of the biggest challenges that I am facing is classroom management. I think this is for a few reasons. The first, which I had identified as a challenge, is the large class size. The more students there are, the more chances there are of someone misbehaving. I was wrong about Chinese students behaving very well. I also found that while the students do have a lot of respect for their normal classroom teachers, they do not seem to respect me in the same way. The like having me in the classroom, but don’t listen. When another teacher is in the classroom, they are quiet; however, as soon as the teacher leaves, they start talking over me. They also don't seem to respect each other. They especially do not listen if another student is talking.

          Another challenge that I had noted in my first paper is my lack of knowledge of Chinese culture. This includes things like eating with chopsticks, using the different toilets, the teacher’s attitudes, and the students’ schedules. Although some of these do not directly relate to the teaching, it does affect how I feel and my sense of belonging at the school. I am surprised at how little the English teachers work, yet they are always tired. They teach about two 40-minute classes, and they don’t even stand up and teach; there are books the students all take turns reading out of and a tape they listen to. When I told them in America, I would teach pretty much all day, everyday from 8 am to 3 pm, they were so surprised.

          I have learned that Chinese students have not really learned "critical thinking" skills. Here is a simple example. I read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle to the students. I talked with the students about the days of the week and what the caterpillar had eaten every day. I wrote all of the information on the board and asked, "What day did the caterpillar eat two pears?" They just stared at me. Then I asked, "Did the caterpillar eat two pears on Tuesday or Friday?" and they all answered, "Tuesday." They don't express themselves, even when they know the answer. I feel like the students here always have to be given options.  

          Here are goals for myself as a teacher: (1) Classroom management. I have been having a hard time getting a handle on the class when one of their normal teachers is not present. Strategies that I have used and found successful in the U.S. have not really worked. They pay attention for a few minutes, but many students will then go right back to talking with each other. (2) Active learning lessons that engage all students. This could in effect, help me with number one. I want to plan more lessons with less talking by me, and more participating by the students. I found that the talked less when I gave them a writing assignment last week, but I don't want them to just write - I want to have activities that are fun and get the students involved in the lesson.