Sunday, October 21, 2018

How does one support international teachers?

A survey came out from our school in which they basically wanted to know "How can we better support our International Staff?"

Thoughts? I had a few...

As a mentoring committee, its not all about drinking and partying-that may be nice; but sometimes its just about enjoying us time and offering people a different perspective; finding things that work or that they enjoy. To be honest, to be a mentoring committee is extremely difficult because the committee puts the onus of staff happiness on themselves.

How are you supposed to assist people when the problem might sometimes..be above you? For example, maybe new teachers are unaware how much work might be too much work in a week night-my first couple years at MLIS were basically work till 9pm/arrive at school 6am (alternating days) and then go home/class. I later realized that the amount of work we do here, never lessens; never changes in the way we want it to. Its always going to be one of those things in life that we feel like, "I can do more".

What think that the committee can do then is,

1) Positive vibes, build people up, offer kind words, supportive remarks, hilarious memes (not coworker targeted)
2) At Xiao Chi open with we have had another successful week, thank you for all that you do!If you need to talk to us, find us in our office. Winning money is great though-don't change that!
3) Have people share some cool hobbies and interests that have been done/practiced through the lives of teachers
4) Offering up positive motivations that keep people motivated throughout the day.
5) Recognize that we need to have a staff that mingles with people OUTSIDE of our staff! We are so hell bent on getting people to spend time together here, but then is there not that idea of circulation and mundane lifestyle building up? What I am trying to suggest is that we not just look at mingling with our own staff but reach out, obviously some people are too busy take the time to put themselves in surreal situations where they meet new people; or recognize that sometimes staff members want to get away from "coworkers" because when teachers meet teachers...they talk like teachers...You ever met the IBM folks? The American School teachers? The Medical School Students? Why not? If you have, when have you invited them to "staff events"?

 Please keep in mind the following things-
1) I love the committee and its members
2) this took a lot of critical and creative thinking., my initial feedback was going to be all bubbly positive and nonsensical stroking of how great things are for teachers involved; however-that is not how progress is made, even if you don't like or don't understand my ideas-I shared some things that might be useful.
3) Some teachers are young and just want a life in which they can try to meet people, we can tell them that "well that is up to you to do"; but in the end its up to the committee to think, "what are we offering; and to what extent do we offer?"

these are thoughts, take'em/hate'em-I shared, thanks for your time and good luck.

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