My 4th post - slowly getting used to blogging.
Note: all dollars are US$. The exchange rate I am using at the moment is US$1 = Yuan 6.2
I shouldn't have said anything about Spring arriving in the last post - the following morning 24 March dawned grey and cold and then rain arrived on 25 March. Jinxed it! We have put away the long-johns, but it looks as if it will be a while yet before we are wearing shorts.....
At the end of each month I will include lists of key events, international and Chinese, which took place. We live in an age of 'information overload' and I find that unless I compile such lists important events quickly become a blur.
Today's post focuses on students and teaching. We have just completed the 5th week of this semester (30% of the way through already!) and I have compiled information on my students which is provided below.
I will do another post over the weekend which will focus on news items.
China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong Province (www.upc.edu.cn )
A brief introduction of the China University of Petroleum (UPC).
UPC has two campuses, one in Dongying and the other in Qingdao, both in Shandong Province (roughly half way between Beijing and Shanghai). Our campus is located about 30 km south of Qingdao City, in the suburb of Huangdao. The campus is on Tang Dao Wan Bay - see map below. We are very fortunate to be right on the coast, which makes for a fairly temperate climate and relatively fresh air.
 |
| The campus of China University of Petroleum is across the road from Tang Dao Wan Bay. |
 |
| The main gate (North Gate) of UPC with the tall Administration Building in the background. |
-thumb-300x401-137199.jpg) |
| The symbol of UPC is the 'Goddess of the Sun', the provider of nature's bounty such as oil and gas resources. |
 |
| The emblem of UPC incorporates the Goddess of the Sun symbol. The university was founded in 1953. |
UPC is one of three key universities in Shandong Province which are directly administered by the Ministry of Education in Beijing. They are Shandong University in Jinan, and Ocean University and China University of Petroleum which are both located in Qingdao.
Vera and I had one year in Dongying (2009-10), and this is our third year teaching on the Qingdao campus.
My teaching schedule, February to June 2014
At the moment I have 6 classes a week (expect to get 2 more in April). My teaching schedule is:
Monday, 7 – 9pm (NM65, Western Culture)
Tuesday, 7 – 9pm (DM1202, Oral English)
Wednesday, 4 – 6pm (DM1202, Oral English)
Thursday, 4 – 6pm DM1202, Oral); 7 – 9pm (NM224, Culture)
Saturday, 7 – 9pm (DM1201, Oral).
Unusually, this semester I have 4 night classes, and no morning classes. Thursdays are a bit tight with only an hour for dinner between classes.
I am still getting used to teaching on Saturday nights. Actually, I asked the students if they wanted to change the time to Saturday morning or afternoon, but they preferred to stay with Saturday night. Ugh! These kids are keen - can you imagine Australian or American college students going to class 7 - 9pm on Saturday night? No way.
Teaching the night class can be challenging. It is the end of a long day for the students, and many are tired. I recall when I had night classes (almost 50 years ago!), despite my best efforts I would always drift off for a few minutes about half an hour into the lecture. I try my best to make the classes interesting but often see students nodding off.
Teaching the night class can be challenging. It is the end of a long day for the students, and many are tired. I recall when I had night classes (almost 50 years ago!), despite my best efforts I would always drift off for a few minutes about half an hour into the lecture. I try my best to make the classes interesting but often see students nodding off.
Still, I’m happy with my teaching schedule this semester. Twelve hours a week has been pretty cruisy, and I've had a lot of time for personal activities (such as starting this blog!).
Yesterday I heard that a group of 28 staff from the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) will arrive in 2 weeks to start a three month intensive English course and I have been asked to take them for 3 classes (6 hours) a week. So, my relaxed lifestyle is about to come to an abrupt end.
Still, even 18 hours a week should be fine. Chinese students are dedicated and respectful, and I enjoy teaching them. An adult group will be different, but should provide opportunities for interesting discussions.
