Education Emancipation Organization : TOCFL: Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language

Sunday, April 9, 2017

TOCFL: Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language

4-1-17

The bike ride to the middle school was pleasant yesterday in a warm, dry overcast breeze. The iced black tea lady warned of impending rain and temperature drop. I sat downstairs out of the cooling breeze in the space I teach the conversation classes at Shengang Middle School and went over the first few stories in the Mandarin practice mock test. I’ll be taking the real one next Saturday, April 8^th. I will meet George this morning at 9:00 to go over the test together. He was so kind to print out a copy for both of us but I went ahead and printed my own; the three stories with cloze answer choices. I understand 75% but the multiple choice answers I was mostly guessing at.

4-9-17

I went back to my own life yesterday, with my daughter visiting from America, with the taking of the TOCFL in the morning and made borscht and Russian salad in the afternoon while Leona was out with Amanda and Margarita and Huai-Ya toured downtown Taichung.

On TOCFL Band B, I got a raw score of 18 out of 50 on listening but I don’t know my raw reading score. My total was Listening: 33 and Reading: 42. On the mock test least week, I got a raw score of 15 for the 41^st percentile in reading so I made some improvement. It looks like out of 100 questions I got about 40% right, tops. George said I did better than he did in reading on the actual test which is strange because on the mock test he did better than I did; 29-50 (59^th percentile). I write “percentile” but it’s just the way the center scores the test; not percentile at all. We both accepted not getting certificates gracefully and took our ceramic consolation gift coaster. I will most likely take the test again next year if not in six months (I believe it’s given every three months) to see if I’ve made any improvements.

After the exam, I got on my bike and George took a U-Bike to the Uptowner Restaurant where we met Teacher Cheryl for lunch. She asked us about the exam and we talked about our four-day vacations, George’s in Okinawa and mine with Amanda.

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Menu of Teachers' Union Activities

Teachers' Union chapters need to be more actively democratic and responsive to its members needs. It is important to achieve this by creating sub-committees that would address areas of interest to members and get many members involved. Each sub- committee would be comprised of teacher and para-professional volunteers and facilitated by an elected committee member. Sub-committee membership is the vehicle for any interested teacher or para-professional who would like to become more active in social or political issues affecting the teachers' union chapter,improve the flow of information to  members, and make improvements to  work

environment.

MENU OF UNION ACTIVITIES Listed below is each objective and a proposal for sub-committees that would be created to realize that objective. Maybe you have an idea for another sub-committee? Remember, the form and direction of each sub-committee takes shape through you.

OBJECTIVE -ACTIVITY “To cooperate to the fullest extent with the labor movement

and to work for a progressive labor philosophy to awaken in

all members a labor consciousness and sense of solidarity

with labor.”

1. Union Solidarity Committee: Discuss labor issues with

possible petition drives. Update and advise colleagues on

contract issues. Contact and keep up with labor issues in

other schools in the area and worldwide..

****************************************************************

“To protect the schools against unsound economy and against efforts at domination by political, economic, religious, or military group.”

2. Sweat-free School Committee: Help your school join the

movement against sweatshops by identifying violators and

using union-made items at school.

3. Tolerance Committee: Discuss and recommend ways for

helping students get along better and helping teachers

understand cultural diversity. Work with clubs and the

student organization to promote cross-cultural sensitivity.

**************************************************************

“To promote education as a social agency for developing

the capacities of the young, for enlightened adults, and for

working toward a society motivated by the ideal of service and democratic participation.”

4. Teachers’ Resource Committee: Organize and expand

the teachers’ library resources such as videos, text,

classroom activity manuals, and member services brochures.

This includes the maintenance of office equipment, such as

the copy machine, computer, printer, and television. ****************************************************************

“To make members aware of their political responsibilities.”

5. Bulletin Committee: Update, decorate, and maintain the

union message boards. Monitor and maintain our list-serve.

Consider creating a chapter newsletter.

****************************************************************

“To advance the economic and professional interests of

members.”

6. Financial Advisory Committee: Act as an adviser to both

new and old colleagues with their financial questions on 401K, tax deferred annuity, DA, pension, and payroll.

7. In-Service Training Committee: Act as an advisor assisting

colleagues on licensing requirements, degree fulfillment, as

well as available classes for professional development, and

credits toward salary steps. Have information on sabbaticals. *****************************************************************

“To establish the active participation of education employees

in the formulation of educational policies.”

8. Education Committee: Discuss trends in education,

standardized testing, and effective teaching methodologies.

Create and develop a bank of useful teaching methodologies,

materials and plans. Assist colleagues *****************************************************************

“To work for democratic administration and supervision.”

9. Union-Administration Consultation Committee: Form an

agenda from sub-committee suggestions and prepare for

consultation meetings with the principal as required of elected Committee members. Report to the rank and file.

10. School General Assembly Committee: Attend, present our

petitions, and report on G.A. Required of Committee Delegates. ******************************************************************

“To protect members whenever necessary.”

11. Safety Committee: Advise colleagues on strategies for

classroom management and violence prevention. Instruct on

the procedures established for dealing with disruptive students.

12. New Teacher Support Group: Help new teachers maneuver in your school and give advise on clerical matters. how to survive an observation, and how to file grievance reports. Review mentoring candidates and help with selection.

13. Health Committee: Advise on insurance plans and make

available listings of doctors, dentists, and labs. Make available

 information of stress management. Work toward making your

school a safer school. Meet with cafeteria personnel to discuss and develop healthier lunch menus.

*****************************************************************

I believe each sub-committee can work toward creating a new

union environment in our schools, one of action, inclusion, and service. Each person can contribute to their area of expertise. In these days of union entrenchment, we must be more active to protect the gains you have made and make sure we’re fairly represented.

Education Emancipation Organization

Sunday, April 9, 2017

TOCFL: Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language

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