ABSTRACT
For Chinese English language teachers under forty years of age, teacher competitions are a regular occurrence. Audience members consist of fellow teachers, administrators, teacher leaders, officials, and other interested parties. In the competitions, teachers are assigned to teach students that the teachers meet a few days before or right before competitions. A phalanx of judges evaluates the competition by observing the teaching itself and by assessing teachers’ responses to judges’ questions immediately following each teaching session. The competitions are intense and the stakes are high because success in the competitions can lead to promotion and job security for the teachers. It will also mean an enhancement in the reputation for their mentors, school administrators, and school districts. If teachers win at national competitions, even their provinces benefit from increased visibility and, consequently, increased funding.
