Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

I have this class called G-ban that's out of control. The kids talk and misbehave constantly.

I've tried things like removing points from teams, but the kids think it's funny to see who can get the most negative score.

Today they really pushed my buttons -- one kid said "f--- you," another said "your mother" when I asked "what is this?" in regard to a cake, etc. When I tell them to do something, they just refuse. Last time, I ordered a kid who was misbehaving to stand in the corner, and he just said "NO," and when I pressed the issue, another student said "if you make him stand in the corner, the manager will fire you."

So basically I have no method of sanctions whatsoever, so the kids can do whatever they want. They know that neither me nor the manager will punish them because if we do, the parents will just withdraw the kids (which is what most of the kids want anyway).

How do I control kids when I'm not allowed to punish them in any manner aside from cutting points (which they think is funny), when I have no teacher's aide, and when any punishment might make their parents angry?

[JZer]

And unless your Chinese is really good the students will just laugh and you yelling at them in English.

From my experience how well students can be disciplined is usually a result of the schools policies and relationship with parents. If you take buxiban teaching in Taiwan too seriously you will never make it.

Just enjoy yourself and if it get's to be too much then leave Taiwan.

I hope to be doing just that in 2011.

[BigWally]

Take their desks and chairs out of the class room and teach the lessons with them standing.

Take away break times.

Give extra homework.

Make them write out the alphabet 1000 times.

Don't talk. Just walk into the classroom and sit down. Don't do anything until they are quiet.

Learn a few Chinese school commands: "Dzwo shaaa" or "Ahnn Jeeen" are good ones. Basically they are "sit down" and "shut up". Try one of these in your angriest tones (not yelling, or your temper loses you face), and maybe slam a book down at the same time to enforce your point.

Also, you can try to single them out in front of the other students. Make an example out of them, and make them lose face in front of their peers.

Beyond that, do you have any girls in the class who are good? Maybe a small group that "sort of" wants to be there? Get them on your side. Bring them in some sort of treat the others would want. (ie. teas, ice cream, mcdonalds) Let them eat/drink during class, and be sure to explain to all the students why that group is getting that "treat".

It may seem bad now, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I had a similar class, and I was the 3rd or 4th teacher they had had in 3 months. I managed to save the class (down to 7 kids) and raised enrollment to 16 kids, plus I had parents fighting to get their kids into my class instead of the other class they were forced to open for the same age group. At the end of my 2nd year with these kids, they pooled their money together to buy me an NBA jersey as a going away present. I also made an effort after class to find the parents (especially fathers if I could see them) of the worst offenders, and went out and spoke with them (via Chinese staff) to let them know that "little johnny" was causing issues in class.

Just a few ideas off the top of my head.

[forest1979]

Really simple solution to win back control and respect.

At the start of the class get one of the school employees to say, in Chinese, that for the next week each class will consist of tests and at the end of the week a letter will be sent to the parents of each child giving a report on their learning. You can add that behavior will be part of the report as well ability to listen and demonstrate learning. Inform the school's manager of this so that you have his/her ok to go ahead to do it, and to back you up. I did this years ago in a class and the element of surprise works wonders. Just be comprehensive in explaining about the purpose of the test:

- cheating will not be tolerated
- when the class in doing the test no one is to speak
- parents are informed of the results
- parents can come to the school to speak of the report with you and the manager, etc.
- any doing anything that they shouldn't gets a black mark on their report

Empower yourself. If the kids have no respect for you then turn it upon its head. At the moment the perspection with the kids is that you are impotent, you have no authority. Twist that scenario by laying down some simple rules. Anyone who breaks it will have their parents know.

Oh, and shouting at them wont do any good. You'll just make yourself a laughing stock. If you stay cool and calm in the face of their provocation, and do some of the things suggested here, you'll show them who is the clever one, and really how childish they are.

[forest1979]

Just to briefly follow-up.

When I practised the test I didn't call it that. I called it an exam. Ideally get the school manager to inform the students of this, and to tell them in Chinese.

