Job Discussion Forums

[gaijinalways]

I recently received an email from my student which pointed up a major communication breakdown. The student initially sent an email asking for the homework assignment for my class. The student left no name, nor did his email address have a uni name in it. Since I currently teach 19 uni classes on 5 days, I asked the student which day and period his/her class was on.

His reply (which didn't include my earlier email and the student's) was;

'I am in the period class.'

Had a few chuckles over that one.

Still in the subject line were 'Day? Period?'

[I must add that I had gone over in several classes that if students email an assignment (have some coming in that way) or a question they must list their day of the week for the class, the period, their seat number (I use seating charts for most of my classes) and name in the subject line of the email.]

Had any major breakdowns in communication recently with your students?

[Glenski]

Yup. Of the 13 3rd-year students in my class who emailed homework to me with a specific message to be written in the subject line, one misspelled the name of the course "debate course" as "devate course".

Half the students never wrote a salutation, nor did they indicate their names at all. I realize the subject line contained their student ID number, but they should still have manners. I told them so the next class period.

I've also had many email messages from students handing in homework in other classes with classic remarks like:

"Deal with this."

"Handle this."

I asked one student to send me an email so I would know her correct address. All she did was send the email. No subject line. No message written at all.

And, then there are the twisted grammar messages and misspellings like this one from a 3rd-year writing class student:
"Sorry to my late this mail.
I had send you this mail in winter vacation, but the mail seemed not to be res ived."

Just this week I had a student write the following.
"I will do my beast."
Ok, I work at a vet school, but that is just not what I hope she meant.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Not to be pedantic...but what the thread title should be is: "What we've got here is failure to communicate".

If you doubt me, pls. confer with late Messers. Martin & Newman...

Cool Hand NCTBA

[scot47]

I had a battle with students on this

"In the Message Title put your Student ID"

INVARIABLY, even after 15 weeks, there were students who could not comply with this instruction. I failed them. Life is hard - especially if you cross me, your teacher !

[Insubordination]

Recently read an essay about pubic transport.

[scot47]

RETINOPATHY

[Ariadne]

Scot, I think you need to read it more closely.

.

[Mike_2007]

FCE speaking test, interview practice session:

Me: So tell what you are passionate about doing in your free time

Gorgeous 19-year-old female student: I love doing handjobs

GULP, BLOCK THE IMAGE, BLOCK THE IMAGE, MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL EXPRESSION!!!!

Me (dribbling slightly): D..Do you mean handcrafts?

She: Ah, yeah.

You've got to love those all-too-literal L1-to-L2 translations...

[gaijinalways]

NTCBA posted

[gaijinalways]

Glenski, gotta love that, I will do my 'beast'...

I wonder, for dinner..or...?

[gaijinalways]

Scot47,

Mine haven't had 15 weeks yet, but I still have a few who after 5-6 weeks(depends on the class..number of sessions and when I asked them to do it this way) still leave little clue as to who they are.

Sometimes it might be better that way...