Observed teacher #3 for 2 classes. Both classes were “privately funded” (one was an active class, the other not so much so). Apparently in China, as long as you score well on the entrance exams, you can attend college for free. However if you didn’t score well, or you want to attend […]
To get my work visa, I needed to get a medical exam. I was surprised how detailed it is… Chest X-rays and Ultrasounds & EKGs oh my :-p. Luckily the school paid for it (520rmb…apparently its gone up several times in the last few years), and I even got a Medical kit out […]
I observed another foreign language teacher’s (sophomore) oral English class today. Well actually 1.5 classes (sat in for the first half of a second class, doing my introduction thing). The teacher suggested it would be a good idea for me to ask everyone to ask me a question as part of my introduction. […]
I am very happy that I do not teach until the 19th - Observing how an Oral English class is taught is different then how I thought it would be. The teacher I was shadowing had me introduce myself, the students just had this weird look before I said anything, then they just had […]
From the front page of my school’s english website:
Introduction
Suzhou University of Science and Technology (SUST) […]
Received a call from the teaching assistant this morning… Apparently we are back on the same track of me not starting to teach until the 19th (Actually start on the 18th, but I have no classes to teach on Thursdays
)…I was told the students came back today, but are not ready for classes […]
Well just got a call from the teaching assistant (yes at 10:30pm) that I will start teaching tomorrow (instead of the 19th)… He apologized and said he should have to me earlier today…uh-huh….
I was planning on observing another Foreign Language teacher do his thing, but I guess it’ll be straight to the pool for me… […]
After my horrid first attempt to go around to see Suzhou, I’ve decided to try again today. Got a little stir crazy again This time around I hailed a taxi to take me to the Humble Administrator’s garden 拙政园 (though Suzhou is know for it’s gardens & canals, I would […]
The crowds/congestion during National Holiday week are crazy… Visiting the supermarket (10 min. walk from my place) during this time wasn’t much fun… It was a very much ‘fend-for-yourself’ mentality when visiting…carts plowed into you, shoving, elbowing & line cutting everywhere…kinda felt like last minute hurricane prep shopping at Publix 12 hours before […]
After the death of my original blog by switching web hosts & several failed attempts at bring back the old content - I’ve decided to start anew… My blog has been brought back at this time to log my year in Suzhou, China. Though I will most likely write more about other things […]