Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetsee]

that doesn't let other Ss speak?

I said give him relevant supplementary written material.

[mondrian]

In an oral English class use pair-work or small group work. use him but get the others to work as well at the same time.
Another trick is to use him for board work and get the other students to complete your exercises with him writing it all down.
A domineering/dominant student can be turned to your advantage!

[afowles]

It's one of the most difficult situations a teacher has to face. Some solutions:

- Just tell the student to let the other students speak. It can work.

- Nominate students to reply. This has the downside of making the teacher seem quite authoritarian. Can work depending on where you are

- The previously mentioned small group work

- Activities in which turn-taking is necessary. Information gap type stuff.

- Sometimes, changing the topic can bring more students in. If you're quietest student happens to be a piano virtuoso, consider a Bach-oriented lesson.

- If you're trying to have a group discussion, give the students time to prepare their thoughts on paper beforehand. They'll read from the paper at first, but you can then ask them expansion-type questions.

- Try taking the conversation out of the realm of the real and into the imagination. Quiet kids sometimes feel better when they don't have to focus on the real world.

Just some ideas.

[coffeedrinker]

These are all good suggestions and I will use some in my classes.

I'd say the solution depends on the details of the problem...how much they dominate and how the other students react.

I taught a debate class with one very outspoken student. The students all liked each other and the others were able to sometimes say in a semi-joking tone "You talk too much...". In this context (a debate class) it was relatively easy to actually set a time limit per person ("formal debate") but obviously that won't apply in every situation.

As hesitant as I am to nominate people, I think it is a good strategy for a couple reasons. First of all it does keep people on their toes, paying attention, and second, I think it makes it more likely that quieter studetns will get involved because it isn't left up to them to raise their hand or just chime in.

Sometimes I've just had to be more assertive about cutting people off, politely of course. "Okay" with a nod and a smile and a question for another student right away works well.

[Freddie Miles]

I think you have to turn a problem student to your advantage if you can, As Mod said earlier. Sometimes it isn't possible. However, if you can, that particular student can be quite an asset to the classroom atmosphere.

There are many reasons why a student might dominate a class, but the teacher must remain the authority. It depends on the kind of behaviour. If the student, for example, answers all of the questions put to other students then this is more of a problem of a lack of self-control. Or perhaps the need to be recognised. ( Maybe he or she feels under-valued outside of the classroom)

In this case, I might casually ask the student to stay after class or somehow meet with him or her outside of the class, and talk one to one. Begin with flattery and how proud you are of his progress and then explain that you KNOW he is a good student and he has nothing more to prove. Or ask him for his help.. why not? Tell him that many of the students in the class are so quiet and never get a chance to speak, why and what can we do about it? Of course, I am not speaking of children's classes, I am thinking more in terms of teenagers or young adults.

If the student is a plain bully, for example, laughing at other student's mistakes or interrupting the teacher with half whispered remarks, I tend to take a harder line. That is merely rudeness and ultimately it must be a teacher's job to maintain a sort of equality amongst the students.

Having said this, quite often teachers just give up on a difficult situation such as this and that isnt the best thing for you or your students. I always thought a teacher can learn a lot by the challenges he or she faces. Good luck.

[gaijinalways]

I like using this student (assuming that it is a strong student, e.g. higher level), to do board activities or use that student as a 'dictionary' to explain more difficult concepts, etc.

The aforementioned pair/group work is usual anyway in my classroom, and sometimes challenging that student (if they are more advanced) by giving them extra credit work and giving them additional time, sometimes as your partner (though I also like to monitor and pair with differnt students, sometimes helping weak students as I can 'assist' them in conversations where they get stuck).

Talking to the student sometimes works, especially reminding students that it's a group class. I also challenge students by asking if he/she changed names (when students answer out of turn or when another student is called upon), chiding them a little to give others a chance to answer.

But look on the bright side, at least one student is answering/talking .

[Sweetsee]

Could always switch places with the student, let them run the show!

[Freddie Miles]

Yes sweetsee, I have done this for disruptive students as well. The distracting types who are always whispering or interrupting or breaking concentration with jokes unrelated to the material.
Called him-- it always seems to be a HIM-- to the board and had him teach something or speak about himself as I took his place. While he was stammering away, I began to do similiar kinds of things he had done to me. Harsh? Perhaps but it usually works when all else fails.

[Sweetsee]

Me too Freddy. You know, asked if the student wouldn't mind giving me a break up here as she hooped and hawed with her mates. Slows her down for about a nano-second before she starts in again with that legs-akimbo-clapping-over-the-head thing, you know the one?
But hey man I want to welcome you here Freddy. You are new to this forum, aren't you? It is okay to say that isn't it, you know to welcome someone to a forum? Well if not, let me be the first!

Nice to meet you,
s

[CMB]

Is it a child or an adult ?- big difference in how to handle it, I think.
I had a student like that and what worked well was in debate/role play activities to make him the "judge" or "evaluator" or whatever, so his job was to listen and make pronouncements, or write evaluations etc. It gave the other students the chance to talk and somewhat fulfilled his need to be the center of attention since he was technically in a leadership/authority role.

[Freddie Miles]

Thanks Sweetsea for the friendly show of hospitality. In fact I have been here a week or two and went mad typing things but mostly in the Turkey room. Check my other posts through my profile, you might get a kick out of some of the tales!
By the way, I also like Nico. I bet you liked The royal tannebaums too.

[Sweetsee]

My pleasure Freddy but hold on, did you read my post about Nico or is this one thick coincidence? I am guessing it's the former, tell me it's true.
Afraid I don't follow the thing about the Royal T's you mentioned, isn't that the Altman film?
Please explain the connection there. And as for my favorites they both be Bobs.

Enjoy,
s

[Freddie Miles]

At the bottom of your posts I recognised the lyrics from "the fairest of the seasons" by Nico. Formerly of the the Velvet Underground and, if I am not mistaken, closely connected with Andy Warhol.

As far the Royal T's, ( one of my favorite films )"These Days" and the above song were used in the film. I just jumped to the conclusion that you were also fond of the film.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eli: I'm not in love with you any more.
Margot: I didn't ever know that you were.
Eli: Let's not make this any more difficult than it already is.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway that should explain everything.

[Sweetsee]

Of course Freddy, forgot all about that!
Named our first daughter Nico.
Maybe I need to see that film again. Big woody allen fan as well.

Enjoy,
s