Semester Challenges

With the four syllabi needed for my doubled, diversified course load, this semester has certainly proven to be busy. Although I am still enjoying every minute of it! I have been putting in the hours these first six weeks in order to allow smooth sailing from here on out. Today I have officially finished each courses' lesson plans for the remaining 14 weeks, including the final exams ready to be sent to the print shop. I even prepared all the lessons for tutoring my primary students over the next three months. I am feeling accomplished.

The main challenge was preparing a syllabi for my newly added classes in the International College where I teach non-English majors whose skill level is quite low. Some of the students speak only as well as the children I tutor. I have taught beginners before but only in small groups in which I can provide one-on-one attention. Unlike my first college Spanish course, there are no text books, university-run online learning programs or guidance given to the instructors. After a lot of student evaluations and research, I finally feel as if I am running a professionally informed classroom fully equipped with valuable visuals and student materials.

Despite my preparedness, I still face the obstacle of getting the class to participate. I have learned that the International College isn't a department of the university for students wanting to study abroad. Rather, students who did not do well enough on the college entrance exams to be accepted into Yangtze University attend the college instead or in hopes of eventually being admitted into the university. So while the two schools are affiliated they are, in fact, separate. Frankly, the students come from more privileged families who can keep them in school. For most Chinese students who don't pass the entrance exam, they have to return home to work. After my first few classes, I become very frustrated with their behavior and poor work ethic. I have never encountered such problems with my university English majors and so was taken by surprise. It seems many do not care for be there. I have some that always sleep and many who just don't pay any attention. When asked to turn in a very short, easy in-class assignment today, 10 out of 30 did so before leaving. So now I am devising methods to keep them interested and attentitive that doesn't involve babysitting. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way!