Posts tagged teaching English
Chinese Social Media as an Educational Tool
Jan 24th
Social media is a good teaching aid not only in the United States but in China, especially for my generation. For my current teaching job, the two main social networking sites I use for education are Youku, one of China’s popular YouTube copycats, and QQ, specifically Q Zone.
A couple of months ago, I decided I needed to do some public relations for myself as a teacher. After having problems motivating the students in one of my classes, my Chinese friends suggested that I make myself seem like more of a friend to the students. I signed up for the most popular instant messenger client in China, QQ, specifically to communicate with students at my university. I also think this is a nice contact information alternative to my phone number, which many students I meet at campus events ask for.
One of QQ’s main benefits that I did not know about when I made this decision is that it’s a more comprehensive social application than simply an IM program. Everyone with a QQ account has an account on QQ’s social network, Q Zone.
The two main aspects of Q Zone I use are link sharing and notes. I use the link sharing primarily to humanize myself, by linking to online videos I like, for example. I use notes to suggest fun ways for students to improve their English, such as my favorite, appropriate English-language movies.
Before I started using QQ, I had already begun compiling playlists of music videos I like on Youku. After I joined QQ, I compiled a playlist of English-language music videos by artists who are popular among Chinese university students, all of which have English subtitles and some of which have both Chinese and English subtitles. I frequently refer students to this list both via QQ messages and in-class, and if I teach a song in an oral English class, it’s usually from this list.
“Russian Roulette” video from my Youku playlist “学习英语的音乐 (Music for Studying English)”
QQ is in Chinese, but I only write in English on QQ as a way to help my students. If I want to write something in Chinese online, I use 人人网校内(RenRenWangXiaoNei), China’s Facebook copycat that I joined shortly after arriving to practice my Chinese reading and writing. I don’t write much on Youku, but my playlist titles are usually bilingual or only in Chinese to make them search friendly to strangers.
My Youku profile
My Q Zone
My 人人网校内(RenRenWangXiaoNei) profile
UO PR Grads Who Now…Teach English in Korea
Oct 2nd
Since February of 2009, three of my fellow graduates from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication‘s public relations program have all begun teaching English in South Korea. All three students were interested in international cultures while in college and active in public relations on campus, specifically the Oregon Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. I felt the phenomenon was worth blogging about and interviewed them for this post.
Branden Johnson graduated in 2008. He served on the UO PRSSA Executive Board as PRSA Liason and directed our student-run firm, Allen Hall Public Relations, both during his final year.
Regina Mitchell also graduated in 2008. She participated in Allen Hall Public Relations and served as the guest services manager for the 2008 UO PRSSA Regional Activity.
Bryan Saxton graduated in 2009. He served as the 2008-2009 Web Chair on the UO PRSSA Executive Board and as 2007-2008 Public Relations Officer for International Student Association, one of the most active groups on campus.
Now, for the interview:
What made you decide to take up teaching English in Korea?
BJ: I was working at a small marketing agency in Portland last fall when I was laid off due to the increasingly dire economy. Teaching abroad was something I had wanted to do for years. Korea never would have been my first choice, but I found a Seattle-based recruiter on CraigsList, and had a job offer in less than a month. As opposed to a lot of other countries, the money and benefits in Korea are some of the best you’ll find right out of college. I have cheap health insurance, a generous salary, a pension plan, and my school pays my rent. They paid for my flight, helped me take alll of the necessary procedures to become a resident alien, and provided me with a furnished apartment in a nice area.
RM: I am going to be completely honest when I say the first thing that caught my eye about teaching in Korea was, well, the money. Korea is so wonderful and generous to their foreign teachers and offer the greatest benefits– free accomodation, high stipend for enrollment and finished contracts and a solid salary. Also, I figured it would be more worthwhile to immerse myself into a country I knew little about. I always wanted to travel and so all of this was made possible with the program I entered!
BS: MONEY! That, and the opportunity to travel. This is the most cost-effective way I know to run around Asia. I also have a lot of friends in South Korea, and it will be nice to reconnect with them. Other reasons include: living in a big city, adventure, doing something with my life that I didn’t see myself doing 5 years ago, ect.
Do you think your education in the J-school/PR program has helped you in your new job? If so, how?
