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My side job
Hello. I am a teacher and this past year, I worked at a terrible school! I was paid very little and could barely survive (I didn't even have enough money for groceries). So, my co-worker told me about how she was making ends meet. I applied and was hired as an online part-time english teacher teaching children in China to read. I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I make about an extra $1000 a month. This past year, it has paid for my groceries, my electric bill, and my phone. It has been a real blessing. Over the summer, I had no job and I was not getting paid from the school I was at last year. So, I've continued to work for this company through the summer. The only problem is that we only get paid once a month. Therefore, it's been a little bit of a struggle.
This coming school year, I got a job at a much better school! I don't have to worry about next summer, because I get paid. I've been able to purchase a small home and I just feel a lot better and more independent. However, this summer, I have found the job to be incredibly difficult. The classes are only 25 minutes long. However, I could barely concentrate. Sometimes, the children just don't pay attention. They are usually at home on their ipads, laying in bed. They don't focus. Many times, they scream really loud. I don't know why they do that. But, they do! Then, because there's the pressure to finish the class in 25 minutes, I just feel really frustrated.
I need to keep this job during the coming school year, because honestly, now that I have a mortgage, I need the extra income. But, during the school year, I don't book as many classes. I usually just do 2 classes early in the morning and I'm finished. But, this summer has been exceptionally brutal, since I do 4-5 classes in a row.
My question is:
- Why do you think that it is so difficult? I teach a class of 22 students on a daily basis. So, why is this 1-1 25 min. class so difficult? If I could discover the reason for this, than maybe I can try to figure out a solution to make it easier on me?
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If you're used to 2x a day to teach a class and now there are 4-5, that's twice as many or more so of course it's going to take it's toll. If I read you correctly though, it's not really twice as many classes but one particular 1-1 25 min class that's so difficult? By 1-1, I assume this is not a class of 22 but one on one, meaning you only have one student. All I can think of in this case is that when one question is asked in a larger class, others may have wondered the same but did not ask or ask first, so their question is also answered when you answer the one. I remember this from school myself. I was shy and it was nice if someone else asked the same question I had. So you may be answering/clarifying for the one in the class of 22 as you see it, but may have answered for 5 or half of them all at once so it may seem you aren't asked as many questions as you are when its only one student. Unless a student really requires the one on one or its more pay, you might encourage students to be part of the larger class. If just wondering why it seems one person has as many question or more than in a larger class, now you know why it seems so. If I totally missed what you were trying to ask, then please rewrite your question differently for us.
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I can think of a number of reasons why you are feeling frustrated. For one thing I know that English as a second language is not the easiest language to teach. You mentioned that the students are at home and not in a formal classroom. This too can be frustrating for if they were in a formal classroom you would have their classroom teacher in the room and the student’s demeanor would be entirely different. Students in China are not like American students; they come to class and they act according to the rules in place at that school. Given that they are at home with no rules per say to follow the act as they please.
Let’s review for a moment; no class room structure for the students, a course that is not the easiest to teach reduced to 25 minute segments and you’re teaching four of them a day. I’m frustrated just writing this. Now add in the time difference of 11 to 14 hours depending on which coast you’re on. If you’re teaching in the morning your time it is close to bed time for them. If it is your evening it is their morning and they probably don’t want to be sitting with their IPad doing lessons plus you may want to be out with friends having a good time. Pardon me for saying this but this is a prescription for disaster from the start.
We see the problem what are the solutions? There are very few that I can see. The first and most important is preparation on your part. You are used to teaching a 45 or 50 minute class and your lesson plans and planning are geared to that timing. I do not see how you can teach all the nuances of our language in 25 minute segments in the constraints of the summer. What I believe you need to do is to structure your planning around the main points of our language. Give them the ability to read, write and speak the language and not worry so much about form, grammar and punctuation. I’ve had twelve years of English and I still need someone to proof read my writing. Thank god for secretaries.
Class control is the next biggest problem. My entire career has been spent in sales and marketing where I have had to work with people I have no control over. How I presented myself to them in training sessions is how I was able to control them and have them do what I needed them to do. If you picture you American classroom as a 3D setting and your virtual classroom 1D setting you will see the problem. In your American class room you have your voice, body language and facial expression to get your point across for control of your class. In your virtual classroom you have only your facial expression.
What I suggest you do is once you have pared your lesson plan to a 25 minute presentation practice it in front of a mirror. These children have very strict classroom teachers. You need to adopt a stern expression that says you will not accept any foolishness form them or they will fail. Failure is not an option to them. Your voice and face have to be sending the same message. Practicing in front of a mirror will help you adopt the look and voice sound you need to use with these children.
As one of my National Sales Mangers loved to say; “There are people who fail to plan and people who plan to fail.” You need to decide which one you are. No one I now plans to fail though some of us fail to plan. I believe with proper planning most of your problems will go away.
English was not my best subject in school and that was many decades ago. Please don’t send this back correct for grammatical mistakes. Good luck and thank you for being a teacher.
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Dear My Side job,
It sounds to me like your life is changing. You have more bills now. Your schedule has changed and you are required to do more in a shorted period of time. This can be stressful until you get into a routine. This means you need to be more prepared for your classes and step up your game.
You may need to spend more time preparing for your classes to make the most of the shorter periods. Kids scream and act unruly because they are stressed out too. It is summer, and they want to be at home. They want to be there as much as you do. So try something different, entertaining and fun.
Research teaching methods that are fun for you and the kids. Maybe spend that 25 minutes entertaining them with knowledge and then give them a packet of work to do at home. I am not a teacher, but I have homeschooling experience and I find that making it entertaining and fun keeps my children focused and motivated.
Remember, you are there for them. This is not about you. I know that sounds harsh, but it is the reality of the situation. You chose to be a teacher for a reason. Maybe it is time evaluate your reasons and take a look at why you started teaching in the first place.
Teachers have one of the most stressful jobs. There is a lot put on you to get these kids educated. So step it up and make it happen. Get up earlier and spend more time preparing at home so you do not have to deal with it in class. That class time should be about motivating them to get their work done. They can do that work at home.
I hope that some of what I said helps motivate you to find better ways to deal with your situation. Remember to stay positive and show your students you care about them. Get creative.
Let me know how it goes. You can email me anytime. I wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Gigglz
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