Foreign teachers at this university are paid a basic Y2,000 per month plus Y50 for each teaching hour. So at the moment with 12 hours a week I am earning Y500 + Y600 = Y1,100 ($180) per week. Our accommodation is two rooms in one of the residential buildings on campus and is free. We don't pay for utilities such as electricity, but we pay for our own drinking water and meals. We don't have a kitchen, so eat in student dining halls or sometimes at restaurants outside the campus.
My pay of $180 per week doesn't sound like much, but the cost of living is low and Vera and I can manage easily on my salary, except for our regular trips back home which we have to fund from our own sources.
My impression is that my pay is about average in urban China. One of the American teachers is married to a local girl, who has a clerical job in the university's foreign students section - she has a college degree and good English - her salary is about $80 per week. So I am not doing too badly compared to her.
It's nice to be in a place where you can still get a meal for under $2 and it costs 15 cents to ride the bus across town.
Yesterday I heard that a group of 28 staff from the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) will arrive in 2 weeks to start a three month intensive English course and I have been asked to take them for 3 classes (6 hours) a week. So, my relaxed lifestyle is about to come to an abrupt end.
Still, even 18 hours a week should be fine. Chinese students are dedicated and respectful, and I enjoy teaching them. An adult group will be different, but should provide opportunities for interesting discussions.
Foreign teachers at this university are paid a basic Y2,000 per month plus Y50 for each teaching hour. So at the moment with 12 hours a week I am earning Y500 + Y600 = Y1,100 ($180) per week. Our accommodation is two rooms in one of the residential buildings on campus and is free. We don't pay for utilities such as electricity, but we pay for our own drinking water and meals. We don't have a kitchen, so eat in student dining halls or sometimes at restaurants outside the campus.
My pay of $180 per week doesn't sound like much, but the cost of living is low and Vera and I can manage easily on my salary, except for our regular trips back home which we have to fund from our own sources.
My impression is that my pay is about average in urban China. One of the American teachers is married to a local girl, who has a clerical job in the university's foreign students section - she has a college degree and good English - her salary is about $80 per week. So I am not doing too badly compared to her.
It's nice to be in a place where you can still get a meal for under $2 and it costs 15 cents to ride the bus across town.
The following table contains an overview of my classes this semester.
Summaries of Alex’s
classes, February – June 2014
Double Major 1201
|
Double Major 1202
|
Non Major 65
|
Non Major 224
|
|
Course
|
Oral
English
|
Oral
English
|
Western Culture
|
Western Culture
|
Hours
per week
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
Number
in class
|
42
|
41
|
60
|
60
|
% girls
|
60%
|
76%
|
33%
|
27%
|
% boys
|
40%
|
24%
|
67%
|
73%
|
Main
major
|
||||
Petroleum Engineering
|
9%
|
6%
|
18%
|
43%
|
Storage Engineering
|
14%
|
-
|
3%
|
2%
|
Control Engineering
|
5%
|
9%
|
6%
|
2%
|
Safety Engineering
|
2%
|
9%
|
6%
|
-
|
Resource Engineering
|
9%
|
11%
|
3%
|
10%
|
Law
|
14%
|
2%
|
-
|
-
|
Other majors
|
47%
|
63%
|
64%
|
43%
|
Left
handed
|
5%
|
0%
|
7%
|
5%
|
Drivers
licence
|
12%
|
8%
|
13%
|
17%
|
Given
name
|
||||
One character
|
33%
|
33%
|
27%
|
32%
|
Two characters
|
67%
|
67%
|
73%
|
68%
|
Home
Province
|
||||
Shandong
|
67%
|
54%
|
42%
|
26%
|
Other provinces
|
33%
(6 other)
|
46%
(11 other)
|
58%
(19 other)
|
74%
(18 other)
|
Parents
jobs
|
||||
Farmers
|
14%
|
17%
|
28%
|
30%
|
Workers
|
35%
|
33%
|
37%
|
24%
|
Business
|
11%
|
14%
|
4%
|
8%
|
Teachers
|
11%
|
9%
|
10%
|
14%
|
Doctor / nurse
|
5%
|
10%
|
2%
|
3%
|
Other
|
24%
|
17%
|
19%
|
21%
|
Hobbies
(most popular)
|
||||
1st
|
Movies
|
Reading
|
Movies
|
Reading
|
2nd
|
Reading
|
Movies
|
Basketball
|
Basketball
|
3rd
|
Music
|
Shopping
|
Reading
|
Music
|
4th
|
Jogging
|
Music
|
Music
|
Movies
|
5th
|
Swimming
|
Sleeping
|
Football
|
Football
|
Comments on class summaries
Double Majors
These students are doing 2 majors: their ‘main’ major (such as Petroleum
Engineering) and English as their ‘minor’ major. They have to be in the top 30% of their main
majors before they are admitted into Double Major. They are the busiest students on campus, with
over 40 'contact hours' of lectures a week (see example of weekly schedule below for details).
