Hi everyone,
I was looking for some help, I'm working in a language school, it's quite small with 2 teachers, me, and another teacher who is from here. The boss is quite happy to let us get on with what we're doing, and we rotate the classes, so for example on a Tuesday, they have me, and on a Thursday the teacher from here. However, as the year is going on, we're noticing that the students aren't happy, there are lots of discipline problems. We have students from 4 -19 and about 7 classes. Some of them are working towards the PET, KET and First Certificate exams. In the other classes, some come to improve for school or college, but there are some classes who come because their parents force them to, they don't want to do anything. We try to mix up the textbook with some speaking activities from the British Council website, films, games and crafts, but nothing seems to please them. The situation is getting worse and worse and I'd appreciate any ideas anyone could give me.
Thanks
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hi Nicky,
Your questions made me laugh, sorry. Teaching children is quite challenging. Challenging in this sense means difficult!
There is a lot of material on the web discussing the challenges you face but it really boils down to experience. Teaching children requires experience which is usually gained from trying different things, making mistakes and learning what works. Repeat the things that work. The fact that you are asking questions is great, and it shows you know there is a problem and want to learn.
There is no one solution to all the age groups you mention ...
On a practical note I suggest the following:
- lessons must be centered around a topic which is relevant and of interest to the children. Teenagers spend their time on sport, relationships, car for boys, fashion perhaps for girls etc. Try to pick topics which focus on these sort of things.
- structure lessons to have a few minutes warm-up, followed by revision of previous lessons (which is easy), then introduce new work which is related to their real life in some way. Make this your lesson cycle. For younger kids have two or more lesson cycles within one lesson period. The younger the kids, the more physical activity is required between learning periods. Look up "total physical response" on the web in relation to teaching kids.
- get kids to focus on an activity like colouring in to quieten the whole class down while maintaining focus. Then spend time with the kids individually to test their knowledge etc. Give kids some written work to do individually to return control to you.
- teach all little kids several physical activities. Stand, sit, jump etc but - this is essential - include one activity which is "sit quietly". So complete any physical activity with "sit quietly". Program kids to behave in a certain many in response to these activities. be consistent. Be very consistent.
- introduce a discipline policy. Apply it without fear or favour. One infraction = told to behave. 2 infractions = separation (sit alone in corner), 3 infractions expel from classroom for 5 minutes, repeat infraction expel from class, three expulsions = do not accept as student. The more serious students will appreciate having trouble makers removed. Make the parents accept responsibility for their child's behaviour. The parents pay for lessons, if the child is sent home or excluded, this hits the parents' pocket and they will respond. You do not want disruptive students spoiling lessons for all, this will destroy the school reputation and parents will send their kids elsewhere.
- the school owner should be involved in the discipline policy, giving student performance feedback to parents and not leaving all these issues to you. The owner is responsible for the school reputation. A teachers role is mainly to teach.
None of this is easy because as we all know, classes are composed of students with different interests, different emotional states and of course, different language skills.
Good luck.
Hi I am a native speaker in Poland i teach kids from 6-19 in both state and private schools. I have been teaching kids for a year and to be honest it is hard and i have made many mistakes, but here is what has worked for me.
Do not be an authoritarian figure be someone who they perceive as relaxed and groovy. I usually come to the class about 30 mins before at my private school so I can but on music (pop music/ or music they like) and as they arrive talk to them about their day.
I also try and get them out of a traditional desk chair arrangement. Having activities where they have to move the desks to the side to make space in the middle (this can also use up a bit of your lesson time but they are expending energy which can make them calmer)
As the comment above suggest physical games are good as well. For my 6-10 we play a Simon says which they love and also when I introduce new vocab we play a game I call find bingo ( bingo board for each student and words hidden in the class room. For lower students the bingo board has pictures for more advanced definitions.).
There is one class where we have thrown the book out of the window at the private school and asked them what they want to learn (subject wise). Then created mini projects that last about 6 weeks where you can teach them everything they need to know with them knowing there is something at the end.
For behaviour I sometimes create a contract. With for sections one saying their duties, one their obligations, one saying what you will do for them and the last one consequences of students not following the duties or obligations. They have to help write this or it does not work as they think they are making the rules. Write it on A3 or A2 paper and put it on the wall and all the students sign it. This way if they do misbehave then they are breaking their own rules. Also if you write a contract you must enforce it otherwise they will see you as weak and will not behave.
I only use the contract with classes that do misbehave.
With teenagers I sometimes bring in a pop/rock song that is popular and we listen to it in class. With true false, gap fill activates but also help them understand the lyrics find slang words ect.
With films I usually find films that this age group would watch in Britain eg my Junior Upper Intermediate class age 13-16 we watched 10 things I hate about you. They love the film plus you can teach a bit about Shakespeare as the film is based on one of his plays.
Students hate reading but I give this as home work and then ask then to email me the answers to the questions. This way they can use the computer and it seems less like homework. Plus I ask them to listen to the BBC Iplayer radio and they they tell me what songs where played what people talked about ect.
These are some ideas of what has worked for me. If the students are unhappy then you may need a lesson where they give you feedback and say why and what you can change. It may have nothing to do with you.
For me the best way to teach kids is to make them think they are not learning and teach them by proxy. You can’t do it all the time but it does work.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for your help, I'll try some of these out. The owner wants us to use a textbook, each class has a separate textbook and this has to be completed by the end of the year. So do I do the text book and try to do it in a way related to everyday life like you have suggested?
Thanks again
I would suggest you to come out of the text books...instead teach them something that is related to everyday use.....
Hi~
Here's an article. http://www.howtolearn.com/2011/05/7-best-classroom-management-tips
I would also suggest adding some variety to your classes. Keep in mind the three different learning styles when planning your lessons and try having a little something in there for all of them.
You can check this out for more on lesson planning, esl classroom management and using esl games and activities in the classroom.
Good luck!
Ian
Hi~
Here's an article. http://www.howtolearn.com/2011/05/7-best-classroom-management-tips
I would also suggest adding some variety to your classes. Keep in mind the three different learning styles when planning your lessons and try having a little something in there for all of them.
You can check this out for more on lesson planning, esl classroom management and using esl games and activities in the classroom.
Good luck!
Ian
nice article there!