Job Discussion Forums

[Ariadne]

Just a gentle reminder...

their
there
they're

.

[Lobster]

I only have 450 students, but I have to give grades, so I base it on their in-class performance during the term because even administering a 5-minute individual test would be out of the question. I make quick marks on participation, punctuality, effort and preparedness. I'd suggest to the admin that you could do this starting next term and to leave it be for this term.

RED

[zootown]

[DosEquisX]

I have to give exams. For my writing class, I corrected a homework assignment and am telling them to re-write it for their final and submit it to me for the last class. One of my oral classes is quite good. It's a small class so they will be doing team debates.

My other classes are a lost cause. Just massive group presentations and arbitrarily assigning grades.

[Kiwi303]

just bung up an Excel file of the students names/IDs with a random number generator function inserted into the "grade" column churning out random grades between 55 and 85...

[askiptochina]

I have 18 classes a week, or 36 different classes every 2 weeks. That's about 1500 students. 4 classes I would consider decent. 4 other classes are considered hopeless, and the remaining 28 have a mix of students.

I have an honor roll list of good students from each class. For me it's not extra work because I would go numb just doing basic speaking over and over again. I give the advanced students projects. I gave one of the top 4 classes my video camera and told them to take photos and video. Actually there is one student in one of the lower level classes who is pretty good, so he already used it, but he didn't know what to shoot. I am hoping better things from the higher level students. I plan on making a video from whatever they shoot.

Hopefully, this will inspire more students to interact in class. In addition to this, I took a survey of holiday shopping items they would like get their parents or friends. I will write a newspaper article on the results and print one page out. When I meet them next, it will be a FREE holiday class. They can watch holiday movies, play games, etc... I will pass this newspaper page out for those to read with questions at the end. They can answer YES or NO, or they can go into detail. Some of the lower level students try to explain their answers even though they can't express themselves. So, I bring along a dictionary and together we try to figure out what they are saying.

For example, some kept saying "diamond ring" but it sounded like they were saying "stair man". I thought they wanted exercise equipment. They say "pen" but mean "pan" (I know this because I showed them a Mr. Bean video where he went shopping for a pan).

[Non Sequitur]

Given that your Joe Average uni hack FT would have 350 to 400 students max in a semester, the numbers OP is talking about would be impossible.
Even a real speed dating encounter scenario would take forever and leaving you feeling �what�s the point?�
There are two testing approaches;
- Ranking and
- To a standard
To a standard would permit the use of fellow teachers as long as you were clear with each other about what constituted meeting the standard. Also have multiple test sets because they�re going to cheat.
Ranking would be just about impossible to achieve with multiple teachers. Oral E is subjective anyway but over multiple days and teachers very hard to keep a handle on whether Jenny is better than Sue.
My approach would be to a standard using multiple teachers. Say 6 or 8 cards with different short texts. Students approach and read from a card. Quickly assess fluency, accent, error rate, perseverance.
A card could be:
�Hello my name is John.
I come from the US.
My favourite game is basketball.
My sister�s name is Jean.
She is 15 years old�.
Watch for students trying to take a pic of the card to share with others.
BTW and as others have noted, could OP work out the difference between �there� and �their� and �they�re�.
Bit off-putting to be asked about English testing in what is substandard language.

[askiptochina]

[Baozi man]

Noobie blunder. I once was complaining about the different English levels in a single class. Finally, the leader gave me a multi page test with dozens of questions to assess their English level. I had about 300 students.

Administering and correcting the tests= nightmare. I learned.

Keep your mouth shut.

Here's what to do about the discipline issue, which is really the problem. Identify the real insurgents in the class, then make their lives hell. Humiliate them, criticize them, make them stand in the class, isolate them from other students. Put them out in the cold. Explain to them what is going to happen. Give them an opportunity to amend their ways. Then create a storm they won't forget.

If things work out, they will stop coming to class. You can help them understand if they stay away from class, you will pass them with 60%. If they keep coming and causing trouble, you will fail them, not only on the original exam but any make up exam they must take. Be mindful of your personal safety.

Ignore your leader. He's punishing you for rocking the boat. Stall for a week or two, tell him you got the problem resolved, if he asks you about it. If you get rid of the problem students, the issue will be resolved.

Does your school have a discipline office? If so, get them involved. If not, see above. Don't ask for permission or tell others what you are doing.
Give it a try.

One last thing. If you are wimp enough to give the exam, nothing will change except your leader's perception of you. More trouble will follow.

[Lobster]

Another thing you could try is giving a whole-class mark after each class depending on their behaviour and use this to set a baseline. Let them know you're doing this and then peer pressure will assist in class control.

RED

[tomhume89]

I had to test around 800 students. It took two weeks of classes- so no lesson planning or doing lessons. Everyone had less than 3 minutes, it was a piece of piss.

[Non Sequitur]

With respect skiptochina I think it is important.
Would we excuse an accountant, doctor or lawyer for similar inaccuracies?
If it is carelessness then what's the preview feature for, if not to correct these things?

[Ariadne]

Three times in the opening post... doesn't seem like a typo, but he's right, alas, many others do the same thing.

.