Job Discussion Forums

[maarg]

Is it just me, or does anyone else have an impression that most DOSes want their teachers to act like dancing monkeys? I know you need to be a bit of an entertainer if you're teaching kids or teenagers, but do I really need to move around the classroom when I'm doing a grammar exercise in a one-to-one class with an adult student? And is it really "creating distance" if I'm sitting half a meter away from my student?

I know lesson observations are necessary, and I know the comments DOSes make might be helpful sometimes, but why do I feel like most of these comments are often simply rubbish? Just wondering (/ venting)...

[Harry from NWE]

[spiral78]

Slightly off-topic and irrelevant since I'm not actually in Poland -
but I interviewed a teacher yesterday whose stated approach to teaching is theatrical (read: clownish). He won't get the job

[maarg]

Ufff, thank you. It does make me feel a bit better

To me, a good teacher has always been someone who has thorough knowledge of their subject and who knows how to pass this knowledge on (and this is what I'm willing to work on). What I've noticed, though, is that DOSes care very little about teachers' competence. All that seems to matter is whether you're a showman or not (and this I refuse to work on - that's what people have their TV sets for). I know we're living in a consumer society and everything's a commodity these days, but I really don't think that a monkey teacher is what sells a language course. Yet, somewhow I don't think my DOS would agree...

[spiral78]

Hmm - my British colleagues are always saying 'horses for courses.' It makes sense - I suppose that there are a few students who respond positively to a clown for a teacher
I recently read a post by some teacher whose experience has been exclusively with children in Japan. She is under the impression that the most important qualification is a 'loud, happy voice.' The only problem is that she expects this to translate successfully to other teaching contexts.

But when one's working with adults...there are different and many times better ways to establish a working relationship. There's considerable support in the SLA literature for this. Adult learners need to understand the goals of the lesson and its activities more than they need to be entertained, in general. Sorry I can't send you exact authors at the moment - my library's about 14 hours away...but this is logical for adult learners, and I think should be pretty easy to rationalize to an employer.

[Kootvela]

My guess would be that it's all about those 'students' needs'. In company clients usually stress they want to have fun during the lessons, to have a good time next to learning things. I cannot blame them after years of old-school teaching but I guess they just don't realize that circus and classroom are not always compatible.

[Mojoski]

In the private sector, it's all about making the client (student) happy. In other words, they want retention and word of mouth for increasing business. Of course you should know the material and proper teaching techniques, but there's nothing wrong with making the lessons fun. It engages the students (at any level), and that is beneficial for learning.

In the private schools, you have to get the students to like you. This is what the company likes to see. I never pass up an opportunity to have a laugh with my students, and having a vivacious manner is endearing and also transfers to the students. Face it, when you are in front of a class, you are onstage. Play to the audience, enjoy it. It doesn't have to interfere with sound teaching--rather it enhaces it. And BTW, studies have shown that adult students need praise and encouragement just as much, and perhaps more, than young learners do.

[maarg]

[spiral78]

I disagree - it's a matter of style. There haven't been so many laughs in my classrooms over the years (though there are always a few, they tend to be genuine, not calculated). It's entirely possible to establish a good working relationship with adults without basing it on entertainment, if that's not your personal style.

Nothing wrong with fun, but straining to be 'funny' isn't necessary to be a good teacher.

[spiral78]

maarg, I think you'd be entirely justified to invite your DOS to an entire lesson. I also once had a director who specialized in the ten-minute visit, and then spent our feedback period telling me what I should have done before and after the clip she witnessed. What a waste of time!

For what it's worth - I would never work with children because I am shy around them. And I tend to be the serious type. But I've been quite successful over the past 12 years working with adult learners of all kinds - including lots of Slavic ones.

Genuine interest in them and their progress is really the key. Not clowning. Honest.

[maarg]

[Harry from NWE]

[spiral78]

[maarg]

[maarg]