Unreasonable pressure from my tutor at college. Help please!

sw-nw

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I have struggled to understand what the OP's problem is, but that may be because she doesn't know what the problem is herself. That could be as much because the tutor has not communicated clearly as because the OP has not understood what has been said.

I once had to supervise and train someone on a training placement at work who was very slow to pick up new tasks, and seemed unable to retain information from one training session to the next. Every day we had to go through the same instructions, and watch carefully what was done, but it just didn't seem to sink in. I wondered if it was me, if I wasn't explaining things properly, so I had other colleagues sit in on my sessions to check my methods, and I asked other colleagues to do some training to see if their methods worked better.

I'm sure this person thought they were working very hard. They certainly objected to the fact that I said their work was too slow, and that this would need to improve. They couldn't seem to understand that in that office, you were generally shown a job, shown how to do it, allowed to do it while you were supervised, and then within a week you were expected to be able to do that job without someone looking over your shoulder all the time. These were not difficult tasks!

Sadly, I don't think this person every accepted what we were saying, and they didn't last long. We involved the training provider, another manager took over the supervision, we tried other methods. I'm sure this person left feeling quite aggrieved at our decision, and unable to understand what we were saying. But we could not keep them on when they were not able to do the job.

I don't know if the same is true for the OP, I don't know if the supervisor isn't communicating well, but I do know that just working hard and feeling that you OUGHT to be able to complete the course successfully isn't enough. If you're being told that you are not going to pass, then ask what the procedures are for appealing, and for re-taking exams or placements. Ask whoever supervised your school placement what the problems were - I especially didn't understand what went on there - and what you could do to improve your performance. And then work on those areas, whether you think they are fair comments or not.

I perhaps didn't explain my problem clearly in the first thread. I did try to put it on the following replies. Maybe other replies distracted you. In a word, the problem is: although English is not my first tongue, I didn't feel any difficultities on my course and at placement. However, the whole things happened made me feel they concetrated on that too much, even made up something confusing me. They only saw one side, didn't see another side of me.

Regarding to training, I am not sure if it's about English language's communication and understanding. I do know this type of person exists. Certainly not ME.

I will take (follow?) your advice. I will put all my thought in another reply.

sw-nw

To Liney and Fly Baby. As stated before, I did mention to my tutor, I could teach Chinese children and do multi-culture related work. Hope it will give you two some peace of mind. Again, as stated, when my tutor said no job for me, I said it to my tutor. She said she could check it for me. Then she told me no certificate now. If you were me, how would you think? It is not about English language to me.

To ceridwen: Thanks for your advice on learning English. I heard sort of them before, believed I did some of them when I was learning English. Then I was thinking language is all about able to communicate. Anyway, I didn't use language to make a living. Now, I should think to improve my English as natively as possible. Out of the topic, did anyone meet any native Chinese people here can speak English as native? and what are they doing?

To flossy_splodge: Thanks for the changes of my reply. I just tried to reply quickly, didn't check. I know "c" and "s". I may use "follow" sometimes, just heard of "do it" all the time. "Particully" is fat figures. didn't know about "but". I learned that "but" was informal English. Apart from "follow", others wouldn't happen in my essay.

Thanks for other inputs too.

To make up my mind all together, it has more room for me to improve my English language and I should do it.

As advised, I will ask my supervisor what I can improve.

Having a meeting with my tutor to explain: 1. my aim of study is not to teach English language to British children. 2. please still consider a certificate if I can finish the course and pass.

I do hope others can understand my problem. They know English is not my first language. Some evidences were made up to support that accordingly. I could be wrong, just a kind of feeling.

I hope someone can help me out this: I was forced to sign my tutor's comments about me and I don't believe the comments are correct. However my tutor just said she couldn't change. Would it affect the decision of my certificate?

ceridwen

I am glad you understand the need to improve your English.

As regards your thoughts about only teaching Chinese children or teaching in a "multicultural" context - I don't know what the availability of jobs is in your chosen field and how much specialisation is possible. I would have said that, even working in a "multicultural" context, it would be necessary to speak good English - as English will be the language in common of everyone there.

Also - if you are looking to working in that sort of context - then I imagine you will be restricted to only working in the largest of British cities - ones like London, Birmingham, Liverpool, etc. Reason - you wouldn't find much along the lines of Chinese or "multicultural" type contexts anywhere else in Britain. Elsewhere in Britain the local population will vary somewhere between 100% British and the vast majority being British. So - you would be very restricted as to what locations you could work in and I imagine your tutor would have concerns that you might decide to move to a less "multicultural" part of the country than you are currently in (with the resultant likelihood of disappointed expectations of both yourself and any groups you worked with).

You need to speak good enough English to be able to work at any location in Britain - and it's advisable to "brush up your language skills" whatever type of job you eventually do.

liney

sw-nw wrote: »

To Liney and Fly Baby. As stated before, I did mention to my tutor, I could teach Chinese children and do multi-culture related work. Hope it will give you two some peace of mind. Again, as stated, when my tutor said no job for me, I said it to my tutor. She said she could check it for me. Then she told me no certificate now. If you were me, how would you think? It is not about English language to me.

