How the heck can one teach with no preparation?
Ask the French Canadians and the Afrikaners (not to mention the Russians, Germans and goodness knows who else) and you’ll have a fairly good idea…
GUT has a pretty good point. but that doesn’t say much for teaching quality.
By having a headful of experience and knowledge and an ability to think quickly. I don’t go into my classrooms cold, I prepare and always have more “extra” material than I need. But if I had to (e.g. covering for a sick co-worker), I could and teach an entire hour cold on anything in my school’s curriculum with only a moments’ glance at the textbooks.
It’s the same with soloists or Jazz musicians: people practice scales and fundamentals for years and read hundreds of pieces of music. When they’re called on to perform, they look like they’re playing off the top of their heads when in fact they’re calling upon reserves of knowledge and selecting appropriate parts of it in less than a second.
I’m not suggesting I’m on that level of skill, but the same principle applies.
[quote=“Sleepyhead”]
By having a headful of experience and knowledge and an ability to think quickly. I don’t go into my classrooms cold, I prepare and always have more “extra” material than I need. But if I had to (e.g. covering for a sick co-worker), I could and teach an entire hour cold on anything in my school’s curriculum with only a moments’ glance at the textbooks.
It’s the same with soloists or Jazz musicians: people practice scales and fundamentals for years and read hundreds of pieces of music. When they’re called on to perform, they look like they’re playing off the top of their heads when in fact they’re calling upon reserves of knowledge and selecting appropriate parts of it in less than a second.
I’m not suggesting I’m on that level of skill, but the same principle applies.[/quote]
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: I should have said that to the government inspectors at my last school; ‘I’m just riffing for most of the morning, just work with me, OK, you’ll see where I’m going!’
Taiwan! Got to love it.
[quote]Ask the French Canadians and the Afrikaners (not to mention the Russians, Germans and goodness knows who else) and you’ll have a fairly good idea…
GUT has a pretty good point. but that doesn’t say much for teaching quality.[/quote]
If you don’t have to correct papers or anything it is easy. Not to mention that some schools don’t tell you the page number until you show up for work anyways. I have jobs that I cannot even prepare for if I wanted to.
By having a headful of experience and knowledge and an ability to think quickly. I don’t go into my classrooms cold, I prepare and always have more “extra” material than I need. But if I had to (e.g. covering for a sick co-worker), I could and teach an entire hour cold on anything in my school’s curriculum with only a moments’ glance at the textbooks.
It’s the same with soloists or Jazz musicians: people practice scales and fundamentals for years and read hundreds of pieces of music. When they’re called on to perform, they look like they’re playing off the top of their heads when in fact they’re calling upon reserves of knowledge and selecting appropriate parts of it in less than a second.
I’m not suggesting I’m on that level of skill, but the same principle applies.[/quote]
Yeah, I agree. There is no doubt that preparing properly for a class does make a difference, but the more experience you have, the less difference it makes. When I first started teaching, for the first 6 months or so, I took it way too seriously and didn’t really enjoy it much. Sometimes I would spend more than 2 hours preparing for a one hour lesson. These days, I’ll start the class off with a chat or game while I glance down at the book, figure out what is to be taught and get the lesson plan sorted in my head. The difference between before and now is not that much in terms of lesson quality. Maybe a 5% worse lesson without preparation and a whole lot of paper saved.
By having a headful of experience and knowledge and an ability to think quickly. I don’t go into my classrooms cold, I prepare and always have more “extra” material than I need. But if I had to (e.g. covering for a sick co-worker), I could and teach an entire hour cold on anything in my school’s curriculum with only a moments’ glance at the textbooks.
It’s the same with soloists or Jazz musicians: people practice scales and fundamentals for years and read hundreds of pieces of music. When they’re called on to perform, they look like they’re playing off the top of their heads when in fact they’re calling upon reserves of knowledge and selecting appropriate parts of it in less than a second.
I’m not suggesting I’m on that level of skill, but the same principle applies.[/quote]
Yeah, I agree. There is no doubt that preparing properly for a class does make a difference, but the more experience you have, the less difference it makes. When I first started teaching, for the first 6 months or so, I took it way too seriously and didn’t really enjoy it much. Sometimes I would spend more than 2 hours preparing for a one hour lesson. These days, I’ll start the class off with a chat or game while I glance down at the book, figure out what is to be taught and get the lesson plan sorted in my head. The difference between before and now is not that much in terms of lesson quality. Maybe a 5% worse lesson without preparation and a whole lot of paper saved.[/quote]
And you get paid approx. 24 thousand US dollars a year for this. Name ONE employer in the States who would pay you ANYthing for this level of professionalism. You are not a teacher, you’re a pirate. No, even pirates have to do more prep work than that!
