Job Discussion Forums

[vikuk]

[fat_chris]

[vikuk]

[The_Hanged_Man]

I think the amount of classroom management required plays a large role in how much of the native language is needed.

For a group of highly motivated bright university or adult students probably very little is required if you are focusing on conversational aspects.

On the other hand if you are teaching a bunch of sullen middle school students who being forced to take the class and who couldn't care less about learning English then obviously you will need to use the native language. Conducting crowd control and maintaining discipline would be pretty much impossible if the students don't understand precisely what you are saying.

[vikuk]

[shuize]

I understand if someone who does not plan to stay more than just a few years does not want to put in the effort to achieve fluency in an Asian language. But when one gets to the 10 or 15 year mark and it's pretty obvious he is not going anywhere, it's not gloating to expect him to get off his butt and learn a bit more than a slow child.

[tw]

[vikuk]

[arioch36]

Vikuk

[vikuk]

Well arioch you must be familiar with the sullen Chinese student who doesn't want to learn, after all you write -

[fat_chris]

[arioch36]

for the five or ten weakest students, they need to be put in a group with someone who will keep them going. Find who speak english best in that group (I use groups of four of five usually), and have them translate. The second week of class I always break the class into groups (boys and girls evenly dispersed) for each activity they talk first to one group member, then the next. By week five, ubderstanding of my method settles in fairly well, litle chinese used, little talking by me. (Then act week 13, they start slipping a little)

really, in a good class, this happens anyway, and I encourage it. In a group, where understanding isn't clear, hopefully one will explain. But the explanation isn't always correct. How can a teacher know? And they want it from the teacher. When it comes from the hands of another student, classroom dynamics change. It also increases the dresed habit of a "better" student doing all the work for a poorer student and answering every question for the poorer student

I have had classes (Especially my first year) where I had to have a student translate for the class) For me, not ideal. First, other students were resentful. they thought the student translating thought they were special, two girsl came to me and said, "You know, whe's not the only one who has good english). It breaks the chain of command, so to speak.
For these students with poor english (and my Chinese is not great) our attempting to use poor english and poor chinese together sometime works well at creating a bond, as we struggle together. Also students see me struggling as well to learn a language. So I am not being a hypocrite in their eyes, telling them they should study english to make themselves a better student and be proud of themselves. Last semester I can remember two such boys directly. They always tried to say something to me outside class, despite terrible english. But the Chinese philosophy is cream rises to the top, ignore these students

What is your thought on the matter???

[vikuk]

[arioch36]

Vikuk, your experinces please? or are you always teaching kids, in which case it is best not to speak Chinese, because that way you never have to talk to the parents!


One weakness of us laowai, is we do not use the strengths of the Chinese system.

The sytem is designed (by default or forethought0 to give key students a much more proactive and integral part in the education process. I consider this a stength because it can benefit in the developing of future leaders.
But I think many of us don't understand using the students and class leaders because it is foreign to our experience. this handicaps us Most laowai do not understand the role of class leader and study leader. Students are in charge of the computers, of many tasks. The con is that this can lead to abuses, and it can also lead to things being done is a piss-poor fashion

[arioch36]