Job Discussion Forums

wfh · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 30

It's okay, I don't need sympathy, just feeling a bit sorry for myself and wanted a wee bit of advice, or tough love. Teaching English to university students who are bored, unmotivated and/or depressed.

I'm here in my office, drowning in great materials - books, a/v, presentations, lesson plans; I'm in a great job, love most of my students/classes, and get on great, apart from these two classes who are just... very hard to deal with, keep me awake at night, erode my self esteem and self confidence, make me feel like a huge failure as a teacher.

One class of 50, the other of almost 90. Feel depressed and nervous whenever I know I have to teach them (four hours a week with each group); huge variations in ability - fluent to zero beginner in one group, half fluent, half pre-intermediate in the other group. I'm finding it really really tough and demoralising and I feel like it's spiralling out of control and I need to stop it. I read textbooks on motivation, on classroom management - they make me feel really bad about myself. I try not to take it personally, but I feel responsible. I feel like I should just give up. The class of 50 (half pre-inter, half fluent) are really badly behaved - I spend my time on crowd control and discipline and get very little work done with them.

The class of 90 - discipline problems aren't so apparent, but they're either unresponsive, bored, or confused. Ordinarily i love the classroom, get really excited about teaching, and love my students. I don't mind tough classes, challenging situations, but in this situation I feel like I'm flailing around desperately, and things are getting worse instead of better.

Can anyone offer wisdom or constructive criticism?

I've been teaching university students for less than a year (11 months to be exact). My experience has been with adult learners in Germany and the UK.

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

What country?

wfh · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 30

egypt

coffeedrinker · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 149

I'm not the best one to give advice, but I'll try.

First of all, you don't say much about school management...I suspect they have some responsibility for these classes but most likely nothing can or will be changed. (??)

I think you probably need to look at it like - your other classes are okay and there is a lot going on with these two. No one is perfect, so maybe there is something you could do differently, but they are adults. I really believe that lots of teachers have the very same issues - the difference is that some feel bad about it and others just ignore it.

Can you make some change so you work with those who care / are motivated and essentially ignore those who are not? Or ignore them until they realize they are losing out? Obviously this isn't my advice for every situation where motivation is an issue, but if you've got 90 people and motivation or not paying attention is a problem for a lot of them, it may not be something one person can change...and beating yourself up about it will not solve it either (it seems like you probably know this.)

Sometimes it is just a bad day and things seem worse than they are. But if you really feel like you've tried what you can, maybe try to switch classes, or get out of teaching them next term so you have that to look forward too?

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

I have (and have had) a class like OP mentions. I found that as soon as I stopped trying to please/force/teach/discipline them, the class became a whole lot easier. They actually responded. It's hard to explain but experiment and you can change the state of your mind to one where you control the class not the other way around. (No, I haven't been smoking)

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

You've got two huge mixed-ability classes. Pitch the class as best you can, varying from one level to another so you don't have half totally left out.

If they misbehave, throw them out. It's a university for Christ's sake.

John Hall · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

Do you speak louder to try to assert your authority in a classroom of rowdy students? Try this strategy for a change: speak softer! Students will feel like they are being left behind. Also, the students who truly want to learn will start telling the others to shut up! It works!

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

Just to echo what others have said, concentrate on you and the class will sort itself out. I had a similar experience on a much smaller scale, but that was some of the advice I was given. If you are upset and trying hard to manage the class the students enjoy that, they want to see you stuggle. They get off on pushing your buttons, especially enmasse. Instead, as a previous poster mentioned, speak lower, be happy with yourself, exude an air of confidence, certainty and professionalism and your students may come around. On the other hand, if you treat them like an unruly class, than that is how they will behave.
Also, when you come out of it on the other side you will have become a better teacher and can take solace in the idea that no class will ever be as bad and nothing will faze you again.
Good luck to you!
Enjoy,
s

wfh · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 30

Sincere, deep, heartfelt thanks to everyone who replied, that's some sound, practical advice that I will definitely take on board. I'll also print out this thread and stick it on my wall so I can read it before I go to the class.

Thanks Smile

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

You are very welcome. And remember, today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Also, if you are interested in reading material, I recommend Zoltan Dornyei's Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom.
Enjoy,
s

Jetset · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 74

I would recommend breaking that large class into smaller groups of individuals with similar skills. Then get them working on something constructive - debates, mini presentations, etc etc. and you can circulate and be more attentive to their individual needs.

works for native -english speaking university kids, should be good for esl students! Wink

tonyf · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Pakistan

Hello,wfh.

Firstly, as Jetset says, split the class up. More specifically, split that class of 90 up. I had a similar problem in Sudan, and I approached the Head and asked him to split up a class of 100. Be firm and stay by your (educational) principles.

They love grammar,especially simple but level specific exercises. It will encourage order in a large class. Keep it oral, use grammar games if you can. But do things like the 2nd Conditional. Drill it, concentrate on pronunciation, choral and individual.

It all helps to get that preliminary order ypou need for later more creative work.

Remember at the stage you re teaching, it s a matter of agreed aims and objectives. Offer things as vote, or suggestion. Try to get their tacit agreement.

Hope that helps at the moment. Best wishes.

wfh · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 30

Hi!

Sorry for bumping up an old thread, but I've just finished my second full semester of teaching with the two groups I mentioned when I started this thread.

It was a tough ride, really. I wish I could say that things improved dramatically when I followed the advice in the thread, but I'm happy to say things did improve a bit, and I personally found strength and peace by following the excellent advice here. I don't know how well the students have done, or how much progress they have made, but I've learnt a lot of tough lessons and I'm excited about the next semester.

Now, thank god, i'm off for a two month holiday (once I get all my administration work/marking done ...)

Thanks!