Job Discussion Forums

[sock]

What do you do about lazy students? Quite honestly, I don't care if they learn a word of English from me, but if someone (read: principal) sees my classes I would have no defense. I hate it when I talk to a student and the rest of them decide to do their other homework or talk up a storm (of course in Chinese).

I have tried sending them out of the classroom, and I take away their other books, but nothing works... It doesn't help that I am young and some of the students are less than 10 years younger than I am.

I try to stay calm, but I have this problem in at least half of my classes, and it is very frustrating to be ignored for five hours a day.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[latefordinner]

If I threw out every lazy student, I wouldn't have a job. I do however attempt to strike a balance (not to mention a little healthy fear into some needy hearts) by isolating the most obnoxious behaviours and selectively unloading on them. I have thrown toys, pens, books and even other teachers' homework out the window, and it has usually had the desired effect. I once threatened to dump an entire class's lunch out the (3rd floor)window, and that got their attention. Do what it takes, but make it clear; this is your class and they _must_ respect you.

[Roger]

Those that start talking in CHinese usually are - probably - those who complain the first: "Why don't YOU give me a chance at speaking English...?"

Yes, our students are wonderfully gifted sophists.

[lagerlout2006]

How old are your students? Defenestration is a good idea. Can't help you much more. China is a tough place to teach and you are realizing that.

Good luck/

[kev7161]

For my last Senior Two class, I showed a picture of two people in a hotel(?), restaurant (?), shopping mall(?) (I let the students decide) having a conversation. We talked about the picture for awhile - - who were the people, what were they talking about? What was the role of each person (one was a desk clerk, the other a customer)? and so on. After we talked IN DEPTH about this, I paired the students up and asked them to write a SHORT dialogue about the picture - - - no more than 3 or 4 lines per person. Last year, we did dialogues from the same textbook series so this was old hat to them. First class, no problem. Second class, (mostly) no problem, Third class, the first 3 couples I called up front to read did not do the assignment! As I looked around the room, I noticed a few others that did not do it as well. Plus they were awful chatty and seemingly disinterested. So, I canceled class. I told them to go back to their classroom and try a little harder to complete this EASY assignment (by the way, they had 5 days to complete this).

A few of my really good students were a little stunned. See, last year I had one excellent class. 90% of them were interesting, had pretty decent english skills, made high marks on tests, and actually came to class every time. This year, many of those students were combined with low-level students who are noisy, LAZY, disrespectful, and generally all-around lousy students (in my class anyway). It's a pity that these good kids are now trapped with the poor ones. My intent was to shock the good students enough to chastise the poor students and maybe have a class conversation with the head teacher about this behavior. Next time I'll just get rid of the ones who could care less about my class.

[Sechelt]

Ah, yes. The Chinese "student." While most are resonably attentive, many are not. I have a few theories on this: 1) they have WAY too much studying to do, for the oh so important standardised tests; 2) they don't respect foreign teachers (of course, the "respect" for Chinese teachers is really good old fashioned fear); and 3) they simply don't give a d**! What to do? I've tried almost everything I can think of: tossing some out; cancelling classes; assigning extra work (I guess this was rather silly of me, considering they hadn't done the work originally assigned and likely wouldn't do the extra); and taking away books, translators, toys and privelages. The bottom line: if administrators back you up, such measures ought to work. What am I saying? (Chinese) Admin. back up teachers!? Almost never.
In a private school last Fall, the school was much more interested in raking in the tuition dollars, than in helping create a decent learning environment. At a university this Spring, I had 2 really bad classes (in terms of doing their work and respecting the teacher/each other). When a few of them complained about low grades (fortunately, AFTER I had gone to the Vice-Dean for help concerning cheating), admin. told me to put a stop to it. The Vice-Dean was quite adamant about this. So, next class, I really gave them the gears: 'I'm tired of the complaining, the school's tired of it and you should act responsibly and accept your grades/comments! If the complaining continues, you will be removed.' Of course, the problems continued and nothing could be done to change it. So, I just put in my time, waiting for the end of the term/my contract. I should note, I had a more serious problem with a student in another class (he confronted me in my office, in class and even in the bathroom!). So, it was a choice between having him removed OR a few bad apples in other classes. Not a hard choice, there.
My advice: talk to other teachers (both foreign and Chinese). The FT's will likely have had similar experiences and can offer advice (if there are any in your school/area. Invite them out for tea/coffee- leave the pijiu for b**** sessions). The Chinese teachers MAY also have dealt with this, or can at least empathise. Just be careful, with the latter. If you have a good working relationship with 1 or 2, ask them about teaching Chinese students, as they are different from what you're used to. Using the cultural angle may help. BUT be very careful in what you say and how you say it. You don't want to come off sounding like you have difficulty with classroom managment; can't adjust to the culture; don't respect your students; or, can't deal with them. Also, be keep in mind, spys are eveywhere. Chinese just love to please their bosses. One way, is to report whatever their colleagues say and do. Welcome to the Orwellian world of China.

[ilunga]

Sock, do you teach in a Private school by any chance? Junior/Senior middle school?
Sounds familiar.

Kev, that frustrates me too when they put the good students in with the village idiots.
How about this for an idea? Put the good students together and the idiots together. The foreign teacher will then only teach the good classes. If any of the idiots want a promotion they'll just have to do well in the Chinese English teacher's classes to earn it.
There doesn't seem to be any system in place in the middle-schools. When I was at Junior 1 age there was a special class designated for the brightest students in Maths and English. By Junior 3 there were rankings of 1-5 so all the students in each class were of a similar ability. If you wanted to get promoted you had to earn your stripes.
Probably way too sensible an idea for most of these schools to begin to contemplate.

[kev7161]

I have an even better idea - - - why not place the students in classes based on, get this, SKILL LEVELS?! The "village idiots" would get remedial lessons and lots and lots of movies, I imagine. While the advanced students who really, really want to learn English would get stimulating lessons and discussions, challenging word games, thought-provoking DVDs to watch, and come out of the term with a broader language knowledge. But I guess that's too much to hope for. Is there anyone out there who teaches at a school that places students in different skill levels?

(PS: They told me last term they were going to do this during this term. Smoke and mirrors)

[oprah]

There are three levels in my school. The students do not know this, but the teachers do. I make sure I know which level I am teaching in my classes. The terminology about which level, ?? I do not know.. I just said to them rank A, B, or C. It is interesting because the worst classes for the Chinese English teachers are not a problem for me. Maybe because I let them talk?? Most of the A classes are great, but some of the A classes the students are so much into their heads or seriously doing the test and study routine that they can be boring and need to lighten up.

[irishclaire]

you don't spell 'noisy' with an 'e', for future reference.

[joe greene]