Editor’s note

Many people view teaching as “a job that could provide a steady income with long winter and summer holidays”. Is teaching more to you than just a “job”? Share your story if you have teaching experience in China.

TedM (UK)In most developed countries, teaching is a profession. Unfortunately, in many parts of this country it is still regarded as just a job. One of my lectures is about developing a teaching profession. There are many inexperienced and unqualified foreigners who can get such “job” here in China. Those who are professionals can often be disillusioned while working in some Chinese schools where methods are so outdated and ineffective, where there is little forward planning, no initiative and a reluctance to change or do anything different. These are the teachers who want to improve education here and work hard to achieve this despite the low pay and sometimes poor conditions and resources. A successful teacher is a passionate teacher who behaves in a professional manner, whether Chinese or foreign.

HenLaoLaoShi (expat in China)I know a number of Chinese teachers who would certainly say that being a teacher is their passion. For me, as a foreign teacher, if I was not passionate about teaching, I would not be here.
My most amusing episode was the time I taught the wrong class. I had nine separate classes that year. I entered a classroom one morning and began my class. I recognized the students as some of my students and thought no more about it. At one point during the class the head teacher for that class came by and looked in the window, but said nothing. Long story short, I was in the wrong class and both the students and the teacher let me teach the whole class and never said a word.

Seneca (expat in China)You have to love what you are doing for a living, if not you should find a different line of work. Teaching is for people who like to interact, to feel other people’s moods and help improve them. If you have passion for your work, your class and your subject, you can make a difference. Foreign teachers bring more passion to this profession because they studied relevant courses at a university of their own decision.
I have met many Chinese teachers who were in it for the job stability and the easy working conditions. Passion just is not their forte but they make up for it by planning their lessons down to the last 3 minutes of every class. They are well prepared for the lessons they are giving on the same day or maybe the same week. They are often exhausted from a day of work because of the long prep work and the attention to minute details required of them.

mbursian (US)I am a certified and degreed teacher from the US, I am by all rights a professional by my credentials and experience. I also come from a family of educators, a family tradition, so to speak. A true educator must be passionate about teaching and the subject. A true educator must have the ability to use various means and methods to develop and build on their student’s proficiency skills.

Elizabeth (UK)I have been teaching for thirty years and I couldn’t do my job day after day if I didn’t love the kids and what goes on in my classroom. I think successful teachers who are proud of what they do are driven by something that those outside the profession don’t understand.