BJ: I think my journalism degree has definitely helped in terms of being an effective English teacher. I am confident in my writing and comprehension of grammar, which were both fine-tuned in the J school. I also think that my leadership roles on campus contributed to my teaching abilities. Classrooms — especially kindergarten classrooms — are dynamic places that present unique and often challenging situations. A teacher has to be flexible yet maintain control and respect. It’s not easy, but my college experience prepared me in ways I never expected.
BJ: I think my journalism degree has definitely helped in terms of being an effective English teacher. I am confident in my writing and comprehension of grammar, which were both fine-tuned in the J school. I also think that my leadership roles on campus contributed to my teaching abilities. Classrooms — especially kindergarten classrooms — are dynamic places that present unique and often challenging situations. A teacher has to be flexible yet maintain control and respect. It’s not easy, but my college experience prepared me in ways I never expected.
RM: If there are a few things that I can thank the Journalism school for, it’s definitely the writing and public speaking practice. I’ve been challenged a few times on things such as English grammar, and I continually have to present lessons that are exciting. As a public relations major, it was essential to impress a client and perform to your best while connecting to your audience. The same is true with teaching.
BS: Not sure yet as I haven’t started working. But I’m pretty sure our command of grammar, punctuation and writing conventions will be helpful because we’ll be able to teach those to students.
What do you want to do after your contract is up (if you know)?
BJ: I’m still undecided about my future after next February. I met my boyfriend here, and a lot of the decision depends on his plans. I would be willing to stay another year or two, but I’m also anxious to get back to the States. I want to go back to get my master’s in elementary education, but first I have to do another year of undergrad to finish some prerequisites. Coming to Korea has taught me to let life take you where it will. This has been an amazing experience and I don’t want it to end. But, it has prepared me to take the next challenging steps in my life and career, and for that I am excited to move forward.
RM: After the contract, I will move back to Seattle and spend some time thinking of my next steps. During that “down” time, I could see myself either coming back or continuing ESL teaching abroad in another country. There’s a lot out there!
BS: Not sure yet. Work in PR? That’s what I want now, but that could change in a year or two. Right now I just want to travel, save up a bit of money and have some fun.
Some final words from Branden:
“Get out there and find what makes you happy. I graduated with a job in marketing and now I teach kindergarten halfway around the world. And I love it.”
An Update on my Professional Life
Sep 28th
I know I’ve been a bit hard to keep track of the past 15 months, frequently changing my jobs, internships, projects, and such. I thought the most recent change deserved a bit more attention because it’s the most drastic and also provides an opportunity to briefly reflect on my first year of work in China.
Since college graduation, I’ve been trying out and crossing off opportunities that I thought would be perfect for me but turned out not to be. Maybe working at a commercial art gallery, for example, is not my cup of tea, or maybe that’s only the case in China. There’s no way for me to know that right now because the only place I’ve worked since graduation is Beijing.
This month, I began working as an ESL teacher at a private university in the outskirts of Beijing called Beijing Geely University. An unpredictable drop in enrollment has led to few class hours for me, giving me the opportunity to come up with new classes, clubs, and events such as Creative Writing Club and a Halloween party. I’m also taking advantage of the extra time to study Chinese on my own. After my schedule finalizes in October or November, I plan on looking for freelance or volunteer work in the arts or writing fields in Beijing.
I’ve learned that working in China as a foreigner is usually unpredictable, which is both exciting and stressful. Some challenges specific to my first year of work in China:
- High turnover in all industries
- Confusing and costly immigration regulations
- Shrinking economy, especially in fields I’m most qualified for
- Lots of startups, which doesn’t guarantee that one’s employer or clients are well-run or going to prosper in the future. (This is not specific to anyone I’ve worked with, just a general observation.)
My new job appears to address these problems and provide me with stability that makes living overseas long-term more enjoyable. I additionally receive perks inherent with university work in China, such as a free apartment, paid vacation, and medical insurance.
I want to thank those who have mentored me in public relations and the arts. I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to be a teacher for the rest of my life. I am planning on trying to get a job at a worldwide public relations agency in Beijing in the next couple of years to make myself more marketable once I eventually return to North America. I see myself working in big agency public relations before eventually working in-house at an art organization or cause I’m passionate about, but that plan could change.
Along the same lines as this post, I know three other University of Oregon public relations graduates who are all currently teaching English in South Korea. They will be the subjects of one of my upcoming posts.
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