Double Majors will graduate with two degrees: one for their main major (eg Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering) and the other for English (ie a Bachelor of Arts in English). I think we call this a Double Degree in Australia.
Double Majors will graduate with two degrees: one for their main major (eg Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering) and the other for English (ie a Bachelor of Arts in English). I think we call this a Double Degree in Australia.
I’m intrigued that there are more girls than boys in the
Double Major classes because most of the students come from Engineering and
there are 4 or 5 times as many boys doing those courses. I guess girls are more interested in English
(and better at it) and maybe they also have to get that extra edge to compete
with boys in the job market. But I am still surprised
that, relatively, so many more girls are willing (and able) to take on the
additional burden of a second major.
The students in my Double Major classes are Sophomores – that
is, in the 2nd year of a four year degree.
Non Majors
These students come from a variety of majors. All students can apply to do one or two
“optional” or “elective” classes each semester.
They can select from a wide range including Chinese History; Western
Music; Calligraphy; Multimedia; Marketing; Finance; Psychology; Western
Culture; etc.
About 150 students applied to do each of my Culture classes,
and 60 were successful. The course will
go for 16 weeks, with the final exam in Week 17.
Most of the students are Juniors (in 3rd Year),
with some Sophomores (2nd Year).
Previously I have also had some Seniors (4th Year) but not
this semester.
We use the descriptor "Non Majors", but it would probably be clearer to call them Non English Majors. All English major students do Western Culture as a compulsory unit, but students doing other majors can take it as an 'optional' unit.
We use the descriptor "Non Majors", but it would probably be clearer to call them Non English Majors. All English major students do Western Culture as a compulsory unit, but students doing other majors can take it as an 'optional' unit.
Hours per week
Each class comprises 2 x 50 minute lessons. The Double Major students have 2 Oral
English classes a week, and the Non Major students have one Western Culture
class a week.
Handedness
From my research on the web, about 9 - 10% of the population in Western countries is left-handed. My observation of Chinese college students is that the proportion of left-handedness is about 4 - 5%. I ask this question to
see how many left-handed students there are in my current classes.
Drivers licence
This is a sort of economic indicator, and I usually ask my
classes how many students have drivers licences. I’ve noticed a significant increase in the
last 4 years - at that time only 1% or 2% had drivers licences - which is a reflection of the rapid economic development of
China and the spreading wealth.
Given names
Overall, about 40% of Chinese have given names of one
character and 60% have two characters. I like to see how my students compare to the aggregate.
.
Home Province
I am interested to know which area of China my students come
from. The University of Petroleum is
located in Shandong Province and the greatest number (often more than 50%) come
from this Province.
Shandong Province is about the same size in area as the State of
Florida in the USA, or about 70% the size of the State of Victoria and 20% the size
of the State of NSW in Australia. The
2010 census showed Shandong with a population of 96 million (the second
largest Province in China by population).
 |
| Shandong Province. Our campus is near Qingdao City, on the coast of the Yellow Sea. |
Parents jobs
This statistic can be a guide to the socio-economic
background of the students, particularly how many students come from “the
countryside”. But it must be taken as an
indication only, because these days so many farmers have jobs as “workers”.
The other point to note is that in China the descriptor “workers”
is often used in a very general way, covering blue collar and white collar
jobs. So this statistic needs to be
viewed with care.
