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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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 Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:41 am Post subject: |
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| You might want to start considering videotaping the class (essentially to see only these 2 guys' improvements, but it's not bad for everyone else, too). |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| DMcK wrote: |
As much as I appreciate every single second people use to reply here, I am still amazed at some people's lack of reading comprehension. I am also self employed and would never dream of "sacking" any student.
"Oh yes, Mr X, your employee, Y, is pretty pish and I am informing you that I will no longer teach him because I am self employed, you know, and I don't need that shit in my life, right?"
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Such students are your time thieves. And there's nothing wrong with sacking them because what's the point in taking their money when they're not making progress? It's not worth it. And there's always another private student coming instead. |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Something that may confuse people, Kootvela. I understand your policy of not putting up with students who you don't consider worth your time to teach, though my own policy is different.
In most places English is spoken, though, "sack" and "fire" imply a different relationship. If you never hired them, ie unless they work for you, you probably would "kick them out."
Best,
Justin |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I call it 'fire' because it's more humorous. Do you have to be that serious ALL the time? |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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One of the funny things about the internet is how "tone" and author's intent are easily lost.
(I'm not too serious- but didn't realize it was supposed to be funny. I bet I would have if I heard you say it, though.)
Justin |
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DMcK
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Kootvela wrote: |
Such students are your time thieves. And there's nothing wrong with sacking them because what's the point in taking their money when they're not making progress? It's not worth it. And there's always another private student coming instead. |
Did I mention reading comprehension?
I don't want to insult you and I presume you have the required skills but your comments indicate otherwise.
Just to make it absolutely clear: the classes are paid for by the students' company. I do not have any private students.
Aside from that, if they want to learn, I want to help them learn. If they suck but still want to learn, I still want to help them learn. Dunno, it might be me but I'm thinking that's the whole point of choosing this way to earn money.
Anyway, it's Christmas break soon and afterwards we'll be back to "I am a teacher; you are a student; he is a retard...." |
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parrothead
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 342
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| I have several low level students who genuinely want to learn, but for a variety of reasons it just takes longer for things to click for them. None would I demean as "a retard". From my experience older adults need more patience, especially if they are true beginners. Despite their desire to learn many students don't have any exposure to English outside of class or the time to study during the week. One hour a week is hardly an immersive experience. It always amazes me here in Japan when parents get upset that their children aren't fluent after a semester of 45 minute classes once a week. |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| DMcK wrote: |
| Kootvela wrote: |
Such students are your time thieves. And there's nothing wrong with sacking them because what's the point in taking their money when they're not making progress? It's not worth it. And there's always another private student coming instead. |
Did I mention reading comprehension?
I don't want to insult you and I presume you have the required skills but your comments indicate otherwise.
Just to make it absolutely clear: the classes are paid for by the students' company. I do not have any private students.
Aside from that, if they want to learn, I want to help them learn. If they suck but still want to learn, I still want to help them learn. Dunno, it might be me but I'm thinking that's the whole point of choosing this way to earn money.
Anyway, it's Christmas break soon and afterwards we'll be back to "I am a teacher; you are a student; he is a retard...." |
What can I say...I am sorry for your situation. Really. |
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DMcK
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
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| Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks very much for your support. I really need it in this awful hour. Sometimes I feel like it's all too much for me but when people like you share even a micron of the burden, I know I can get through it.
Thanks man. |
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DMcK
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
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| Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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| parrothead wrote: |
| I have several low level students who genuinely want to learn, but for a variety of reasons it just takes longer for things to click for them. None would I demean as "a retard". From my experience older adults need more patience, especially if they are true beginners. Despite their desire to learn many students don't have any exposure to English outside of class or the time to study during the week. One hour a week is hardly an immersive experience. It always amazes me here in Japan when parents get upset that their children aren't fluent after a semester of 45 minute classes once a week. |
I don't actually think any of them are retards. I would have preferred to use c*nt in that example but only because I prefer that word; not because I think any of them are c*nts. |
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Chris_Crossley
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1797
Location: Still in the centre of Furnace City, PRC, after eight years!!!
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| Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject: Parents can be grossly naive, forgetting their own learning |
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| parrothead wrote: |
| It always amazes me here in Japan when parents get upset that their children aren't fluent after a semester of 45 minute classes once a week. |
I can only presume that these parents either never studied any English in high school when they were students many moons ago or else, if they did, they have probably, conveniently, forgotten both everything they were taught and the entire experience of "learning" the language.
Were they ever fluent after a semester of 45-minute lessons in English just once per week? Frankly, I doubt it, but it seems amazing that the generation "gap" now extends to conveniently forgetting what it was like back then and expecting the next generation to somehow become linguistic geniuses just because there are foreign teachers (or teaching assistants) in the classroom.
It's just a classic example of gross naivety on their part in the extreme, in my opinion. It's the same with the Chinese: parents here expect miraculous things to happen just because there are foreigners teaching their spoilt little darlings English yet they cannot expect their kids to learn well if the latter are almost totally unreceptive to what the foreigners are trying to do for them - how could they be with little earphones permanently attached to their mp3 players or iPods? |
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jonniboy
Joined: 18 Jun 2006
Posts: 751
Location: Panama City, Panama
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| Kootvela wrote: |
| I am fortunate. I am self-employed and I just fire such academically poor students if they don't take it seriously. But hey that's just me. |
You and me both. But the Baltics at present are very much a seller's market in my experience compared to Spain where there are a lot more teachers. Spanish students on the whole are, in my humble opinion, a lot less dedicated than Baltic ones when it comes to studying. |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| jonniboy wrote: |
| Kootvela wrote: |
| I am fortunate. I am self-employed and I just fire such academically poor students if they don't take it seriously. But hey that's just me. |
You and me both. But the Baltics at present are very much a seller's market in my experience compared to Spain where there are a lot more teachers. Spanish students on the whole are, in my humble opinion, a lot less dedicated than Baltic ones when it comes to studying. |
Yes and No. With the economic crisis the motivation of my students got better. I mean, it's difficult to keep or find a job now and English is very important for that because it's a requirement even though it's not always used at work. But I do have students whom I want to ask what they are coming for....but such don't last long.  |
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DMcK
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Big time.
The economic shite has made it quite good for us here. As you say, everyone now wants to learn English to make themselves more marketable in the job market.
While companies are making cut backs they are also increasing budgets for English classes. Mind you thats just my limited view. it may well not be the case across the board. |
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