Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetsee]

monday morning....

So, after spending the weekend on this site I am left feeling as though I am a lousy teacher that wastes everyones time and doesn't know the first thing about teaching.

For all the comments and criticism I have received, no one has given any concret examples of what to do in the class. I feel as though some people at this forum simply want to be clever and put people down, they probably don't have many friends.

OK, I teach a low level private high school. What and how should I be teaching?

[shmooj]

your job is definitely done

I was going to suggest some sites for you, but on second thoughts, it might be too much like hard work for you to actually browse there and read them

[Gordon]

What methodology are you referring to?
Would you seriously get all the students to listen to each other practice a dialogue?
Are you for real?

[Sweetsee]

Maybe I am missing something. Maybe my goal should not be for the students to acquire key expressions in English on various topics of conversation. 30 kids role playing a conversation to be evaluated by the instructor is a waste of time?

[Glenski]

[Sweetsee]

Glenski, we are doing the same thing with the same results. Come on, don't you think it's streching it a bit to try to get them to create their own dialogs. Have you done it?

When I call the students to the podium, I review all previous material with them very quickly. They are with a partner, more relaxed, I encourage them, praise them, ask about their club activities and I introduce the next topic.

What I need to do is always have a relevant worksheet to be turned in.

Thank you for your comments.

[denise]

Something that I do is:

1) have pairs of students write and practice their own dialogs

2) call up one or two pairs to read them--they have no way of knowing whether or not I will choose their group, so if they want to look good in front of their classmates, they'd better prepare

3) call two students at random (I always ask for volunteers, but if no one answers, I let my pen drop randomly on the attendance sheet and call the name of the students my pen landed on) and have them do an ad-lib conversation with the same theme

4) (time permitting) call on a random student (again, asking for volunteers first...) to have an ad-lib conversation with me

d

[Sweetsee]

Denise, you said it. You must have motivated students and must be a heck of a teacher.

So, they change one word from the text or do you have a class full of free thinkers?

[denise]

Huh?!?!?

No text. I give them a topic. I guess that makes them "free thinkers."

d

[Glenski]

[Sweetsee]

I see. So, there is an untapped resevoir of motivation, originality and creativity lying within each of my classes.

Perhaps, I have been wrong all along. I learned to speak French through dialog memorization and can still recall dialogs we practiced. With the level of students that I am dealing with, 5th from the bottom in Saitama, I felt accomplished if I could get them to reproduce dialogue.

[lajzar]

This may sound harsh, but one important thing is, at a JHS/SHS, don't treat them like adults. As I mentioned in another post, failure to bring study materials results in no chair. I also get on the kids back if they act disruptive. otoh, I reward good behaviour (verbally - no presents).

This is not me. I hate acting the disciplinarian. But I have seen and done it first hand and it works. One of my students is borderline adhd with a rep for bullying outside class and generally low grades. These days, he regularly gets the best scores within his (streamed) class.

[Sweetsee]

lajzar, I hear you.

Thanks a lot.

[shmooj]

[Sweetsee]

monday afternoon after last lesson...

Well, I just had a teaching moment. I was thinking about this school, my role, and how to achieve my goal. Then, it came to me, just like I new it would. I knew I would walk in that classroom and come out elated, eyes watering, respiration increased, pulse and heartrate as well. Yes, another teaching HIGH!

I started by letting it be known that the state of the classroom, which is ultimately my responsibility, is going to change.

Then, I asked a girl to sit straight. Then, I told them about the 23 students from New Zealand who will be staying in some of their homes and that we certainly want to take good care of them and be able to speak with them.

I then illicited some conversation topics and asked them to write a dialogue to practice with a partner. As I went around and asked after their chosen topics, hands were darting up, "oh, oh, teacher". I thought, now that's more like it.

I sat down with the leader and we came up with a great conversation between she and her guest arriving at the airport which she wrote and practiced with a partner.

I felt it was a major breakthrough and there it was under my nose the whole time. This is my goal: that they can rap to the kids who come here from our sister schools. It's perfect. Now they have a reason to study. They go there and Aussies and Kiwis come here.

I walked out of that class and floated down the stairs, I had to remember it was monday. Seemed like all the posting over the weekend paid off, damn nearly ruined my barbi last night, though.

I want to say thanks to everyone and thanks again because this was my first time on-line and it was difficult to negotiate and sorry about the editing. I came here because I have been really searching for support.


And hey, is it a beauty out there today or what. I'm down to Tokyo to teach 3 lessons of public night school, what a kick, and then a tennis match. Look out!

Cheers