[Rooster_2006]

The problem is, my boss absolutely refuses to let me use any sanctions. I suggested contacting parents, and she said no. She refuses to give them homework or tests. In essence, my boss is robbing me of all the means I could possibly, theoretically use to control a class...

I've already handed in my two months' notice (it says I have to do so in the contract) and am looking for another job, because I don't think that even the best foreign teacher on earth could have a properly-disciplined class in this situation.

I might try forest1979's strategy of bringing in McDonald's or tea and giving it only to the good students, though. That costs money, and last month's paycheck was a measly 18,250 NTD, so eating decently myself is enough of a challenge at this point, but perhaps at my next school, I'll make enough to buy some "incentives" and implement this strategy. A poor teacher is a bad teacher.

And to respond to another user (I don't remember who it is), actually, two of my three problem students are girls. One of them yells "NO" and slams her arm down on her desk whenever I tell her to do anything. The other is actually pretty good at English and constantly tells me "if you do that, the boss will fire you."

Still, thanks for the suggestions, guys, and I'll make sure in my job hunt to ask plenty of questions about homework, tests, calling the parents, etc. to establish whether a prospective buxiban is staffed by weenies or a laoban with some backbone.

[forest1979]

You can't survive on NT$18,000 a month for a long time unless you want to eat into your bank savings.

You can't survive in a job if your boss won't back you up in any way.

You've done the right thing to hand in your notice.

Good luck for the future!

[Rooster_2006]

[Ki]

What happens if you break the contract? Two weeks is the legal time. One month is usual. Two months is crazily stupid. Just keep calling in sick to that class. Is this just a part time job then? Is this a recruiter job? What's the deal?

I would just do nothing. Bring a newspaper and just sit there doing the crossword. I like the idea of taking the desks out of the classroom. Last week I had a new class where a third of the students were really horrible. So I just excluded them from the game. It was funny when they wanted to play but I wouldn't let them.

[Rooster_2006]

[killian]

get fired, perhaps? won't you get walking papers then?

just talk to their parents face-to-face. after even three months any laowai should have a grasp of the basics such as "ni de haizi meiyou ting laoshi".

let the folks sweat it out.

[norwalkesl]

[jungleboy]

[quote="Rooster_2006"]The problem is, my boss absolutely refuses to let me use any sanctions. I suggested contacting parents, and she said no. She refuses to give them homework or tests. In essence, my boss is robbing me of all the means I could possibly, theoretically use to control a class...

This is precisely what I expected to be the case when I was reading others' advice to you!
This is a problem that the school has created. It is a consequence of older decisions to not have Taiwanese assistants present during the lessons, to discard teachers in the face of discipline issues, and to retain problem children. I have no time to go into it, and especially so when I avoid posting on-line. Suffice to say that the only way to survive, is to just _take it_ -- which is effectively what the schools hope you to do.
IMHO, nowadays, new teachers have a tougher environment to survive in: they are highly disposable, and there no longer have Taiwanese assistants whose stated role was to maintain discipline.

[Rooster_2006]

I realize I could probably get compensation, but I don't really want to start a fight or become vindictive. I just want to get a better job and move on with my life, actually banking some money for a change.

I actually agreed to the <14 hours, because I was desperate for a job, and only had seven days to find one (Hess had just fired me).

I agreed to <14 because I (wrongly) assumed that finding morning work would be no problem. In Korea, I had plenty of kindergarten teaching gigs being offered to me. I assumed "it doesn't matter if I teach just a few hours in the evenings, there'll be plenty of kindergartens at which I can teach in the mornings, I should have no problem making 45K a month."

I was wrong. Almost all the kindergartens in Kaohsiung are hyper-competitive. It's incredible and pathetic how so many qualified foreigners will throw themselves at an ILLEGAL job... My last job interview was for a kindy with eight teachers applying for one ILLEGAL position. Incredible. Not surprisingly, they didn't even call me back.

I just want to quit at my current place, find a place that'll give me more hours (preferably at least 20), and get on with my life. Six months in this country and I probably haven't even broken even on the moving-in costs...

[BigWally]