Job Discussion Forums

[Nickyboy]

Just got back from attempting to teach at my school today.

Very few of them give a toss, which I kinda understand; it's the lack of respect that's starting to get me down: Surly boys and stroppy girls.

Maybe it's because the holidays are nearly here, but even so, it's very hard not to cry when a large chunk of your kids are shouting 'go home' and making the sound of the hourly horn at the back of the class with 35 minutes still to go!

The truth is I feel a bit lost in the middle of 35-45 demented teenagers.
All the advice I've read says that 'jai yen' is the way to go, but frankly, bellowing at them to be quiet in Thai feels more right to me.
How exactly do you 'boss' a very noisy environment whilst being smiley and calm?
I feel overun and swarmed. I'm drowning in little shits that I want to kill!

AAarrggghhhhh.

I'm sure I'll be fine tomorrow. Thanks for listening to me. Goodnight.

[Sheep-Goats]

Change the seating arrangement (yes, you have to tell the students where to sit). Single out the instigators. Issue lunchtime detentions.

You're also probably spending too much time at the front of the room. Go stand next to the blabbering jerks while you teach. Your presence will do more to shut them up than any kind of finger pointing or yapping.

I know the holidays are coming, but if it's like that now you'll be sorry if you don't stem the tide come two weeks' time.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Another option is to give up, admit defeat and move over to teaching corporates which is exactly what I did.

Over the past 12 years I've taught a variety of age groups, and teens seem to be the most difficult, especially in large classes like the ones you've got. As soon as puberty sets in, English just isn't 'cool' anymore, and the kids tend to sit together in their little 'circle of friends' and chat with each other while basically ignoring you. It's frustrating as hell.

Been there, done that. I've walked out of class in tears or in rage more times than I care to admit.

Teaching adults is a whole different ballgame. If you get totally fed up, consider the advice in my opening paragraph. Those apathetic teens you're having problems with will end up in my class sooner or later, and frankly, I prefer later.

When kids finally grow up into young adults and realize that their salary and/or next promotion depends on how well they perform on a TOEIC test, it's amazing how rewarding & fun teaching can be.

One final suggestion: If you're considering teaching kids in Thailand, and you have a choice, take the babies; under 13 is my personal advice. The younger kids are a lot more receptive in general, and they tend to show more appreciation and respect to a 'Farang' teacher.

[Nickyboy]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen. Kent in particular; I like what you say.

As is usual in life, a funny thing happened today which put yesterday in perspective.
A girl from one of my least productive classes gave me a handmade card which said many nice things, one of which was, 'You're my best teacher.'

Jesus! Bit of an emotional rollercoaster eh?

Respectful, adult learners is the way to go though.
Ones that will pay enormous sums of baht to listen to me hammer home the point that the letter V is pronounced differently to the letter W etc!

[kid ehglish]

[quote=" a funny thing happened today which put yesterday in perspective.
A girl from one of my least productive classes gave me a handmade card which said many nice things, one of which was, 'You're my best teacher.'
[/quote]

It's a bribe. They do it al the time. Thai kids are corrupted by the time they reach 10.