Actually, it’s more like $45,000 a year, with more to come next year. The fact is that some teachers can teach without much prep. I am currently working at 2 schools. They both want me to teach more classes next semester even though I usually walk through the door with 5 minutes to go. My previous school manager still sends me emails offering me a job. When I’m teaching, I give 110% in the classroom and I guess this keeps everyone happy. I’ve seen teachers spend lots of time preparing worksheets (like I used to) and they just can’t teach a decent lesson. I honestly find it easy. I can understand why you might feel upset by this if you are spending a lot of time on preparation and your school has some Carnagies-teachers strolling in, stinking of a hangover, but there are teachers out there who do a very good job with zero prep. Maybe this thread needs a split?
I go into my classes pretty cold. For most of my classes there is set book work or reading to do each class, and that takes up a chunk of the time. Relating to the work, I teach them the stuff they don’t already know, the stuff that’s important to know, and enjoy using the material to elaborate on further in-class discussion.
I ask my kids to watch the news, and when I go to class, we discuss that stuff, or anything they did/are planning to do on the weekend. Sometimes I give them some riddles at the beginning of class, which can be pulled off the net in 10 mins or so. But it’s enough to get them talking and asking questions. Sometimes this stuff takes up 30 mins of a 90 min class. Great for me to fill time, but also good for the students. Bottom line is I end up talking to them and joking around with them a lot, which imo is much more productive and useful than coercing them with games or having them doing worksheets (I use both but only occasionally).
Bottom line is, if you can stimulate a student’s mind and you focus on the important, relevant parts of English, you’re doing a good job, and that makes you a professional. While simply talking to them is admittedly a hell of a lot easier than spending prep time composing worksheets or complex games/activities, that style and being ‘professional’ are far from mutually exclusive. Taiwanese students’ greatest need/what is lacking is the ability to speak coherent, functional, conversational English, and with confidence.
Of course if you have no textbooks or anything to work off of, then I would say you need some prep. I’m speaking assuming the teacher has school-provided materials.
[quote=“mups”]
Bottom line is, if you can stimulate a student’s mind and you focus on the important, relevant parts of English, you’re doing a good job, and that makes you a professional. [/quote]
[quote=“mups”]I go into my classes pretty cold. For most of my classes there is set book work or reading to do each class, and that takes up a chunk of the time. Relating to the work, I teach them the stuff they don’t already know, the stuff that’s important to know, and enjoy using the material to elaborate on further in-class discussion.
I ask my kids to watch the news, and when I go to class, we discuss that stuff, or anything they did/are planning to do on the weekend. Sometimes I give them some riddles at the beginning of class, which can be pulled off the net in 10 mins or so. But it’s enough to get them talking and asking questions. Sometimes this stuff takes up 30 mins of a 90 min class. Great for me to fill time, but also good for the students. Bottom line is I end up talking to them and joking around with them a lot, which imo is much more productive and useful than coercing them with games or having them doing worksheets (I use both but only occasionally).
Bottom line is, if you can stimulate a student’s mind and you focus on the important, relevant parts of English, you’re doing a good job, and that makes you a professional. While simply talking to them is admittedly a hell of a lot easier than spending prep time composing worksheets or complex games/activities, that style and being ‘professional’ are far from mutually exclusive. Taiwanese students’ greatest need/what is lacking is the ability to speak coherent, functional, conversational English, and with confidence.
Of course if you have no textbooks or anything to work off of, then I would say you need some prep. I’m speaking assuming the teacher has school-provided materials.[/quote]
You say that because you simply don’t know any better. Worksheets? WTF? Is that what you think ‘prep’ is?
Taiwanese children are simply less important that children from other countries, is that it? I remember a while back, someone made the point in the ‘unqualified teachers aren’t crap!’ thread: would you be happy for your own child (or your self) to receive that level of education?
