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andyscott84
Joined: 02 Nov 2005
Posts: 115
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 Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:13 am Post subject: |
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I think that overall very few people enjoy being in a classroom scenerio unless the class is interesting. Picture yourself as the student (which we all are/were) and think about how you would like to be taught. Or ask them to give opinions about it. I've never taught in a Western classroom, but I have been a student in one and I remember that if the class was enthralling then it would get all of my attention. Especially if the teacher had a great personality and charisma.
About discipline I keep my rules simple, speak too much in class and you stand up for the lesson. Bring objects into the class that shouldn't be there i.e. mp3 player, magazines, etc.. and they will be confiscated. Also having a second teacher in the room seems to keep them well behaved. Hope that helps. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| Andy reflecting on your own schooldays is a really good idea - but also reflect on effects of being punished - if I was told to stand up in a class (or sent out) it made me want to be a bigger rebel - bonded me much closer to others who had the same anti class attitude than it did to the teacher and lesson - but if a teacher punished the whole class because of my behavior, and I was criticized by my classmates - then there was a good chance (not always) I would feel like a jerk. |
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mondrian
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 658
Location: "was that beautiful coastal city in the NE of China"
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| Midlothian Mapleheart wrote: |
It's my class, and I'm the boss. If the class fails, it's my responsibility. Students may make suggestions and offer input, but it's up to me to decide whether I'll implement any changes.... I advise prospective teachers to be very stern and serious for the first week of classes. If your classroom turns into a zoo, nobody will learn anything. This is why you find such a focus on classroom control in the PDP. Without control and cooperation you have nothing.
It works in the classroom, too. At the first sign of unacceptable behaviour, you should be on their case and pushing until they back down. Once you lose the upper hand, you're toast. Thirty against one is pretty long odds. Believe it or not, your students will like you more if you're in control. You don't have to be a blackboard dictator, just a manager.
You are the authority, you are the professional, you are in charge, and you have to show it. If you can't do it, you won't succeeed as a teacher, or an officer, or a leader, or a graveyard-shift cabbie. That's why not everybody is cut out to be a teacher.
Middy |
Couldn't agree more
This year - new -semester - 20 classes each containing about 60 freshmen.
They arrived complete with a bad case of Chinese Highschoolitis = you teach me with the text-book - maybe I'll listen, maybe I won't- but I need my grade mark at the end of the year. Maybe I'll attend class, maybe I won't - but my class monitor will get me 100% attendance.
Well after I confiscated a set up chess set in one of the back rows, 3 manga comics and physics homeworks from the entire back row, I got a little of their attention. I have yet to solve the problem of students who sleep, but at least they are not disruptive - and perhaps they have been up all night studying English? Now the students arrive on time, with 100% attendance (or at least a valid excuse for not being present) and the front rows of the class give me continual feedback throughout the lesson.
"You can lead a horse to the trough, but you can't make it drink." My main problem now is to make the horses thirsty! |
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andyscott84
Joined: 02 Nov 2005
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:37 am Post subject: |
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vikdk wrote:
if I was told to stand up in a class (or sent out) it made me want to be a bigger rebel - bonded me much closer to others who had the same anti class attitude than it did to the teacher and lesson |
That is quite true if I was ever punished this way it often did make me want to rebel more. But, I think with China there is one difference, losing face. A student here being forced to stand up and subsequentially facing mocking from fellow students is the ultimate punishment for students here. It will certainly make them remember for the next class.
Something else I've tried with poorer classes is to not be so serious myself. If I can pretend to be 'cool' just for 45 minutes then the students no longer think of me as a teacher, but as one of their own. Don't show up to class in formal wear, dress down to something they might wear or at the very least something the other teachers definately wouldn't wear. Make it seem like learning English is cool (not an easy task). |
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