Hobbies
This provides an idea of what the students like to do in
their spare time. But, again, it is an
indication only as hobbies can vary greatly with time and place. Many students say 'reading' is their main hobby, but when I delve further very few have actually read books (either paper or electronic) in recent months. Perhaps it is more of a wish than reality in their busy study schedule?
Incidentally, 'football' refers to soccer, which is becoming popular here. It is the only kind of football they know.
From my observation, Chinese college students have at least
twice as many ‘contact hours’ with lecturers compared to Australian college
students. This is a reflection of the
different approach to learning. Here
students are given much more information by lecturers, while in Australia a
lecturer will normally introduce a concept and then students have to research it to
develop their own understanding.
A report released 6 March concluded that "...an informal environment, sited in reality, is best for learning a second language .... with a focus on active communication rather than vocabulary and grammar."
My sentiments exactly. It reflects the teaching approach I have developed over the last 3 years.
The China Daily did a story on an unusual activity I did in my Oral English classes last year. I asked them to compose love poems with an International Trade theme. The journalist called it 'wacky', but I prefer to think of it as innovative or perhaps unorthodox. What do you think?
Follow this link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-07/05/content_16737867.htm
...
That's all for now.
Best wishes, alex & vera olah
Teaching English at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao Shandong
Friday 28 March 2014
Incidentally, 'football' refers to soccer, which is becoming popular here. It is the only kind of football they know.
A Double Major student's weekly class schedule
Weekly class schedule for a student in Double Major 1202
whose main major is Safety Engineering,
February – June 2014
Time
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wed
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
8
– 9.50am
|
Electrical engineer
|
Materials engineer
|
English (college)
|
Thermo-dynamics
|
Psychology
(optional)
|
Electrical engineer
|
-
|
10.10am
– 12 noon
|
English
(college)
|
Thermo-dynamics
|
Physical education
|
Electrical engineer
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
– 3.50pm
|
Marxism
|
Chemistry
|
Environ
(optional)
|
Chemistry
|
Physics
|
Western culture
|
-
|
4.10
– 6pm
|
Western Culture
|
English (listening)
|
English (oral)
|
Marxism
|
Physics
|
News (optional)
|
English (reading)
|
7
– 8.50pm
|
English (listening)
|
English (oral)
|
English (listening)
|
Materials engineer
|
English (reading)
|
-
|
-
|
Per week: 25 normal classes plus 3 optional classes
(environment, psychology, news).
Each class comprises 2 x 50 minute lessons. There is a 10 minute
break between the two lessons.
So, this Double Major student has 25 classes a week which is
50 lessons (or 50 ‘contact hours’ with lecturers).
On top of that she has registered for 3 optional or elective classes
which are subjects of personal interest to her.
Some other students said they have slightly fewer classes than
this girl doing Safety Engineering, but all have more than 20 classes (40 contact
hours) per week.
The students said their teachers don’t allocate much homework. Most said they do about 1.5 hours of ‘self-study’
a day, usually from 9pm when their lectures finish. They are normally asleep by 11pm.
You can see that a Double Major has a very tough schedule. Actually, it's more than most full time jobs; certainly doesn’t leave much time for other
activities.
I asked some of the Double Major students why they had taken
on such a huge burden? Most said that a good knowledge of English is important in China today and they hoped that their English skills
will give them an edge when they look for a job after graduation.
Teaching approach
A report released 6 March concluded that "...an informal environment, sited in reality, is best for learning a second language .... with a focus on active communication rather than vocabulary and grammar."
My sentiments exactly. It reflects the teaching approach I have developed over the last 3 years.
The China Daily did a story on an unusual activity I did in my Oral English classes last year. I asked them to compose love poems with an International Trade theme. The journalist called it 'wacky', but I prefer to think of it as innovative or perhaps unorthodox. What do you think?
Follow this link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-07/05/content_16737867.htm
...
That's all for now.
Best wishes, alex & vera olah
Teaching English at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao Shandong
Friday 28 March 2014
