MY METHOD OF STUDENT ACCEPTANCE I teach Chinese students, young and older alike, English. Ive experienced a lot of success here in China. Ive had one medical doctor who was accepted to a major research team at Harvard; another medical doctor who did research at John Hopkins and a 15 year old prodigy who is currently enrolled at Princeton. Ive been on television about 41 times at last count (was on again this past week). Ive been acknowledged as one of the top English language bloggers in China via the largest English newspaper in Asia, China Daily. Ive met the mayor of this city of 12.5 million people. Ive had lunch with him and his wife 4 times. Ive had dinner a few time with Xiao Gang, the former chairman of the Bank of China and current head of the Chinese equivalent of the SEC. Hes been one of my biggest fans on my blog and has promoted me to China Daily. And, Ive been chosen as the first foreign teacher in our city to ever receive an Outstanding Teacher of the Year award. Thus, I have a lot of parents who want me to teach English to them and their children. Most of them are wealthy parents and are looking for the best English instruction they can get for their kids. But, one thing Ive not yet figured out how to avoid is, some crazy parents. :) :) :) I got one today who came to allow me and my assistant to assess her childs English level. I turned them down because Im as much interested in the character of the parents as I am in the ability of the student. Ive learned that a crazy parent can cause you a lot of heart ache and take up a large amount of time. So, seeing that Im not out begging for students, I get to choose who I want and who I dont want. This lady today is definitely one I dont want. She was 35 minutes late. No call. No apology. Only the same excuse Ive heard before, traffic was bad. Well, anyone who has lived in this city for longer than 5 minutes already knows that the traffic is going to be bad and you need to adjust for it. But, thats not the only disqualification she exhibited. When she got here, she got on her phone talking very loudly (while I have other students studying, taking exams, etc.), walked anywhere in my apartment that she took a notion to go, interrupted other students by talking to them and had a general attitude of entitlement. On top of all that, her sons English abilities were nearly non-existent. I didnt have a place for him and I dont offer one on one tutoring myself. So, after we informed her that her sons English ability was very low, she said, Well, I wont come here and allow you to insult my son. I dont know if I want you teaching my son or not. I gently said, Ive already made the decision that we cant help you or your son. Youll need to go somewhere else to get his English training. She came unglued. Told me how much money she had, how she would let her son study here if she wanted and that I couldnt stop her. HA! HA! HA! I told her to leave. She got more angry. She said that she knew the mayor of Zhengzhou and she would have him to straighten me out. I told her that she was more than welcomed to do that and that he already knows me and knows all about me. So, please do contact him. With success, in whatever you do, you will still attract crazy situations from time to time. I was kind, kept my voice low, yet firm with her. I knew the outcome and it didnt involve me teaching her son or putting up with her. Ma Yi, the mayor of Zhengzhou will defend me to anyone who might come saying something negative about me. I am 100% confident of that. This city loves me. I love them. Nonetheless there are situations that still have to be dealt with. I dealt with her as calmly as anyone could, yet without sacrificing any of my own principles or requirements. What a wonderful challenge for me. These situations, as undesirable as they are, help me to grow as a person. It lets me know what I have inside of me. It lets me know that even when someone like this lady gets completely out of hand, I can remain calm and still stay firm. Wow! What a test. :) :) :) :) :)
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:07:06 +0000
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