Job Discussion Forums

[jud]

I'm starting to wonder if students actually prefer it when you're strict with them.

I'm going through a less-than-thrilling moment in my life, and while I 'm certainly not trying to take it out on my students (hope not!), I'm considerably less warm and fuzzy when I correct them.

Strangely, my students seem to respond well to this. They work harder, are more attentive, and attendance, which was already pretty good, has become 100 %.

I also noticed way back when I did my CELTA that one of the more successful teachers we observed was not particularly nice to his students. Didn't torture or insult them, but was a pretty dry guy.

Do you find this to be true where you are?

[shmooj]

Here in Japan, I'd say it was true in the eikaiwa scene.

I once did a paper on concepts my students associated with the word "sensei". Top two which were way ahead of any other words they provided were firstly "kibishii" and "yasashii" roughly equivalent to "strict" and "kind".

[batman]

you have to be cruel to be kind. if you are all warm and fuzzy all the time, students will view this as a weaknes, and be slack. you have to be firm, to command respect, then you can be nice sometimes. i just watched master commander the other day, and one of the officers was always trying to be friends with the crew, as a result, they did not respect him. the were increasingly subordinate, and it lead this officer to commit suicide.

[ls650]

[latefordinner]

The traditional wisdom is that it is easier to start strict and then slack off as the students get used to your manner of discipline. I'm very inclined to agree, as I have had to fight to tighten discipline and control too often, but have never had a problem lightening up and eliciting a little laughter. Your mileage may vary, but that's how it is for me.

[Alitas]

Start strict. There's no other way. Strict doesn't have to mean rude, unkind, or a jerk. You set your expectations, you explain class procedures, and you show the students what you mean.

"I'll accept assignments in this format."
"I expect you to work on this outside of class."
"During exams I do not allow group discussion."

Vague phrases, for example only. Students appreciate routines and boundaries. Once they understand what you want and expect, they tend to fall into order. Once order reigns, you can let your hair down a little.

[Gordon]

Sometimes early on in a course, I get students to come up with a contract. We brainstorm and write the rules for the class. Usually they are stricter than ones I ever come up with. The next class, I have the contract written out and the students sign them. Throughout the course, students will enforce and remind their peers about the rules: "remember, English only".

[Capergirl]

I agree with those who say to start strict and soften up later. I know that I personally find my students judge me by my appearance and age, so I need to command their respect right away. I can be tough when I need to be (which, fortunately, isn't often). They are adults, however, and need to be respected as well. The one thing I never do is talk down to them (at least I hope that I don't). Respect is a two-way street.

[waxwing]

[jud]

In Italian the adjective serious with reference to people's work and skills has very positive connotations, as in, he/she's no dilettante.

Maybe being strict, that is, setting down clear parameters, not accepting an easy response or mistake when you know that the students can do better, is taken by students as a sign that you actually care about their progress.

Kind of gives one hope.