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Presentation and pacing strategies

It's worth bearing in mind that Chinese students are connoisseurs of lecture-style teaching, having had it all their lives. A quality that impresses Chinese students in a teacher is the sense of mastery of the topic, exhibited in the ability to lecture effectively without notes.

What made them good teachers?

Because they have lots of experiences in their areas, and they are interesting – their class is interesting, because they are good at teach you and attract you and make you exciting and interest you about what they are teaching.

How do they make you interested?

Like, provide some of their own experiences to us, yes, like, use some famous case studies, what happens right now, things like that.

— Jade

The teacher we respect most, he doesn't need the book or lecture handout, just speak and write something – like, everything is under his control.

— Lionel

  • Present your material, rather than reading it. Reading a lecture when notes have already been provided is counter-productive from the students' point of view, given the time they have to spend on learning tasks.
  • "Adopt a relaxed style, where students feel comfortable to ask questions" ( Mulligan and Kirkpatrick (2000), p. 334). Cultivate a lively tone that maintains interest.
  • Vary the pace of delivery, bearing in mind the students' capacity to take notes. A long pause in the right place can both give students time to catch up, and create expectancy about what is to come.
  • "Ensure students have regular opportunities to discuss key points among themselves." ( Mulligan and Kirkpatrick (2000), p. 334)
  • "Use the whiteboard occasionally to emphasise key points and at the same time break up the pace of delivery." ( Mulligan and Kirkpatrick (2000), p. 335)
  • Where appropriate, using multimedia resources can vary the pace of the lecturer and add interest – for example, a video-clip from film or television, or a video-conference Opens in a new window call to an outside expert or colleague. (But make sure you have a backup plan for when the technology fails!)

I just want you to describe ... the lecturing style in Australia.

Some lecturers are good. They help students and highlight [the main points]. But some of them just read through the lecture. That's not helpful! I can read it at home. Why go to the lecture? That's why lots of students quit the lecture.

— Ruth

Do you have problems understanding lecturers sometimes?

Sometimes I do but most of them I can understand but sometimes I will fall asleep – that's my problem.

Because you're tired?

Tired, and maybe sometimes the teacher just speak the accent very flat, not high up. The tone not high.

— Terrie

And what makes that lecturer so good?

He's you know, he's very humorous and – he's interesting. You know, he used a video in lectures, but not in China, [they] never use the video.... He put theory and practical things together, yes.

— Gerry

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