It’s an old ‘debate’, and one I first heard in Bangkok ten years ago. Never heard a single reason that rung true for not bothering to work other than ‘I don’t give a fuck, it just pays for bargirls’
[quote=“Buttercup”][quote=“mups”]I go into my classes pretty cold. For most of my classes there is set book work or reading to do each class, and that takes up a chunk of the time. Relating to the work, I teach them the stuff they don’t already know, the stuff that’s important to know, and enjoy using the material to elaborate on further in-class discussion.
I ask my kids to watch the news, and when I go to class, we discuss that stuff, or anything they did/are planning to do on the weekend. Sometimes I give them some riddles at the beginning of class, which can be pulled off the net in 10 mins or so. But it’s enough to get them talking and asking questions. Sometimes this stuff takes up 30 mins of a 90 min class. Great for me to fill time, but also good for the students. Bottom line is I end up talking to them and joking around with them a lot, which imo is much more productive and useful than coercing them with games or having them doing worksheets (I use both but only occasionally).
Bottom line is, if you can stimulate a student’s mind and you focus on the important, relevant parts of English, you’re doing a good job, and that makes you a professional. While simply talking to them is admittedly a hell of a lot easier than spending prep time composing worksheets or complex games/activities, that style and being ‘professional’ are far from mutually exclusive. Taiwanese students’ greatest need/what is lacking is the ability to speak coherent, functional, conversational English, and with confidence.
Of course if you have no textbooks or anything to work off of, then I would say you need some prep. I’m speaking assuming the teacher has school-provided materials.[/quote]
You say that because you simply don’t know any better. Worksheets? WTF? Is that what you think ‘prep’ is?
Taiwanese children are simply less important that children from other countries, is that it? I remember a while back, someone made the point in the ‘unqualified teachers aren’t crap!’ thread: would you be happy for your own child (or your self) to receive that level of education?
It’s an old ‘debate’, and one I first heard in Bangkok ten years ago. Never heard a single reason that rung true for not bothering to work other than ‘I don’t give a fuck, it just pays for bargirls’[/quote]
I think you are missing the point big time. There are definitely teachers that don’t give a damm, and they really shouldn’t be working as teachers. But, there are teachers who have gained enough experience to be able to do a very proffessional job without prep. Teaching wasn’t for you. We all know that, but don’t come out with this self superior, looking to be better than someone else bull. It is sooooo boring.
[quote=“Buttercup”]
You say that because you simply don’t know any better. Worksheets? WTF? Is that what you think ‘prep’ is?
Taiwanese children are simply less important that children from other countries, is that it? I remember a while back, someone made the point in the ‘unqualified teachers aren’t crap!’ thread: would you be happy for your own child (or your self) to receive that level of education?
It’s an old ‘debate’, and one I first heard in Bangkok ten years ago. Never heard a single reason that rung true for not bothering to work other than ‘I don’t give a fuck, it just pays for bargirls’[/quote]
Well what is prep? Figuring out what you’re going to teach and how to teach it? That doesn’t take much prep time at all, at least for me. It’s English, something I know and have spoken quite well for a very long time. Not history, not science…it’s something I can retrieve in detail and talk about off the top of my head.
You seem to be confused. I’m saying that prep work does not equal competence/professionalism in the classroom. You seem to be saying that not doing prep work = being a lazy good for nothing bum. I know a few of those, but my amount of ‘prep’ work, whatever that means according to you, has nothing to do with my effectiveness in the classroom.
I have a group of kids who hadn’t spoken a lick of English 10 months ago, and now they can write and speak very well. Better than any other kid their age in the same situation I know, not to toot my own horn. And yes, if I was sending my kid to…me…to learn English, I would be quite satisfied with…my effort. Because I teach them the way I would want my own kid to be taught.
And all of that with very little prep work. 
[quote=“jacktorrence”]
I think you are missing the point big time. There are definitely teachers that don’t give a damm, and they really shouldn’t be working as teachers. But, there are teachers who have gained enough experience to be able to do a very proffessional job without prep. Teaching wasn’t for you. We all know that, but don’t come out with this self superior, looking to be better than someone else bull. It is sooooo boring.[/quote]
Not seeking to entertain. If you act like a substitute teacher every day and it will show sooner or later and is not a as good as a teacher who plans. It will also fully reinforce your low status with the admin/parents, no matter how much they smile to your face. As I said, would you send your kids to a school where you knew there were teachers who just focused on the performance aspect of the class (let’s be polite …)? It wouldn’t bother you at all to pay for education for your children which consisted of so little substance?