Working at a Nursery, you are teaching children to speak English whether knowingly or not..... or are you suggeting you want to work somewhere where you are only caring for Chinese children? In which case you are severely limited.

ceridwen

liney wrote: »

Working at a Nursery, you are teaching children to speak English whether knowingly or not..... or are you suggeting you want to work somewhere where you are only caring for Chinese children? In which case you are severely limited.

Which puts what I was trying to say even more clearly....and also raises the thought in my mind that it will be necessary to speak good English even if you were able to find a Chinese-only context to work in. Reason = the parents of those children will, presumably, want their children to be picking up the English language well wherever they are.

ceridwen

Zazen999 wrote: »

Oh - you were referring to me!

I thought you were referring to yourself yesterday.

I am afraid I don't find Xenophobia as hilarious as yourself....being on the receiving end of it so many times.

I certainly don't find xenophobia at all "hilarious". Personally - I take quite an interest in picking up what ideas I can from other cultures - no culture has the monopoly on "good taste" in anything. I'm amongst those British people who - put down in another country - will try to ensure that I have at least a few core words of their language and will instantly start looking to find out what the locals eat and where they go for recreation, etc (I'm certainly NOT a person who wants a "home from home" type setting and tries to change wherever I go to suit my tastes).

One thing I notice is that, even within Britain, I have to be aware of local cultural differences and not expect everything to be the same as it is in my own part of the country. Even as a British person - I am aware that I have to try and "fit in" as best I can in some other part of my own country if I am visiting there. Ways of living/foods available/etc can differ even within my own country - and, knowing that its incumbent upon me to adapt if elsewhere in the country, then I prefer to stay in my own part of the country. But - that's my choice and my preference.

I have certainly found that one can have "head on culture clashes" even within one's own country if one doesn't adapt to the way things are in that area and at least "show willing". Once you've "shown willing" - then you will find the locals agreeing with you if you say that you miss something that's readily available in your own part of the country/miss the lifestyle in your own part of the country. It's all just a question of accepting that the "home rules" have already been worked out - and most people will accept anyone who recognises that fact and then quite likely turn round and find out what they might like to emulate that the visitor knows about. To most of us - it's about "I'll show you my recipe - and then I'd like to know what your recipe is" (to put it in a cooking context - and I'll certainly "nab" recipes from anyone:D).

skintdragon

OP: "...I hope someone can help me out this: I was forced to sign my tutor's comments about me and I don't believe the comments are correct. However my tutor just said she couldn't change. Would it affect the decision of my certificate?[/QUOTE]"

If you felt uncomfortable with the comments your tutor made, why did you sign the document (especially as you stated you believed the comments were incorrect)? Please remember in future, you are an adult, and should NOT be forced into doing/ signing anything. Also, you must thoroughly understand what you are signing; if you have doubts, don't sign!

What exactly did this piece of paper say; did you receive a copy? I suspect the reason why the tutor cannot change it is because it may have gone to the external examiners, in which case, the only route you have left is the appeal process.

sw-nw

skintdragon wrote: »

OP: "...I hope someone can help me out this: I was forced to sign my tutor's comments about me and I don't believe the comments are correct. However my tutor just said she couldn't change. Would it affect the decision of my certificate?

"

If you felt uncomfortable with the comments your tutor made, why did you sign the document (especially as you stated you believed the comments were incorrect)? Please remember in future, you are an adult, and should NOT be forced into doing/ signing anything. Also, you must thoroughly understand what you are signing; if you have doubts, don't sign!

What exactly did this piece of paper say; did you receive a copy? I suspect the reason why the tutor cannot change it is because it may have gone to the external examiners, in which case, the only route you have left is the appeal process.[/QUOTE]

I trusted my tutor as a student. There were 2 comments I disagreed but signed. The first one said I didn't understand what staff aske me. Actually, it was a very quiet nursery, more staff than children, staff didn't speak much to me and children. The second one said I had no confidence to do tasks (for example, reading stories) in the class because of language. When I signed the first one, my tutor told me it wouldn't affect my certificate. The second one, I told her I disagreed, she just told me I needed to sign now. It must be a sort of standard here I should undertand better now.

anamenottaken

Unless your statement includes something like "I understand and agree with the above assessment", signing a tutor's comments does not of itself signify that you agree, only that you have seen the comments they have written.

slummymummyof3

I think there are a number of problems here op - if as a tutor I had concerns about a student, I would not award a certificate regardless of whether they told me they only wanted to teach Chinese children or not - providing someone with licence to practice when they are unsuitable could be opening up a potential can of worms.

From one of your posts earlier on, it sounds to me as if your tutor is concerned that you may be plagarising work - she has asked you to write her an essay in front of her.....need I say any more on that point? She is giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability - if the previous assignments have been all your own work then you have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if you have received input from friends etc then this is plagarism.

It is likely that there is a combination of concerns from your tutor and placement which build a complete picture together. These people hold the qualifications and have to make reasoned judgements about whether you are suitable to work in the environment you are currently training in. The placement obviously had concerns if the lady changed her plans so that you didn't read the story.

I think you should request a meeting with your personal tutor and the course leader to get a clearer picture.