An Ordinary Test "Created" By A Citizen Of An ASEAN Member Country For M.1 Students...

lostinisaan · November 5, 2014

Hello and Sawasdee Khrap,

I just found out that a colleuege of mine took my midterm test, as he has to “redo” his tests now. Of course did he not ask, if that’s okay for me.

He’s at my school for three years now and I’m not trying to badmouth him, neither is it a racist post.

Thought about a competition for my grade six kids, who’ll find more msitakes.

I was shocked when I saw his test, that’s why I posted the second part of it.

Please TVF members, tell me that this is an exception. Please.

Question # 15: “ A girl has two pets he called her cat Maew. Maew came if the girl called.”

( I hope not in a sexual way.) Preapared by……

Please see attached file and "read" the rest and please let me know if I should have a chat with our director.

There’s a high possibility that I'll get these kids next year. What would you do, if you were in my shoes? I don't have a problem that he's taking my tests, but enough is enough.

Thanks for any honest opinions.

masuk · November 5, 2014

There are a number of mistakes in both your mail and the test, but I am sure you realised this about the test.

It would have been best to have it proof-read by a native speaker.

I'm sure there would be many readers on this site who would not mind helping you with future tests before they're issued to the students.

lostinisaan · November 5, 2014

There are a number of mistakes in both your mail and the test, but I am sure you realised this about the test.

It would have been best to have it proof-read by a native speaker.

I'm sure there would be many readers on this site who would not mind helping you with future tests before they're issued to the students.

You obviously don't get it.

johnnynmonic · November 5, 2014

9 out 10 in the region...

aarontendo · November 5, 2014

Eh it's Thailand. We're doing a movie day today for my after school class because, well, yeah.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. For what it's worth, when I worked with the Thai English teachers they really <deleted> up tests on a regular basis . Didn't stop them from still the school from keeping them.

Have a laugn and try to stay positive. Whole thing here is a debacle so why worry.

lostinisaan · November 5, 2014

Eh it's Thailand. We're doing a movie day today for my after school class because, well, yeah.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. For what it's worth, when I worked with the Thai English teachers they really <deleted> up tests on a regular basis . Didn't stop them from still the school from keeping them.

Have a laugn and try to stay positive. Whole thing here is a debacle so why worry.

Thanks. dude. Yep, it's Thailand.

I was more concerned to go to the director, who already hates the guy who made this "test."

The island guy could have asked me for permission to use my tests, wouldn't have been a problem.

But just taking my tests, where I sat for quite a few hours to make them, isn't cool.

Should I really consider that the guy in question has three kids to feed, or is it more important to have better educated kids next year through a new teacher?

I'm living here for 12 years and I'd prefer a better teacher. Just common sense.

Would you go and have a chat with the director, which would be the end of this guy's career?

I only want to hear some guys' opinions, not a proof reader for tests.... Thanks a lot in advance.

Edited November 5, 2014 by lostinisaan

casualbiker · November 5, 2014

The test is below par... are you sure this is the same as he submitted ( I have had my tests changed by Thai and Filipino staff) if yes then he is dumbing it down (thaiglish) which is a mistake. I personally don't think it's your place to complain, that's the Directors job.

No offence meant but your own sentence structure and use of words is sometimes lacking (maybe due to posting quickly)

lostinisaan · November 5, 2014

The test is below par... are you sure this is the same as he submitted ( I have had my tests changed by Thai and Filipino staff) if yes then he is dumbing it down (thaiglish) which is a mistake. I personally don't think it's your place to complain, that's the Directors job.

No offence meant but your own sentence structure and use of words is sometimes lacking (maybe due to posting quickly)

Thanks a lot. It's the same test, he gave to his students at the end of last term.

He isn't "dumbing" it down, he just doesn't understand English good enough to teach it. (His signature is under the yellow tape.)

He's still here, because he knows what the right people wanna hear.

Ajarn up and down, if you know what I mean. Sweeping some floors ,etc..does the rest.

When I write a post here I usually type fast and sometimes do other things at the same time.

I might just let it go, but will have to tell him to ask me next time when using my stuff.

Cheers-

brianp0803 · November 5, 2014

At my school the department head reviews all tests before they are copied and given to the students.

You can suggest this policy and offer your tests to be reviewed first.

Then you are not blaming anybody but suggesting a good policy.

I think you have been teaching a long time. How does he compare to the likely replacements available?

Is he open to suggestions and wants to improve?

Some people realize their weaknesses and welcome constructive non - judgemental suggestions.

If the director likes him then complaining might hurt your position.

Typing messages on our phones and publishing exams to students is very different in checking spelling and grammar.

brianp0803 · November 5, 2014

I have gone to conferences and been marking tests during break time and other teachers have asked to take a picture of my test.

I am flattered, but I do spend a lot of time trying to be creative and have question for all levels.

I spend more time making my tests than my students do studying and taking my tests. Maybe not efficient use of time but it is my choice.

lostinisaan · November 5, 2014

At my school the department head reviews all tests before they are copied and given to the students.

You can suggest this policy and offer your tests to be reviewed first.

Then you are not blaming anybody but suggesting a good policy.

I think you have been teaching a long time. How does he compare to the likely replacements available?

Is he open to suggestions and wants to improve?