Two spelling mistakes there. Do you do that in class, or would you look them up in a dictionary beforehand? I wouldn’t need to, but some would. Sorry, sweetie, I just WAS better.
mups, that’s great. Imagine how much better the kids would be doing if you did what teachers usually do, and not like an Asian cramschool guy? I’m not doubting your ability to wing it without disaster, but imagine you could combine a pro- approach to planning and admin with your natural talent and enthusiasm. You could really make a difference for those kids. Not confused, I’ve just seen the difference first-hand. Why not up your game? You might want to move away from what you’re doing now, one day.
[quote=“Buttercup”]
mups, that’s great. Imagine how much better the kids would be doing if you did what teachers usually do, and not like an Asian cramschool guy? I’m not doubting your ability to wing it without disaster, but imagine you could combine a pro- approach to planning and admin with your natural talent and enthusiasm. You could really make a difference for those kids. Not confused, I’ve just seen the difference first-hand. Why not up your game? You might want to move away from what you’re doing now, one day.[/quote]
One one hand I take pride in the work I do, on the other I like to preserve my sanity.
[quote=“mups”][quote=“Buttercup”]
mups, that’s great. Imagine how much better the kids would be doing if you did what teachers usually do, and not like an Asian cramschool guy? I’m not doubting your ability to wing it without disaster, but imagine you could combine a pro- approach to planning and admin with your natural talent and enthusiasm. You could really make a difference for those kids. Not confused, I’ve just seen the difference first-hand. Why not up your game? You might want to move away from what you’re doing now, one day.[/quote]
One one hand I take pride in the work I do, on the other I like to preserve my sanity.[/quote]
So you acknowledge the quality trade off! Hoisted by your own petticoat. 
[quote=“TomHill”][quote=“mups”][quote=“Buttercup”]
mups, that’s great. Imagine how much better the kids would be doing if you did what teachers usually do, and not like an Asian cramschool guy? I’m not doubting your ability to wing it without disaster, but imagine you could combine a pro- approach to planning and admin with your natural talent and enthusiasm. You could really make a difference for those kids. Not confused, I’ve just seen the difference first-hand. Why not up your game? You might want to move away from what you’re doing now, one day.[/quote]
One one hand I take pride in the work I do, on the other I like to preserve my sanity.[/quote]
So you acknowledge the quality trade off! Hoisted by your own petticoat. [/quote]
Only I wasn’t arguing that point. My argument wasn’t that one couldn’t be a better teacher (that’s always possible, isn’t it?), the argument was that one can still be a good, effective professional teacher with minimal prep work. Thanks for playing. 
[quote=“mups”]
Only I wasn’t arguing that point. My argument wasn’t that one couldn’t be a better teacher (that’s always possible, isn’t it?), the argument was that one can still be a good, effective professional teacher with minimal prep work. Thanks for playing. 
[/quote]
You must be one in a million! Me, I’ve never seen it, and you’d be fired within a week for trying it in the school you were educated in, but it’s good enough for Taiwanese kids, eh?
[quote=“Buttercup”][quote=“mups”]
Only I wasn’t arguing that point. My argument wasn’t that one couldn’t be a better teacher (that’s always possible, isn’t it?), the argument was that one can still be a good, effective professional teacher with minimal prep work. Thanks for playing. [/quote]
You must be one in a million! Me, I’ve never seen it, and you’d be fired within a week for trying it in the school you were educated in, but it’s good enough for Taiwanese kids, eh?[/quote]
The kids, school and parents seem to be happy with my performance, so I’ll happily defer to their judgement.
[quote=“mups”][quote=“Buttercup”][quote=“mups”]
Only I wasn’t arguing that point. My argument wasn’t that one couldn’t be a better teacher (that’s always possible, isn’t it?), the argument was that one can still be a good, effective professional teacher with minimal prep work. Thanks for playing. [/quote]
You must be one in a million! Me, I’ve never seen it, and you’d be fired within a week for trying it in the school you were educated in, but it’s good enough for Taiwanese kids, eh?[/quote]
The kids, school and parents seem to be happy with my performance, so I’ll happily defer to their judgement.[/quote]
They don’t know the difference; it’s all they ever see of foreign teachers.