Thursday 16^th November, 2017 2200

Christ, never thought I would be typing so soon after posting!

Just had an email re end of term exams. Fine by me, in 4 weeks I start testing. They want a detailed analysis of how I mark, a copy of the test paper and all sorts of other things.

I suspect I may yet again become public enemy number one. Please don't get me wrong, I cannot at present (although I have not taught the Peili students for long) say that any will actually fail if I apply the criteria I should but that's not the point.

What is being asked for is perfectly in order for a finite subject where there are definitive answers – maths, geography, science etc but sorry, oral language? You can give a crap answer but deliver it well and in my book still get full marks for linguistic ability. Attendance and activity in class? Great to have but should I really fail someone who doesn't come to class even if they can talk as well as me? No! I am testing their proficiency in a language, not how many times they attend class or how many times they put their hand up in class! For sure, I give a little extra for the aforementioned but not as much as they would like.

Troublemaker that I am, I penned as much in a reply email.

Whilst typing the above I received a capitulation text. I am now required to simply furnish an overall score for each student. That is how it should be. I have passed students I disliked because their English was certainly good enough despite my antipathy. Joan was never ever top student in her class because although we were close, she was not the best. Maybe she was relieved in case people thought I showed favouratism. She is a perfect example – I never even placed her second. Any teacher's personal feelings MUST be put aside when it comes to exams, just as much as personal pissedoffness needs to be left at the classroom door unless it involves the actual students. Teachers are after all, actors.

You never know, Annie may thank me. She teaches oral to Freshmen (or as she says, Freshmens – something I correct her on) and it should hopefully make her life easier too, although she does teach my students writing so she needs to do everything they have asked for that.

Just when I confronted one problem, enjoyed a lovely meal, another road block was thrown up. This time I dismantled it. Basically it should never have been erected. It is not often you can win in China. Sometimes winning or refusing to accept defeat is the difference between keeping a job or being told they don't need you any more.

You need to choose your battles. I try to choose the ethical ones that if I lose and it costs me my position I can still hold my head high.

I am grateful that my email outlining my reasoning (and perhaps my age and experience) were taken into account. I was quite prepared to be summoned to a meeting to reiterate but hell, this acceptance threw me.