New photos of the Ban Po archaeological site attached. Nicely preserved prehistoric village and burial site, deep in the heart of the city of Xi'an. It is remarkable how often new sites are found in this major metropolitan city.
I had requested to visit other schools during my stay. This past week I visited the Jinyuan International School. The 'International' refers to the style of architecture of the community , not any diversity of students or teachers. It is a very new school, around 4 years old with an elementary, middle and senior high school. I wasn't allowed to observe any classes so I can't speak to any difference or similarities in teaching style. Like my school, this is a well financed school. "Anyone" in the nearby neighborhood can apply for admission to any grade. I couldn't get an anwer as to the cost per year at the school. Of course, anything above grade 9 has to be paid for privately. Remember: China has compulsory education only through grade 9.
A first for me: as we (an administrator , my handler and I) were leaving the high school to walk across the community to visit the kindergarten, we were stopped by one of the community guards and warned that I was not allowed to take photos. Needless to say, no 'photo-ing' happened.
I am supposed to visit a school for homeless children that is run by a Christian relief agency. If you are not a member of a Christian church, you are not allowed to enter the compound. I hope this pans out, but I won't be surprised if it falls through.
I was teaching my class this past Thursday with a few additional teachers observing. My lesson included several demonstrations I used to try to bridge the language barrier with my students. The observers enjoyed the class so much that they told the Director. He met me after lunch asking for permission to film the class for the school to use in the future.
After a quick call to my agent, I said, Go right ahead! My class was filmed (the students behaved too well) and I should receive a copy to bring back home. Kind of scary, the idea of seeing oneself teaching in an ESL environment.
We have a short week this week, Friday and Saturday are holidays. So Josh and I are heading to Beijing for a 4 day tour of the sites. Hope to have many new interesting photos to post soon.
take care!
jeff
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
So, I gave this test..
You would have thought I would have remembered my own math. Oh well, the 360 tests were given (no scantron here). I tried to use questions we had reviewed in class, questions I had used to present concepts and questions we had used for homework.
Grades were about typical for any 7th grade class. One-third did well, 1/3 forgot to wake up that morning and 1/3 were somewhere in between.
In order to work on students english skills, I will be spending more time working with students speaking and reading ability. This will be focused on the science topics (Matter) using the text. I've already begun to spend more of the class time with students reading aloud and asking each other questions. Always a question of balance..
Posted new photos of the Qin Terra Cotta warriors.
Enjoy!
jeff
Grades were about typical for any 7th grade class. One-third did well, 1/3 forgot to wake up that morning and 1/3 were somewhere in between.
In order to work on students english skills, I will be spending more time working with students speaking and reading ability. This will be focused on the science topics (Matter) using the text. I've already begun to spend more of the class time with students reading aloud and asking each other questions. Always a question of balance..
Posted new photos of the Qin Terra Cotta warriors.
Enjoy!
jeff
Monday, March 10, 2008
Testing and the 7th grade
I have been asked about the impact of the Senior 3 test and my students. As I mentioned earlier, everyone is aware of the test. The countdown clock is easy to spot (close to the bathrooms and w.c. on the 4th floor).
Let me give an example of the impact of testing on my students. We just finished a unit on Energy (Forms, Fuel, Electric Power Generation, Alternative Energy). As we finished, I said that the class needed to be sure all homework was finished so we could have a test over the unit next week.
Well, it was as though I had threatened to take their kitten away! Big eyes, absolute quiet, and an incredible look of fear on each students face. At first I thought it was just one class. After having the same reaction from each (6) class, I knew I needed more information.
When I returned to the office, I asked one of my peers about testing. I was told it is not common practice to give tests over a unit of material. As a matter of fact, no test is given during the term, nor are quizzes.
So the reaction of the students is genuine. The only test they have experience with is the 'do or die' test at the end of the term. From what I can gather, this is the same for all classes, all subjects, all grades.
Now, to me, this is significant pressure on very young people. One chance to pass! No wonder they were afraid. Instead of a chance to see what they have learned, they see a test as an ordeal.
OK, OK, our students see tests as an ordeal, too. But they (usually) don't have to wait for the end of the term to deal with 12 weeks of material all at once. Personally, I would like to test more often to see if I, as a teacher, am getting through to my students. How else do I know if I need to change my style or re-teach a unit? When I raised this point, the response is that 'we must move on to cover the material that will be on the test'. (Sounds vaguely familiar)
So I decided to do a test anyway. (Even though it doesn't count.) I asked how to get copies of my test once it was ready (6 classes of 60 each, multiple pages). Well, the procedure is to (1) ask the head teacher (2)convince the head teacher I need the copies (3) get her permissionto ask for a form for the headmaster to then ok (4) take the signed form to the print room in the next building (5) have the form reviewed (6) que up for printing (7) wait for delivery some time...
