In preparation for our teaching training next week, we conducted an English assessment of the middle school teachers with whom we will be working-- part standardized test, part oral exam. Administering a standardized test in China is pretty much like giving one anywhere else. The examinees are uptight, a few glance at each other's papers and we have to get them to stop.
The official these teachers report to gave them a "pep talk" before they began the exam. I didn't understand his words, but I saw them getting more anxious.
In the oral exam, I asked the teachers about their satisfactions and frustrations. Here were their gripes: Teachers don't always receive the respect they deserve.Not everyone wants to learn, and the students who don't want to study make problems for others. When students won't study, parents blame this on teachers. Students don't want to be quiet and allow them to teach. Homework is not always well done. When test scores are low, officials say it's their fault. Chinese teachers have "merit" pay. They think when students do well, the quality of the student not the quality of the teacher makes the difference.
Those of you who teach: Does any of this sound familiar?
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