Job Discussion Forums

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

OK, I've been teaching ESL to adults at the college here in Plano Texas for three years now and this is the first semester where I've had an entire class act as though they were dead. What I mean is no matter what I do they just sit there.

They don't seem motivated to learn and they don't care to do ANY of the exercises I do. The book, presentations, group work, pair work, none of these things seem to wake them up. I asked another teacher about it and he said this is his worse semester ever and he's been teaching there for ten years.

My other class that just ended was amazing! They all did presentations all of the time, we went over the book, group and pair work and it was great! But the class I have now that lasts until Dec 19....no pulse.

I know some students leave a class or register then never show up, but this is a whole class. It's in the morning but so was my other class that just ended and those students had tons of energy. I even had a teacher watch half of the class and he said it wasn't me. He said those students seem like they're dead. Then he said that sometimes it happens. Three years of teaching and great evaluations I have yet this class has me stumped.

Anyone ever experienced something similar? Is there a cure or do some classes like this just happen sometime?

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

I had a group of dead students last semester too. I actually dreaded coming to class because it was like trying to get blood from a stone.
I checked with the teachers who had had this group previously and they said it was the same with them. What worked for me, was just changing up the activities until I finally found something that clicked with them. Do they like music? Maybe you can integrate more exercises involving music into the classroom. Do they need more games? Can you get them up and moving somehow? Maybe shake things up, get each one of them to teach a class. You might find out from that what they like doing.
Just keep trying until something clicks--even if you get a spark out of half of them, you won't dread the class so much.

Good luck, I don't envy your situation, but I hope my suggestions help.

D

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Thanks Daniel for the advice. I'll use that for any future dead student classes I may come across. I've tried the presentations but they refuse to do that. I actually tried the music also, nothing.

Another problem with this class is they just want to do the book yet the book bores them. Your advice is great but I don't think they'll go for it. When I used to try and do many different activities with them they would complain that we aren't going to finish the book. I even have a computer in the classroom and I used to go over some things on CNN or the History channel plus some movies. Nothing. Nada. DOA....Dead on Arrival.

I think I now know that you can't please all of the students. If they don't want to do anything I'll just finish up this semester with them by going through the book.

Sad but they just don't care. One student this morning was breathing heavy like she was bored. I had to tell her right there that she may leave the class if she's that bored and just stay home Monday so the rest of the students don't have to listen to her sitting up there breathing like she's bored. She was distracting the whole class and if any student spoke for over 30 seconds she would look at them in a mean way.

She left and the others clapped. Interesting. That was the most life I've seen them display. I really feel there's no hope with this particular group.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

What time of day is this dead class? What is the classroom environment like?

Ever heard of circadian rhythm?

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

what nationality are your students?
and, what age?

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

The class is Monday & Wednesday 10:00am to noon. The nationality of all of my classes are the same. Students from all over the world. In this class I have students from Iran, Mexico, Brazil, Guatamala, India, South Korea, Moraco, Iraq, China and Georgia. All are adults ranging from 20 to mid 40's.

Thanks for the article Guy. I guess this is something that happens every now and then. I love teaching and I love students but these students are sooooo different from what I've experienced at the college.