Not a teacher friendly process. So, at this time, my test (that's not a test) will be presented via power point. I will have to eliminate the short answers and focus on multiple choice and true/false, perhaps a fill in the blank with a word bank. Flexibility is my middle name.......
I've posted new photos of the SUAHS campus. Spent last Sunday at the Qin tomb/terra cotta warriors, and the Banpo people (prehistoric) museum. Very enjoyable, pictures soon to be posted.
I have added an automated alert so I can get attached comments. I still can't see or respond to them on the blog, but I will receive notice and can add a response in the next blog. That was the motivation for this blog.
Until next time!
jeff
Let me give an example of the impact of testing on my students. We just finished a unit on Energy (Forms, Fuel, Electric Power Generation, Alternative Energy). As we finished, I said that the class needed to be sure all homework was finished so we could have a test over the unit next week.
Well, it was as though I had threatened to take their kitten away! Big eyes, absolute quiet, and an incredible look of fear on each students face. At first I thought it was just one class. After having the same reaction from each (6) class, I knew I needed more information.
When I returned to the office, I asked one of my peers about testing. I was told it is not common practice to give tests over a unit of material. As a matter of fact, no test is given during the term, nor are quizzes.
So the reaction of the students is genuine. The only test they have experience with is the 'do or die' test at the end of the term. From what I can gather, this is the same for all classes, all subjects, all grades.
Now, to me, this is significant pressure on very young people. One chance to pass! No wonder they were afraid. Instead of a chance to see what they have learned, they see a test as an ordeal.
OK, OK, our students see tests as an ordeal, too. But they (usually) don't have to wait for the end of the term to deal with 12 weeks of material all at once. Personally, I would like to test more often to see if I, as a teacher, am getting through to my students. How else do I know if I need to change my style or re-teach a unit? When I raised this point, the response is that 'we must move on to cover the material that will be on the test'. (Sounds vaguely familiar)
So I decided to do a test anyway. (Even though it doesn't count.) I asked how to get copies of my test once it was ready (6 classes of 60 each, multiple pages). Well, the procedure is to (1) ask the head teacher (2)convince the head teacher I need the copies (3) get her permissionto ask for a form for the headmaster to then ok (4) take the signed form to the print room in the next building (5) have the form reviewed (6) que up for printing (7) wait for delivery some time...
Not a teacher friendly process. So, at this time, my test (that's not a test) will be presented via power point. I will have to eliminate the short answers and focus on multiple choice and true/false, perhaps a fill in the blank with a word bank. Flexibility is my middle name.......
I've posted new photos of the SUAHS campus. Spent last Sunday at the Qin tomb/terra cotta warriors, and the Banpo people (prehistoric) museum. Very enjoyable, pictures soon to be posted.
I have added an automated alert so I can get attached comments. I still can't see or respond to them on the blog, but I will receive notice and can add a response in the next blog. That was the motivation for this blog.
Until next time!
jeff
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Pressure Cooker
I must share that the exam stakes for the Chinese senior student are enormous. The senior 3 national exam will determine if they get into college and if the college is a top school or a lesser status school.
Status of the school will help a new graduate get a job. At this time in China, there are many more graduates than there are entry positions. Xi'an alone has over 40 different Universities!
So, the pressure is great. The countdown to the exam has begun. In front of the Senior 3 office is an electronic board with the countdown to the test. All day it ticks down the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks in large red numbers. A in-escapable constant reminder....
A senior student I've been talking with shared with me that the school is having a psychologist visit the seniors to talk about this stressful time.
I'm told that the suicide rate for late adolescents is very high. However, most web searches for "chinese adolescent suicide rate" seem to be blocked or at least 'not available'. Believe me, I checked a lot of sites.
Information from the China Daily English language paper showed 3.6% of all Chinese deaths are suicide, approximately 300,000 per year. Another 2 million people attempt suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of death of people aged 15-34.
Sobering numbers? Read this: 20% of Chinese high school students have considered suicide and 6.5% say that they had made plans to kill themselves (www.english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/6259729.html) .
In China, suicide is not always looked at as a mental health issue, but as a spur of the moment escape from problems and more of a rural or women problem.
Food for thought.
Status of the school will help a new graduate get a job. At this time in China, there are many more graduates than there are entry positions. Xi'an alone has over 40 different Universities!
So, the pressure is great. The countdown to the exam has begun. In front of the Senior 3 office is an electronic board with the countdown to the test. All day it ticks down the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks in large red numbers. A in-escapable constant reminder....
