Job Discussion Forums

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Hey, guys & gals.

Something awkward has come up recently... Some of my former students have come to me to complain about their current teacher. It's not just a case of a personality clash ("we don't like him/her..."). When I hear such subjective complaints, I just nod sympathetically and try to focus on the person's teaching. This complaint is actually about the teaching methodology. I actually think it is a very valid complaint. And it's not the first time they've come to me. Now it seems that they are going to do something drastic to voice their complaints that could get the teacher into trouble.

A while ago, someone else (I think in the Japan forum) posted a similar question--what should I do?!?!? I was one of the ones who said it was none of his/her business and s/he shouldn't get involved. Now that I'm experiencing a similar situation, though... I take it back!

I am already involved, since the students have chosen to come to me. And if they follow through and the teacher gets in trouble, I will think, "Hmmm... should I have said something?" It's not my responsibility to solve this, but I do want to do the right thing, and I do want my former students to get the education that they need.

Any thoughts??!?!?

d

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Is the teacher's methodology one that doesn't fit with the techniques used by the rest of the faculty? Is it not culturally or age appropriate? Exactly what is the issue? Can the faculty resolve it in an amiable way?

valley_girl · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject:

Unless you are a DOS or manager at the school, I doubt there is much you can (or should) do. You simply aren't in a position, literally, to do anything. I'm sorry that you feel stuck in the middle of your students and your co-worker. That does sound mighty unpleasant. Confused

mlomker · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 378

The fact that you're talking to us about it leads me to believe that you don't have a good enough relationship with this person to speak to them. Or perhaps you already have and it didn't go so well?

I'm not sure where you work (or even what country), but if you don't have a line of communication with this teacher then have the children's parents complain...that seems to be how things usually get fixed.

If the teacher was someone that you respected then I'd suggest that you talk to them, but it doesn't sound like it.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Tell them they need to document any complaints and take them to the school manager, and stay out of the mess...

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hi Denise,

That was me from before and this was the best advice I received:
"let it be unless it has a direct result on your teaching or remuneration."

Good luck and enjoy yourself,
s

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Not long ago, I had a Japanese man in my Advanced Writing course at a uni EAP course. Unfortunately, I had to fail him. He wasn't ready for university yet. The student took it well. He returned next term and was put in another teacher's class. A month or so in he came to my office to talk. He wanted to show me his latest essays. Seeing the passing grade on the front, I congratulated him. He looked deeply troubled however. "It's not right," he complained. "I know this essay is not good enough. I shouldn't pass. Unless I get proper feedback, I will never learn. I want to transfer to your class." (Surprisingly, I had several students I had failed the previous semester ask to be put back in my class the following term. Some were.)

I sympathasized with him but didn't take it further (even though the teacher was inexperienced and not capable of teaching that level yet). Besides having a non-transfer policy, I knew it was asking for trouble. And it came. Not from that student or his teacher but from another teacher teaching another section of the course. My colleague began to complain vigorously about her students comparing her class unfavourably to mine. There was the unsaid accusation that I was fomenting this. I sympathasized again and told her since she was a good teacher, she shouldn't take it personally; it was just a personality clash (and she was a good teacher and her classes were just fine).

About the same time, our Director quit. Students numbers declined. There was no one in charge to make the decision objectively about which teacher had to be laid off. It was left to the teaching staff to decide. Guess who got let go?

The best advice remains "Leave it alone." It is not up to teachers to critique each others' ability, no matter what we may think privately of each other. That should be left to adminstration.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Thanks, guys! Looks like "stay out of it" is the way to go. Whatever they decide to do will be up to them.

And yeah, it has been unpleasant!!!

d

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Hm,
Kind of weird to do this on the net. But they're complaining about me. So I guess you could talk to me instead of posting on the net.

About the complain�ts, they're complaining to me that they can't understand. I don't know if it's valid because they don't understand tapes, or their classmates, so it could be that they need to pracitse more listening.

My teaching method usually gets complaints at the beginning becuase I make students speak and they don't want to. Usually it's because their former teachers have passed them when they can't even speak. Also, I make them pratise speaking and listening more than grammar, which can be studied at home.

What makes it hard is that I have children and adults in the class. So they come from different teaching method backgrounds.

As far as complaining to the management. DOn't worry they have. Luckily, the mangement agrees with my teaching method and has supported me 110%.

The complaints were at the begining of the semester. Now students have beome more accustomed to my methods and I can see visible improvement. Though sometimes I am shocked that they arrive at upper levels and still can't put sentences together.

So anyways, even though we don't get along denise on a personal level, if you have suggestions to improve my teaching methods and help my students better their English, feel free to acutally talk to me instead of venting frustrations that can easily be fixed on a forum which will bring about no results.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

One more thing, you will find that people are loyal to their ex-teachers. For example, I had a very good very experienced teacher cover one of my classes recently, but none of the students liked his method, becuase they were used to mine. ANother example, some students complained to me about a former teacher they had who is know in the office to be one of the best. I covered a class for a teacher and they all complained. But I covered another one in which I had former students and they wanted to know if I could become their teacher again.

Students are fussy and picky.

Once again, best option would be to talk to me for the benefit of the students. One positive thing will be that this Fri I will visit your class so maybe I can pick up some ideas on how to teach my class.

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:52 am Post subject:

Students often complain that they aren't being taught correctly. That's like a patient complaining to the doctor that he isn't practicing medicine correctly. There's a reason (many, actually) why the teacher is a teacher and the student is a student. Wink

khmerhit · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:53 am Post subject:

Wow--

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

So much for trying to do the right thing and still be subtle about it...

d

angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

It's true that students often complain at the beggining of the semester when they have a new teacher, who might have quite a different style or use different methodology than what they are accustomed to, or even a different accent.
This happens quite often where I teach, this semester in fact I had a few students come and complain to me about a teacher who I knew to be very capable. I simply tld them not to worry about it and that they would get used to it. Because I wasn't sure how the teacher would react to students complaining I didn't say anything, and sure enough in time the same students were all happy-it's just the transition I think that they find challenging.
It's a different story when the complaints continue well into the semester or when a particular teacher is known across the board, ie different levels, majors, etc as not being any good. ANd then it's up the department head to fix the problem as far as I'm concerned, unless the person in question comes looking for help, I don't get involved.
But it can definitely be a difficult situation, especially in the case where teachers are just passing students along and you have to teach them the next year...