Job Discussion Forums

[krem1234]

I've though about this issue lately as I've taught adults before, but have only minimal experience teaching English to adults. I was curious about what type of experiences teachers have had in regard to dealing with difficult students, and how often/common it is to have experiences like this. In my own experience teaching adults in other subjects (college classes), the primary difficulties I've had just relate to students complaining about their grades. My primary interest here is that I don't want to go from dealing with difficult clients in my current job to having to spend much time and energy dealing with difficult students.

Thanks

[Sashadroogie]

Dear Krem1234

Not too many replies, so I'll venture in. I think it largely depends on where you are working: universities, language schools, private sector, and in which country.

But at risk of a gross generalisation, based only on my experience as a DOS in Europe, most adult students who complain usually complain about the competence of the teacher primarily. 'Doesn't know how to teach!', "Doesn't know the material!', "Has not prepared the lesson!', 'Smells like a nightclub and looks like he has just come to the school straight from one' etc. etc. To be fair to the students, the complaints were justified, so it is hard to label them 'difficult students'. More efficacious to sack the offending teachers.

In addition, there are the businessmen types, usually with an MBA under their belts, who have rather over-inflated egos. They can be difficult to manage, or just handle. Rudeness aplenty. But I have found the difficult ones to be a minuscule proportion. Time is money, and most businessmen don't want to waste either.

Generally, I do not really classify university students as full adults yet! They are actually much younger than at home. In any case, they may badger teachers about grades, but this is never so difficult to deal with - well, usually.

I do not think that you'll find the transition to adult students to be in any way similar regarding difficult students. At least, that has been my experience.

Best of luck to you.

[DebMer]

In my year and a half of teaching adult ESL, my one difficult student was a good natured woman who was compelled to explain, loudly, to the class or repeat back/clarify to me in Spanish what I had just taught in English. Not too bad, but I'm also at liberty to drop anybody who is disruptive or argumentative, so my students tend to be appreciative and cooperative.

[Tudor]

Not sure how this has been duplicated, but the OP's post has already been discussed just a bit further down the page.

Maybe the mods can somehow merge these threads?

[Sashadroogie]

Oh, I didn't spot that. Where is the other post? Curiosity has been pricked.