The latest wheeze of TPTB (the powers that be) is to register and evaluate all foreign language teachers in China online, and evaluate how good they are with a series of tests. (No similar test for Chinese language teachers I note!). So yesterday, I took all three tests; General Knowledge, Psychological and Written, all timed.
It was actually very amusing, with some fantastic Chinglish and a bizarre mix of questions ranging from, "What money do people use in China?" (if you live here and don't know that, you should really consider your position!) to "What did Jerome Bruner propose about hermeneutic composability?" (Who? What? I've since looked Mr Bruner up on the internet and am none the wiser about the correct answer!). All the questions were multiple choice though, so I had a punt even if I couldn't understand the question! Some questions made me laugh out loud, eg "How much alcohol do you drink, (a) too much, (b) a lot, but under control, (c) a little each day, or (d) only on special occasions. It seems nobody can imagine a tee-total foreigner!
You get your results immediately. I got a respectable 67% in General Knowledge, with top marks in "Chinese Knowledge" and "World Affairs". Psyschologically, I scored a whopping 71% with top marks in "Drink, Mental Health, Motivation, Communication Skills, Sense of Achievement, Expressive Ability, Emotion Stability, Tendency for Violence, Tolerant Capable, Inspiring Capacity, Professional Spirit, Sense of Responsibility and Optimism"!! So, acccording to the TPTB at least, I'm sane, peaceful and optimistic. So there!
It was actually very amusing, with some fantastic Chinglish and a bizarre mix of questions ranging from, "What money do people use in China?" (if you live here and don't know that, you should really consider your position!) to "What did Jerome Bruner propose about hermeneutic composability?" (Who? What? I've since looked Mr Bruner up on the internet and am none the wiser about the correct answer!). All the questions were multiple choice though, so I had a punt even if I couldn't understand the question! Some questions made me laugh out loud, eg "How much alcohol do you drink, (a) too much, (b) a lot, but under control, (c) a little each day, or (d) only on special occasions. It seems nobody can imagine a tee-total foreigner!
You get your results immediately. I got a respectable 67% in General Knowledge, with top marks in "Chinese Knowledge" and "World Affairs". Psyschologically, I scored a whopping 71% with top marks in "Drink, Mental Health, Motivation, Communication Skills, Sense of Achievement, Expressive Ability, Emotion Stability, Tendency for Violence, Tolerant Capable, Inspiring Capacity, Professional Spirit, Sense of Responsibility and Optimism"!! So, acccording to the TPTB at least, I'm sane, peaceful and optimistic. So there!
