Getting Out of the Bubble

[NOTE: Pictures throughout are from October Holiday] The biggest difference between working in Suzhou and working with Aston in Yinchuan is the seriousness of the work we do. In Suzhou, teaching was fun and almost a game. The CTs didn't care what we did; at best, they were mildly curious, and at worst were completely absent. In Suzhou, a class was considered a success if maybe 30% of the class of 50 remembered any significant part of what was being taught, and if chaos didn't reign in the classroom. What I taught was a mishmash of what I fancied, what I thought the class would enjoy, and some vague concept of continuity and progress at the back of my mind. And it was fun, it was a good introduction to teaching and a gentle easing in to China. But now we're in Yinchuan. Spot the foreign teachers! : Aston FTs and CTs Since we got back to work from the October Holiday break something has subtly changed with the attitudes towards teaching. Our first month he