Some people realize their weaknesses and welcome constructive non - judgemental suggestions.

If the director likes him then complaining might hurt your position.

Typing messages on our phones and publishing exams to students is very different in checking spelling and grammar.

Some really good thoughts, thanks. But I'd be the one who'd have to "review" all the tests before they are copied.

The director already dislikes him, ( hate would be more approbate) as he never had a work permit for the last two years, but got all reimbursed.

Which finally led them to the decision not to pay for any expenses this year.

He's also pretty hard to understand, so there's no way to point out his mistakes.

But it looks like they're planning to change their employment policy and he'll be gone next year.

My schedule is already filled with all sorts of "extracurricular activities", so no time to "teach" this guy how to teach.

If I'm still at this school next year, then I'll also be a part of the hiring foreigners team. Again, thanks a lot. Really appreciate your posts.

stubuzz · November 5, 2014

Thought about a competition for my grade six kids, who’ll find more msitakes.

How did your colleague take your test? Do you not store them securely?

casualbiker · November 5, 2014

Thought about a competition for my grade six kids, who’ll find more msitakes.

How did your colleague take your test? Do you not store them securely?

I don't know about LII but I lock mine in Fort Knox, it's a Bugger to get them back out again! :-D

brianp0803 · November 5, 2014

I keep my tests and lesson plans on the shared drive for teachers

I think cooperation is good unless one sided and no acknowledge or appreciation was given.

We all want to improve teaching quality and students learning.

As an engineer, a new hire was constantly asking me questions.

People told me fast she was learning. When she walked into my office and asked a question then I heard her sharing HER discovery I became a vault. She became frustrated.

brianp0803 · November 5, 2014

Since you are the head teacher I hope you have reduced teaching hours.

I think it would be good policy to review all tests for correctness, clarity and appropriate level. Not just for problem teachers.

I wish someone could review my tests for technical difficulty but I appreciate the head teacher checking my format, consistency of font and grammar.

I try to have good technical content but also want it to look professional.

Eddy B · November 5, 2014

Question 15 is completely wrong as the personal pronouns are for both male and female, within the same sentence. If he just copied your test than maybe you need to re-write your tests. If he re-wrote your tests but makes these kind of errors he needs a slap.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Eddy B

SlyAnimal · November 5, 2014

That test was prepared by a foreign teacher at your school.....

I think almost every question has either grammatical errors, spelling mistakes or questions which don't adequately match the material (e.g. The number of eggs they buy doesn't necessarily mean that's how many they wanted, thus should be phrased differently).

The test is probably better than what many Thai teachers would have done if they wrote their own test.

But foreign teachers are hired because they're meant to be more proficient at English, and even if they're not a NES they should, as a specialist foreign teacher, do better than this.

Personally I believe that non-NES should only be hired as subject teachers, rather than English teachers, and this test re-affirms that belief.

As for what you should do....I'd say that's upto you. If it were me, I'd consider the personalities of the director or head of dept and my relationship with them before I said anything. Also of course remember that the foreign teacher would potentially hate you forever if they find out (Although I doubt you guys are friends anyway lol).

Also the school probably wouldn't fire them, but would likely take the teacher's lack of ability into account when deciding on whether to renew their contract next year or not.

It's kinda funny sometimes, as I remove posts and warn ppl for being critical of grammar on the forums here (as it's trolling), but I actually get really annoyed when I see grammatical/spelling errors and they practically jump off the page at me lol (I'm very understanding that this is an Internet forum though lol). Seeing this test, and knowing it's written by a Foreign teacher, really annoys me, as their English should be of a higher standard.

aarontendo · November 6, 2014

I was just having a chat with a friend of mine about this, and we both shared that we've both been in workplaces where a Thai teacher would at some point take the exams to be proofread (either themselves, or an outside Thai party). The exams would then be given to students with numerous mistakes, which strangely enough weren't in the original, native-speaker copy of the test.

Thailand ><

lostinisaan · November 6, 2014

I was just having a chat with a friend of mine about this, and we both shared that we've both been in workplaces where a Thai teacher would at some point take the exams to be proofread (either themselves, or an outside Thai party). The exams would then be given to students with numerous mistakes, which strangely enough weren't in the original, native-speaker copy of the test.

Thailand ><

Please ask your friend, when Susie's birthday is. If you know the answer, you'll be given a highly respective certificate for your bathroom wall.. Question 21.....

Edited November 6, 2014 by lostinisaan

aarontendo · November 6, 2014

Yep, try not to get any more of your exams stolen there sport ;p

brianp0803 · November 6, 2014

If you quit a school at the end of contract, would you leave your worksheets and exams for the next teacher to know what was taught before, or keep all your hard work private?

masuk · November 6, 2014

Question 15 is completely wrong as the personal pronouns are for both male and female, within the same sentence. If he just copied your test than maybe you need to re-write your tests. If he re-wrote your tests but makes these kind of errors he needs a slap.

The same thing occurred to me.

It's not clear if the teacher who copied the test re-wrote this and made all the mistakes, or he copied it with the numerous mistakes already there.

masuk · November 6, 2014

Not wishing to be picky, but are you sure this is written by a native speaker, English teacher. The spelling, tenses, grammar and choice of words leave me in doubt.

If a student submitted this, I'd return it and ask him to start again.