Job Discussion Forums

[spidey]

Sweetsee,

Nice to see you again.

However, I must say...

Isn't what "the person does at the job" directly related to "holding a job?"



S

[Sweetsee]

Spidey,


Really nice to see you again, too.
You pose an interesting and relevant question.

Let's take myself for example: as long as I report for work on time and attend classes, it doesn't seem to make any difference what I do, as long as I don't attempt to manage students' behavior. The moment I start asking students to be quiet when I am speaking or to participate in the lesson, problems arise. These problem students have gotten this far because of the fact that no one wants any problems, regardless of the effect they have on the rest of the class. I speak to student, student complains to school, school tells me to go easy on problem student.

Today, the first lesson of the New Year. We have a new foreign exchange student in our class and I decided to take a few moments to introduce the student and ask a couple of questions, over the din of the problem students. I ignored them. Later, I asked the students to form groups of fours and passed out the day's lesson. One group not only showed no interest in completing the work but were also noisy and busily engaged in other activities, i.e. print-club and the like. To make matters worse, one member of the group refusing to do anything was turned around and attempting to infect the neighboring group, which she did by 50%.

What I mean is I have the job and now keeping it is a matter of keeping quiet about things. The position is filled.

Really, I felt I was over this business with these kids but I guess it won't be over until it is over.

We had a big blow up last term and the administration told me that when I have a problem with students I should tell them. They would say that, wouldn't they? So, I told my partner teacher and as usual his advice was nothing at all. He just gives me a look of "are you going to start with that business again?" Later, I brought it up again and after agreeing with me that it is a big problem, still I get no suggestions on how to cope. He did say that the more I try to help or speak to those students the wider the gap between us will become.

My question to you is this: let them be?

And sorry to whosever thread I have jacked. Don't even recall what it is about. What I am sure of is that I have serious teaching concerned issues that I am addressing, whether or not this is the appropriate thread or forum or site, I don't know.

Same old thing from me, isn't it. I wonder if anyone else knows how infuriating it is to be given a job like this and to have to put up with such insolent behavior(was that the right word?)

Thanks Spidey. What do you think?

[spidey]

Hmmmm...I guess there are always exceptions to the rule.

Your problem does seem to be dragging on.

As I may have indicated to you in the past, I feel that it is more your responsibility to let this problem go. What I mean is that you seem to be holding on to this problem and therefore it is staying alive. It's time to set it aside and focus on something different. Whatever it takes, you have to try to forget about it for now. Then and only then do I feel that you will have a chance of overcoming it. Easier said than done, I know, but it is worth a shot. Don't you think?

S

[Sweetsee]

Thanks Spidey,


I agree 100% There is nothing I can do to help those kids and there is nothing I can do to improve the atmosphere of the class.

Let it go, let it go...focus on something else. That something else right now is the face of my daughter when she sees I have come to pick her up from day care in ten minutes, and the feeling I get when we park the car and she crawls over the front seat and eases on to the ground and takes my hand as we walk the short distance to our place and begin a family evening at home together.

Ummm, ahhhh....life is good!


Thanks Spidey.
Enjoy yourself,
s

[spidey]

Sweetsee,

You are not doing "nothing" by letting this problem go. You are doing something that is very hard to do. This, I feel, will benefit both you and your students greatly.

Good luck

S

[Sweetsee]

Thank you Spidey,


I feel better after what you said, I imagine if more people were like yourself this world would be heaven on earth. Perhaps it will be if we keep trying.

Enjoy yourself,
s

[dmb]

I'm a teacher. I can't imagine being/doing anything else. Alot of my friends who have been involved in EFLing for 10 years or so are looking for 'a way out'. However it hasn't even crossed my mind.

[kev7161]

Bed (Elementary) with 6 years in the "biz" before coming here. Only a little of my classroom technique from the states helps me out here. Not only am I teaching an entirely different age group (high school), but I don't speak the language! Some of my students here actually act like my grade-schoolers!