A senior student I've been talking with shared with me that the school is having a psychologist visit the seniors to talk about this stressful time.
I'm told that the suicide rate for late adolescents is very high. However, most web searches for "chinese adolescent suicide rate" seem to be blocked or at least 'not available'. Believe me, I checked a lot of sites.
Information from the China Daily English language paper showed 3.6% of all Chinese deaths are suicide, approximately 300,000 per year. Another 2 million people attempt suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of death of people aged 15-34.
Sobering numbers? Read this: 20% of Chinese high school students have considered suicide and 6.5% say that they had made plans to kill themselves (www.english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/6259729.html) .
In China, suicide is not always looked at as a mental health issue, but as a spur of the moment escape from problems and more of a rural or women problem.
Food for thought.
Monday, March 3, 2008
School days
The daily school routine begins at 7:40 with study sessions (7:40-8:00 and 8:00-8:20). The head teachers are the ones who have to be at the school by this time to supervise the students. 8:30 begins the first class and they run until 12:00 noon. Lunch and rest break lasts until 2:30 when classes begin again and run until 6:00pm. The school week runs from Monday to Saturday. Saturdays are short days until they get close to examination time.
Teachers must always be available during the day if they are needed for additional class coverage, meetings, etc.
Teachers are contracted/paid based on the performance of the students in exams at my key school. It is typical for a teacher to be paid 12 months salary with a 13 month pay based on the performance. A starting teacher just out of University will earn about 1000 rmb per month, approx. $139 US per month.
Many of the teachers I've met have expressed frustration by the 'teach to the test' emphasis of most schools. Schools are rated based on the scores on the national standardized tests. The same comments are made by teachers back in the States, concerned over the rush to use standardized tests to judge the value of schools and teachers.
ShaanXi Affiliated High School, my school, is a key school. This means that the student scores on the national exams are among the best in the province. Everyone is very proud of the number of nationally ranked graduates and is dedicated to continuing to maintain key status.
It is also common that students will live in dorms at their school. This even includes the primary aged students. This is considered a necessary sacrifice in order for the son or daughter to get a head start on the majority of their peers. At my school only a small number stay in dorms during the week, most do go home.
Extra curricular activities, things we see as important to the development of our children's social skills, are not available at my school. No music, art, athletics or clubs. They are seen as taking away from study time, a distraction. Most parents support the elimination of these distractions.
Compulsory education is through 9th grade. Exceptions are allowed if you live in a rural area and are needed to work on a farm or if it is too far to the school.
After the 9th grade, high school costs the family money. To attend a key school costs even more. One must also undergo an interview before accepted into the key school. Of course, the other choice is any public school that you may find. Being poor limits the availability of high quality education, unless parents are willing to make great sacrifice. Many do, but others still can't make the financial committment.
I will be asking to visit some schools that are not 'key' and a school for developmentally disabled students. Hopefully I will be able to experience the rest of the Chinese educational system before I leave.
Take care!
Teachers must always be available during the day if they are needed for additional class coverage, meetings, etc.
Teachers are contracted/paid based on the performance of the students in exams at my key school. It is typical for a teacher to be paid 12 months salary with a 13 month pay based on the performance. A starting teacher just out of University will earn about 1000 rmb per month, approx. $139 US per month.
Many of the teachers I've met have expressed frustration by the 'teach to the test' emphasis of most schools. Schools are rated based on the scores on the national standardized tests. The same comments are made by teachers back in the States, concerned over the rush to use standardized tests to judge the value of schools and teachers.
ShaanXi Affiliated High School, my school, is a key school. This means that the student scores on the national exams are among the best in the province. Everyone is very proud of the number of nationally ranked graduates and is dedicated to continuing to maintain key status.
It is also common that students will live in dorms at their school. This even includes the primary aged students. This is considered a necessary sacrifice in order for the son or daughter to get a head start on the majority of their peers. At my school only a small number stay in dorms during the week, most do go home.
Extra curricular activities, things we see as important to the development of our children's social skills, are not available at my school. No music, art, athletics or clubs. They are seen as taking away from study time, a distraction. Most parents support the elimination of these distractions.
Compulsory education is through 9th grade. Exceptions are allowed if you live in a rural area and are needed to work on a farm or if it is too far to the school.
After the 9th grade, high school costs the family money. To attend a key school costs even more. One must also undergo an interview before accepted into the key school. Of course, the other choice is any public school that you may find. Being poor limits the availability of high quality education, unless parents are willing to make great sacrifice. Many do, but others still can't make the financial committment.
I will be asking to visit some schools that are not 'key' and a school for developmentally disabled students. Hopefully I will be able to experience the rest of the Chinese educational system before I leave.
Take care!
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